Head of Private Sales, North America, Jewelry

About the role

The Head of Private Sales, N America, Jewelry will drive the North America private jewelry sales business at Sotheby’s, overseeing high‑value transactions of exceptional gemstones, signed pieces, and rare collectibles. This senior executive will develop and execute strategies, and cultivate relationships with ultra‑high‑net‑worth (UHNW) clients, collectors, and industry leaders.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Business Growth: Develop and implement a regional strategy for private jewelry sales, aligning with Sotheby’s broader business objectives; identify emerging trends, investment opportunities, and client demand in the high jewelry and rare gemstone markets; expand Sotheby’s network of UHNW collectors, jewelry maisons, dealers, and institutional buyers to drive private transactions.
• Client Relationship Management & Deal Execution: Cultivate and maintain relationships with top‑tier collectors, private clients, jewelry houses, and industry stakeholders; provide bespoke advisory services, curating tailored buying and selling opportunities for private clients; oversee negotiations and ensure seamless execution of private sales transactions, ensuring discretion and confidentiality; source and place exceptional pieces, including rare diamonds, colored gemstones, vintage and signed jewelry from prestigious houses.
• Cross‑Departmental Collaboration & Expertise: Partner with jewelry specialists, regional teams, and external experts to source and place high‑value pieces for private sale; work closely with marketing, legal, and finance teams to ensure compliance, risk management, and innovative sales strategies; develop strategic partnerships with jewelry houses, estate dealers, and gemological institutions to strengthen Sotheby’s private sales presence; develop strategic partnerships with relationship managers, Chairmen and Fiduciary teams to accelerate Sotheby’s private sales transaction velocity.
• Performance Management & Reporting: Provide regular market insights, valuation trends, and sales reports to senior leadership; ensure operational efficiency, optimizing internal processes for a seamless client experience; foster a high‑performance culture, encouraging collaboration and knowledge‑sharing across regions and departments; establish and manage best‑in‑class private sale processes and tools, ensuring those are shared and applied consistently across the global Jewelry team; partner with the Salon team to enhance performance of retail sales, assortment and sales skills.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in high‑value jewelry private sales, luxury asset transactions, or jewelry advisory.
• Proven track record of executing multimillion‑dollar private jewelry sales with UHNW clientele.
• Extensive network of collectors, jewelry houses, gem dealers, and institutional buyers.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and team management skills with experience overseeing an international sales team.
• Deep understanding of the global jewelry market, including historical and contemporary valuation, authentication, and provenance.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and relationship‑building abilities.
• Gemological expertise (GIA or equivalent certification) is a plus.
• Multilingual skills are an advantage.

Pay

The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $175,000 to $240,000. In addition to base salary, successful candidates are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus.

Benefits

A competitive benefits package is offered.