Sr. Director, Private Sales (Collectors)

Job Description

Position overview

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Level & Co. is a secondary market gallery specializing in Post-War and Contemporary art, from Abstract Expressionism to Neo-Expressionism to 21st-century masters. We advise leading collectors, sell works on behalf of the two largest art funds, and broker secondary market works between collectors. We are wholly-owned by Masterworks, and exclusively represent its $2 billion art collection for sales, which includes over 550 paintings and one of the top collections of works by Basquiat, Kusama, Haring and other artists.

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We are looking for an experienced New York-based Sr. Director, Private Sales who brings collector relationships of their own. You will cover a focused group of art advisors and build direct relationships with collectors, sourcing what they want to buy and the works they are prepared to sell.

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You will be responsible for

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• Building direct collector relationships. Acquiring and leading coverage of a book of collectors, from established names to emerging buyers, and becoming their first call when they think about buying.
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• Managing advisor relationships. Owning our relationships with art advisors who represent active collectors. Gallery and auction house relationships sit with the Private Sales Specialists (Trade).
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• Sourcing buyer requests. Developing specific requests from collectors and advisors (artist, series, period, size, price range) and maintaining buy lists for your clients.
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• Sourcing artworks. Finding works held by your collectors and advisors' clients, working from the team's target sourcing list of priority artists and works.
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• Closing private sales. Matching requests to works, leading negotiations between buyers and sellers, and hosting clients for viewings.
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• Qualifying buyers. Assembling due diligence on buyers and intermediaries before works are shared.
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• Market analysis. Assessing a work's current and future market potential and joining pricing sessions with the Acquisitions team.
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• Developing the team. Sharing contacts, market knowledge and deal experience with the Private Sales Specialists.
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• Generating new business. Attending fairs, collector dinners and exhibitions to meet new collectors and deepen existing relationships.
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How you'll be measured

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Revenue is the outcome: 3x your total compensation, with a goal of 5x. We also track the activity that drives it: new collector relationships, engagements, buyer requests received, works sourced, works sent, offers received, and deals closed.

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In your first few months, you will

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• Get fully up to speed on Level & Co.'s sales process and the Masterworks collection
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• Take over coverage of our advisor relationships and set a regular engagement cadence with each
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• Begin direct coverage of a group of collectors across the US, including your own existing relationships
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• Build buy lists for your collectors and source private sale opportunities for existing works on the Masterworks platform
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• Join weekly pipeline meetings with the Private Sales team to plan strategy around key clients and intermediaries
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Requirements

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• 8+ years in a specialist, private sales or sales director role at a leading gallery or auction house, or as an independent dealer or advisor
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• Existing direct relationships with active Post-War and Contemporary collectors
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• A track record of closing private sales at $1M+ price points
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• Expertise in Post-War and Contemporary art markets, including how to segment an artist's market by series, period, medium and size
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• Strong negotiator; able to manage several deals at once
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• Highly organized and disciplined about keeping records current
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• Excellent verbal and written communication; fluency in another language is preferred
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• Able to travel locally and internationally
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Additional requirements

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• Must be eligible for full-time US work, no exceptions
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• Must be able to work from our New York office; this is not a remote role
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Benefits at Level & Co.

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• Free admission to art museums and galleries
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• Health, dental and vision coverage with FSA options
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• PTO and 401(k)
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