OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:  

The Business Manager works with the Department Sale Heads to manage daily activities and to plan long-term strategies for their departments across sale channels (eg: Live auction, eCommerce, Private Sales). They produce annual operating and marketing plans with the appropriate partners to meet those strategies, and manage department operations to achieve the targets set out in the annual plans. General responsibilities include: interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

The Business Manager prepares and actively manages annual sales and expense budgets, identifies and addresses department staffing needs, and develops then collaborates in implementing marketing plans that include media, tours and special events. They organise new business proposal teams to insure that appropriate department resources are focused on winning business for Christie’s. Throughout the year the Business Manager monitors the department’s financial performance to ensure budget targets are achieved and deadlines are met.

Key Responsibilities/Tasks:(Duties include but are not limited to the following)

Financial

• Prepare the department’s monthly, quarterly and annual budget and accruals work sheets for the IBD and the Finance division
• Prepare consignment P&L forms (also known as Sale Income Forms) for proposed business, oversee and endorse consignment agreements and report to IBD any requests that digress from the standard terms and conditions of sale
• Provide financial information and analysis, in particular key performance indicators in sales performance and market trends for Head of Department, IBD etc., to enable cost management and development of future strategies
• Manage all expenses and costs up to authorised approval levels, paying particular attention to recoveries, compensations and travel expenses. 

HR

• Manage administrative and operational functions of the department, ensuring support staff are made fully available to the Specialists and clients
• Specifically manage administrators, consultants, intern and complete all necessary performance appraisals for this group
• Manage day to day staff issues for the whole department, providing support to the department as necessary
• Co-ordinate annual leave requests for all department staff
• Manage overtime and Travel & Entertainment budget to a minimum cost
• Assist and support Head of Department and HR in the preparation and implementation of development programmes for junior specialists and administrators
• Assist and support Head of Department and HR in the preparation and implementation of operational improvements that will enhance departmental performance

Marketing

• Ensure that catalogues are produced to the required standard and within the cost and production guidelines
• Manage department’s sale catalogue distribution list on an on-going basis
• Provide with the Marketing Department and the Luxury Marketing Director with the information they need to produce a departmental strategic marketing plan to the required standard and deadlines
• Filter all departmental requests for marketing literature, campaigns, catalogue advertisements and any support events on behalf of the Marketing Department
• Support the Marketing Department in corporate initiatives and cross marketing programmes
• Work with the Marketing Director to realise the Luxury Business Group’s marketing strategy within budget

Business development

• Coordinate pre-sale interest meetings and post-sale briefings and flash reports with Head of Department
• Manage client contact and new client programmes to ensure that business getting activities are kept at a high level
• Manage and maintain client maps for regional department to assign specialists as CTL to those accounts which should be actively managed
• Maintain regional top prospects pipeline list for both buyers and vendors and contribute to global departments efforts to manage top prospect pipeline where possible.
• Ensure that the department thinks strategically about how to develop their own particular market both in terms of client development and market trends
• Ensure that the specialists develop rational travel programmes that will target their top prospects

Other

• Track and report industry relevant developments with management, including local auction competitor results and strategic developments
• Manage supplier relationship, contract, and costs with external warehousing and logistics partner(s) to ensure operations achieve contracted service KPIs
• Undertake ad hoc departmental or Company projects at the request of the IBD

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Bachelor degree holder or above.
• 3-5 years relevant work experience with solid commercial and business experience
• Highly numerate with good financial skills and the ability to manage cost activities across multiple cost centres
• Commercially aware with a clear sense of business priority
• Advanced MS Excel skills, including analytics
• Advanced PowerPoint
• Advanced Microsoft Office
• Experience of managing teams of up to 10 members with a wide spread of junior and senior positions
• Experience in delivering strong management and leadership to stakeholders
• Problem solving skills
• Negotiation skills
• Proven influencing skills (written and verbal)
• Calm and positive manner
• Excellent client service skills
• Proficiency in at least one other language an advantage
• Experience with ERP and/or CRM applications such as JD Edwards, Siebel, SalesForce, or Oracle and warehouse and inventory management would be a plus
• Fluent in English and Cantonese - also Mandarin preferred

World’s Leading Auction House

Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million.

Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales. Our sales figures were driven by an increase in new buyers across all geographies coming to the market, including from growth markets such as China and through the Internet.
Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories.

Christie’s has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie’s has led in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the Middle East, with successful sales, exhibitions and initiatives in Shanghai, Moscow, Baku, Beijing, Mumbai, Delhi, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.