Business Manager, Luxury Department

Christie's, the world's leading international auction house, is hiring a Business Manager to work in the Luxury department in Paris.

PRIMARY FUNCTION/:
This role supports the Regional Managing Director with respect to three keys areas; Managerial, Financial and Strategic. The role will partner closely with the Luxury heads of department and implement the strategic goals of the business, manage staff, realize departmental objectives, drive profitability and commercial deals.

RESPONSIBILITY DATA:
Financial & Client Management
- Review all non-standard financial deals and approve with RMD as necessary, maintaining profitability of auction.
- Prepare all Commercial deals for RMD and Commercial Office review and approve.
- Provide insight and information to Finance Partner to enable weekly pipeline updates, annual budgeting, forecasting, sale P&L and other reporting as directed by
- Monthly review of Auction P&Ls and transactions with Finance Partner.
- Work with Finance Partner to ensure that all statistics are available for each sale to enable adequate and accurate debriefings post sale including pre/post sale statistics of competitors.
- Input into Client engagement opportunities with Marketing and Business Intelligence Partners.

Auction Strategy and Business Planning
- Participate in, make recommendations for, and lead where appropriate, strategic initiatives for the Group as directed by the RMD, including areas for opportunity and growth.
- Encourage and drive cross category initiatives.
- Assist in the implementation of the global business plan
- Work with the RMD on preparing and delivering all internal and external communications for significant events, including policy, staffing, best practices and any strategic changes
- Develop and implement improvements to operational systems for the department, working closely with other Channel management to ensure consistent approach within the global team.
- Provide competitive analyses across Continental Europe. (Financial, strategy, marketing etc )

Risk/ Legal Management
- Work with administrative team to monitor and mitigate all outstanding risk in Channels.
- Trouble shooting pre and post auction.
- Preparation with the support of the legal team of local expert or partnership contract for a Paris sale.
- Communicate all unmitigated risk to RMD and Finance Partner.

People Management
- Partner with Head of Department and The HR team to identify staffing needs (long term development plans and succession planning).
- Lead, supervise and communicate any cultural or management changes necessary to implement the strategic and business plan for the Departments.
- Support the Head of Department to set objectives in line with overall department and corporate objectives.
- Facilitate communication between department and external support teams as needed to ensure proper support and trouble shoot potential issues.
- Effectively and regularly communicate to ensure organizational clarity around key dates, strategic direction, deadlines, deliverables, roles and responsibilities.

Responsibilities include:
- participation in interviewing, hiring, and training employees (excluding Sale coordinators)- planning, assigning, and directing work- appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees with the support of the HR team & the RMD.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

- Master’s degree in Business Management or equivalent field preferred; or an undergraduate degree with at least 3/4 years of related work experience.
- Demonstrated proactive, collaborate approach.
- Knowledge of Outlook, Excel, Word Processing, and Presentation software.
- Ability to create and analyze Excel spreadsheets, bar graphs, reports and business correspondence.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from colleagues and clients.
- French & English language essential
- An experience in Luxury (Jewelry, Handbags, watches) would be ideal.