Specialist, Handbags

Location: Abu Dhabi or Dubai, United Arab Emirates; regular travel throughout the Middle East and Europe is required.

Company

Sotheby’s provides auctions, private sales, and retail access to exceptional art and luxury objects across global selling categories.

What you will do

• Drive handbag auction business in Dubai and across the region, supporting European selling locations and the Buy-Now Marketplace.
• Develop private sale activity and organize private sale exhibitions across the Middle East.
• Inspect and authenticate handbags and accessories, advise on product mix, and provide pricing and consignment terms.
• Build relationships with auction bidders, buyers, consignors, and internal Relationship Managers.
• Coordinate marketing, product photography, data analysis, pipeline updates, and smooth information handoffs.
• Travel regularly throughout the Middle East and Europe.

Requirements

• At least five years of professional experience within the GCC region.
• Professional experience managing client portfolios and driving sales.
• Experience authenticating and valuing handbags.
• Experience in an auction house, ecommerce business, or second-hand luxury shop.
• Knowledge of luxury handbag and accessory retail and resale markets.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills. Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite is required.

Nice to have

• Arabic language skills.
• French or another European language.
• Interest in luxury brands and ecommerce businesses.

Culture & Benefits

• Work with a busy, global team across a worldwide specialist network.
• Operate independently while collaborating with department heads, marketing teams, administrators, and coordinators.
• Maintain high standards of confidentiality and discretion in client-facing work.