Jr. Specialist (Sommelier and Chef Jobs: Restaurants)

Position Summary:

The Junior Specialist position contributes to the production of all auction catalogues involving offering Wine in Christie’s sales throughout the year. Please note this is a high-volume department with multiple sales (and deadlines) with a constantly evolving workload. As such, Junior Specialist should expect to spend significant time working in the warehouse with the material, learning the fundamentals of cataloguing, conditioning, and handling and interacting with other specialists.

Essential Job Functions:

• Research property for cataloguing using on-line databases, intranet and internet resources, departmental library resources (monographs and past auction/dealer catalogues) and outside experts (such as dealers, publishers, etc).
• Catalogue property, including condition, for public and private sales using methods listed above in complete and proofed Christie’s format
• Prepare property for hilling sessions (meetings to determine value, condition and marketability of property); and amend manuscript sheets after hilling sessions. Where time pressure dictates, alert issues which will impact on salability of property to a senior specialist colleagues
• Assist with catalogue production with a particular emphasis on organizing and checking wine and liaising with art handlers and the digital bureau on photography process (maintain sale images in media library, monitor progress, liaise with photo studio on missing images, work within deadline constraints).
• Assist in proofing all cataloguing with specialists before submitting final proof to Catalogue Production.
• Prepare condition reports in the system and forward to clients upon request.
• Participate in Telephone Bidding with clients during the auction.
• Liaise with outside experts.
• Other duties as assigned by Manager.

Non-Essential Job Functions:

• Support colleagues when necessary by greeting or visiting clients on-site and off-site to support appraisal, consignment and sale efforts.
• Coordinate sale day catering with Special Events and department staff, ensuring set-up is done to requirement and tasting samples are made available
• Provide day-to-day support to Warehouse Manager, when necessary, assisting with goods in/goods out processes and paperwork as directed (eg: when Warehouse Manager is out sick or on vacation)

Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent work experience. 
• Minimum 2 years paid experience in the Wine industry
• Knowledge of E-mail, Excel spreadsheet, Microsoft word processing and PowerPoint presentation software (Microsoft Office preferred).
• Ability to learn Christie’s systems including Siebel, Property System, JD Edwards, intranet, and website.
• Rigorous attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and prioritize.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including superior written and spoken communication.
• Strong client service skills.
• Proven ability to follow-up.
• Strong typing skills.

Working Conditions:

• 75% of time will be spent at the Wine warehouse in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx, the remaining 25% may be spent either at the Rockefeller Plaza office or traveling for off-site pick-ups
• Work is performed primarily in an warehouse office setting, but may include local off-site visits to various client settings (private, corporate and institution.). 
• Noise level in the work environment is moderate; will vary for external locations.

Physical Requirements:

• Required to attend events, exhibitions, wine tastings, domestically
• Must be able to lift, move, and manipulate cases and bottles of wine on a regular basis
• Warehouse is refrigerated to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, considerable time will be spent in this environment performing inspections

Tools and Equipment Used:

• Basic office equipment including personal computer, copy machine, fax machine, scanner, office supplies
• Tools for inspections including hammer and prybar to open OWC, tape gun and box cutters for opening and resealing cardboard cartons
• Photography equipment and table (point and shoot)