Live Online Auction Host

Job ID: SEW

About the role

The Live Online Auction Host supports and leads live online auction events across digital platforms such as Whatnot and eBay. This role is responsible for presenting products, engaging live audiences, and driving bidding activity in a fast-paced, interactive environment. The position also supports pre-show preparation, platform operations, and post-show follow-up, while continuously building hosting and live selling skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist with and host live online auctions on platforms such as Whatnot and eBay.
• Present products clearly, accurately, and confidently during live broadcasts.
• Engage viewers through live chat and verbal interaction to create an interactive experience and encourage bidding.
• Highlight product value, key features, and urgency to drive bidding activity.
• Monitor bids, countdowns, and platform prompts in real time to ensure a smooth auction flow.
• Select, organize, and prepare products for live auction events.
• Curate auction assortments to maximize audience engagement and sales potential.
• Build and manage inventory listings and ensure all product details, pricing, and sequencing are accurate.
• Assist in developing show outlines or basic scripts to support live events.
• Test and troubleshoot livestream setup, including camera, microphone, lighting, and internet connectivity.
• Ensure all platform listings and systems are accurate, complete, and ready for broadcast.
• Learn and apply platform-specific tools, rules, and best practices.
• Support chat moderation, escalate issues, and assist in verifying winning bids and post-show documentation.
• Track and report basic performance metrics, including sell-through rate, viewer count, and engagement.
• Participate in coaching and apply feedback to build live selling techniques, on-camera presence, and audience engagement skills.
• Serve as an ambassador for Goodwill in the wider community. Participate in volunteer opportunities as schedule and interest permit.
• Complete other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Comfortable on camera with strong communication skills.
• Organized with the ability to perform in fast-paced, live environments.
• Willingness to learn auction platforms and live selling techniques.
• Valid driver’s license with ability to travel (evening and weekends as needed).

Qualifications

• Experience with live streaming, social media, or online selling (preferred).
• Familiarity with platforms such as Whatnot, eBay, or similar marketplaces (preferred).
• Background in Retail, customer service, sales, or content creation (preferred).

Skills

• Customer Focus: Independently anticipate and meet customer needs, while searching for ways to improve customer service. Internalize customer feedback, and follow up with customers to ensure problems are solved by providing innovative ideas to meet their future needs.
• Values Differences: Seeks out the diverse perspectives and talents of others, striving to work effectively with others who have different perspectives, backgrounds, or styles. Behaves with sensitivity towards differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating. Challenges stereotyping or offensive comments.
• Communicates Effectively: Shares information and updates with others, while ensuring clear, concise, and professional communication through reports, documentation, written, and other communications. Listens with interest to what others have to say.
• Situational Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility of responses to different situations through adapting to the changing needs, conditions, priorities, or opportunities. Monitors how well an approach is working to see if a change is needed, recognizing cues that suggest a change in approach or behavior is needed.
• Drives Results: Demonstrates a strong drive to achieve meaningful results, through driving tasks to successful completion and closure. Sets high standards for own performance, showing determination in the face of obstacles and setbacks.
• Ensures Accountability: Takes responsibility and ownership for successes and failures in own work. Monitors progress of performance and changes approach accordingly, following through on commitments.

Physical/Sensory Demands

• Able to stand and/or sit for extended periods of time.
• Able to bend and reach to work with merchandise.
• Able to lift, push, or pull a maximum of 75 pounds.
• Able to work independently.
• Ability to remain on camera and actively engaged for extended periods.

Schedule

Wednesday through Saturday, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM.

Pay

When determining placement within the salary range for this position, Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago considers education, experience, internal equity, market demands, and other qualifying criteria. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Certain roles are eligible to participate in an incentive plan. Participation in this plan does not guarantee an incentive payment and is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan, which are subject to change.

Benefits

In addition to compensation, we offer a competitive benefit program that may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short and long-term disability.
• Life insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Paid time off (PTO).

The specifics of each benefit package will vary depending on factors such as full or part-time jobs, contracted, temporary, or other job categories.