Our client, a renowned gallery for Contemporary Art, is looking for a Sales Director. The sales team is responsible for the sale of works by gallery artists, mainly on the primary market. The gallery produces 8-9 exhibitions in Berlin yearly, participates in 10-12 international art fairs and supports dozens of external exhibitions in museums and institutions worldwide. The Berlin Sales Team works closely with external Sales Representatives based in Seoul, Taipei, Bejing, Paris, Barcelona and Nice.
The ideal candidate will cultivate and maintain a steady client base and will be able to realize a high turnover of sales on a steady basis. The Sales Director will also manage their own projects such as art fairs or dedicated client events with full responsibility for outcome, turnover and costs. This includes in particular the strategic planning and implementation of market-relevant projects and events at the gallery such as the Gallery Weekend, Art Week or other dedicated client-specific events in Berlin, such as openings, dinners or cocktail receptions.
Main Tasks:
Sales
- Sales and Client Development
- building new client relationships
- dealing with sales inquiries of all kinds (online, by phone, in person)
- Generating sales before and during art fairs
- Representing the gallery at various at events such as exhibition openings, gallery dinners, book presentations
- Client Liaison
- Ensuring professional communication with clients e.g. during post-Sale process and for special mailings
- Attending high profile networking events, entertaining clients outside of usual Gallery hours and travelling where necessary to enhance client development
- Monitoring the art market and the market of gallery artists
Project Management
- Independent management of various projects such as art fairs, dinners or marketing events
- Strategic outlining and project management
- Prepare and plan art fairs (booth) in collaboration with fair manager and general management
- Oversee budgets and accounting including P&L
Sales and Marketing Strategy
- Developing and implementing the Gallery’s sales strategy in the primary and secondary markets in collaboration with general management, seeking ways to enhance sales.
- Art Fair Strategy
- Strategy for client events
- Market development
- Identifying, reporting and maximising business opportunities in target markets
- Developing a marketing strategy in close collaboration with the content team
Requirements:
- Several years experience in a similar role, preferably in an internationally operating gallery with a proven track record in Sales
- In-depth knowledge of art history, contemporary art and the art market
- Excellent communication skills are essential in English and German ideally
- Structured and well organized to manage own projects and keep deadlines
- Ability to perform under pressure, high flexibility and availability to travel