Head of Wine UK & Continental Europe

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About Bonhams

Bonhams is a global auction house with an 18th century heritage poised for transformative change. Our global operations are based in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong where we sell in over 60 categories, including motor cars, paintings, jewellery, and entertainment memorabilia.

About the Team

Founded in 1997, Bonhams Fine Wine Department provides a global platform for finding, buying and selling some of the finest and rarest wines in the world. Our wine auctions, operate in 3 continents and out of 7 locations, have the widest global profile of all auction houses, with offices and specialists in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Sweden and Hong Kong. We accept consignments from all over the world, stored in our insured, temperate and humidity-controlled warehouses.

Our specialists inspect each bottle of wine sold and taste extensively with consignors to understand the provenance, history and lifespan of the wines we sell. Our team has over two centuries of combined experience valuing, tasting and preparing fine wines for sale and this, along with our extensive and active bidding base, allows us to set numerous auction records each year.

As a development of this strategic priority, the Wine & Spirits department is looking for a Head of Wine UK & Continental Europe.

About the Role

In your role as Head of Wine UK & Continental Europe, you will:

STRATEGY

• Enhance the visibility of Bonhams Wine to ensure growth
• Own the P&L for the UK Wine department including budgeting & forecasting of annual sales, working with the Global Head
• Work with Client Development Team to develop a UK client development strategy
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders across the wider business as well as the global Bonhams Wine team to compose, produce and execute interesting, innovative sales
• Develop strong and collaborative relationships internally and externally
• Contribute to the global leadership of the wine business by helping shape the strategy for growth in Continental Europe and help implement new business initiatives
• Lead and develop the UK and Europe wine team

CLIENTS MANAGEMENT

• Senior business getter to meet and exceed budgets set for the department sales in UK and Europe and providing support for other regions
• Maintain and support the ongoing development of a database of customers - both buyers and sellers - for the department
• Maintain contact with established collectors to encourage further business with the company, either as buyers or sellers
• Maintain contact with established trade contacts to encourage further business with the company
• Maintain an awareness of our competitor's strategies to maintain the competitive position of the department in the market

EXPERTISE

• Provide expertise, researching and cataloguing wines to the highest standard and train and mentor the team
• Perform property inspection for wine at Bonhams Wine warehouses and on-site at client's premises
• Proof digital catalogues and listings
• Provide research/cataloguing in other locations when required
  To satisfactorily complete, as and when required, the valuation of customer's property in timely manner and accurately
• Assist on exhibition events and propose new formats and partnerships
• To promote the department through lectures and other promotional events

MANAGEMENT

• Management of the UK Wine team including performance, recruitment, development and engagement
• Liaise with the Marketing Team on the production of an advertising and marketing campaign, within the budgets set, to promote the business getting and sales activities of the department
• Work with the Specialists, Operations team, oversee preparation of marketing and communication strategies in conjunction with the Marketing, Press and Editorial teams to sell sales.
• Manage wine auctions with a 360 approach and related events
• Produce and manage qualitative proposal
• Support the specialists of the team to encourage their development and knowledge of the market

About You

The successful candidate will be a proactive self-starter and with an entrepreneurial mindset. They will secure deals, inspect and catalogue wines, provide recommendations to buyers and create series of Wine events.

Key Skills and Experience

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience
• Management experience in the fine wine business
• Proven ability to operate in a start-up or similar environment, providing dynamic, strategic leadership combined with hands-on operational drive
• Strong ability to network and convert social connections into business opportunities, professional, discreet and commercial client service skills
• Excellent sales and pipeline management skills
• Excellent time management and organisation skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral.
• Flexibility and the ability to be a team player
• Able to work to tight deadlines and under pressure
• Knowledge of the Spirit trade within an international auction house is an advantage.
• Bilingual in French and English in written and verbal communication, another European Language is a plus
• Proficiency in Microsoft suite including but not limited to Word and Excel
• Frequent travels expected

What we Offer

Some of our benefits and perks include:

• 28 days holidays (including Bank Holidays), increasing to 33 with service.
• Healthcare and Life Assurance
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan

If you wish to apply, please send your CV and cover letter by the 24th September 2024 at midnight.

We thank you for your interest in this position but please note that we will only contact candidates chosen for further consideration.

Bonhams is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.