Senior Sports Writer

About Sotheby’s

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s promotes access and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions, private sales and retail. Its deep expertise spans 70 selling categories, supported by a leading technology platform and a global network of specialists in 40 countries. Categories include Contemporary, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, Design, collectible cars and real estate through RM Sotheby’s and Concierge. Sotheby’s Financial Services is a leading art lender, having originated more than $12 billion in loans. The new global headquarters is located in the iconic Breuer building at 945 Madison Avenue, New York City.

The Role

Sotheby’s is seeking an experienced Writer & Researcher to join its Sports team in New York. This full‑time position is responsible for researching, writing, and fact‑checking content across the department, with a focus on Sports auction lots. The role involves shaping the story around each lot, understanding the moments, achievements, and context that make the property interesting to collectors, and communicating that clearly in Sotheby’s voice. The writer will also lead the Sports cataloguing process, set standards for research, writing, and review, and help ensure the highest quality content for clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Sports cataloguing process from a writing and research perspective, setting and maintaining clear standards for catalogue notes, sourcing, fact‑checking, condition reporting, and final review.
• Research and write catalogue content for significant and high‑value property, identifying history, context, and details that best communicate each lot’s importance and appeal.
• Review catalogue content produced across the team, providing edits and guidance to ensure accuracy, clarity, and quality before publication.
• Develop and improve workflows for research, writing, and quality control, giving the team a consistent structure for producing and reviewing catalogue content.
• Conduct detailed research into players, teams, games, statistics, records, provenance, and other relevant context using appropriate internal and external sources.
• Write and proofread broader Sports content including sale and lot overview pages, editorial features, press materials, website content, and social copy.
• Inspect property and prepare condition reports, working with Specialists and relevant internal or external experts as needed.
• Collaborate closely with Specialists and colleagues across Editorial, Marketing, Press, Social, Photography, and other support departments to meet catalogue and publication deadlines.

Ideal Experience & Competencies

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in writing, research, editing, journalism, cataloguing, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing and research skills, with the ability to turn detailed information into engaging and concise copy.
• Strong editorial judgment and an instinct for identifying details that make a story or object compelling.
• Experience setting or maintaining editorial, research, or cataloguing standards and reviewing the work of others.
• Strong editing skills and the ability to quickly adopt an established tone and style.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong fact‑checking abilities.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of projects, and manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of sports and sports history preferred.
• Experience in sports media, journalism, publishing, editorial, research, sports memorabilia, or collectibles preferred.
• Auction house cataloguing or research experience helpful but not required.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Pay

The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $70,000 to $90,000, with offers based on factors such as skills, training, experience, education, and relevant certifications.

Benefits

Successful candidates are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a competitive benefits package.