Associate Director, Advisory Operations

About the role

The Associate Director, Advisory Operations serves as the operational backbone of WAG’s Advisory & Collection Management department. This role manages complex client engagements — including large-scale auction consignments, multi-sale liquidations, and multi-stakeholder advisory mandates — while also supporting the Chief of Art Services and the Senior Director of Advisory to build out the operational processes and protocols the department runs on. This is not a private-advisor role; the primary measures of success are departmental process discipline, client satisfaction, and the scalable, consistent execution of complex projects.

What you'll do

• Lead a portfolio of complex advisory engagements end-to-end — including multi-sale auction consignments involving hundreds of lots across multiple auction houses — building and maintaining detailed project plans, timelines, and milestone trackers
• Cook up all pre-sale and post-sale logistics — transport, reserve confirmation, AML/KYC compliance, invoicing, and payment delivery — proactively resolving bottlenecks before they reach clients
• Serve as a high-touch point of contact for clients at every stage — anticipating needs, communicating with clarity and warmth, and ensuring every interaction reflects WAG’s commitment to exceptional stewardship
• Own and maintain the department’s operational playbook — project intake, consignment management, CRM standards, file protocols, and post-sale processing — and hold the team to it consistently
• Own Salesforce data integrity across the full advisory department — not just your own projects — auditing entries and escalating when standards slip
• Proactively identify operational gaps and bring well-reasoned improvement proposals to the Chief of Art Services

What you bring

• Five to seven years at a major auction house (Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Phillips, Bonhams, or equivalent) in a client-facing or operations capacity, with demonstrated ownership of process — not solely project execution
• Deep familiarity with the full auction consignment lifecycle: estimates, reserves, shipping, insurance, post-sale accounting, and AML/KYC requirements
• Proven ability to manage multi-sale, multi-lot consignments with numerous concurrent stakeholders
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to draft client-facing proposals and correspondence that reflect well on the firm
• Proficiency in Salesforce (or comparable CRM) used as a strategic tool, not just a data-entry system; strong command of Excel or Google Sheets
• Composure under pressure; proactive instinct for what needs to happen next without being prompted

What we offer

• Real ownership of departmental operations from day one
• Senior leadership that treats operational excellence as a strategic asset, not a back-office function
• An entrepreneurial, expert-led environment where your impact is visible and durable
• Competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with experience

A Welcoming Team

• A friendly, international, agile team that works together with cutting-edge technologies
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick days, and holidays
• Paid parental leave (maternity, paternity, adoption, leave)
• Paid volunteer days to encourage community involvement
• Collaborative, innovative, and inclusive company culture
• Employee recognition and appreciation programs
• Team-building activities and social events
• Transparent communication and feedback channels

Competitive Compensation

• $100,000-$120,000 base
• Salary based on experience and skills
• Discretionary performance-based bonuses
• Equity option grants of company shares, offering alignment with company success

Health, Wellness, and Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) with employees covered 100%
• On-site NYC fitness center and sauna
• Generous leave policies, including bereavement and reproductive loss leave
• Opportunities for continuous learning and training
• Mentorship programs and leadership development initiatives
• 401(k)
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Snacks in the office