Location: Sotheby’s Institute of Art – London
Reports To: Director of the Institute
Role summary
The Head of Career Services is an essential member of the team at Sotheby’s Institute of Art-London. He/she will direct the career services strategy, enhance the employability of Sotheby’s Institute of Art students and build global relationships with employers and art market professionals in order to foster career and internship opportunities for students. He/She will manage all aspects of career services and programming for current students and alumni and support them with their careers planning and successful transition to employment in the art and luxury worlds. Based in London, this position will report to the Director.
The ideal candidate for this role will be committed to offering an outstanding service to our students. They will be student-focused and an excellent communicator, and they will also be able to demonstrate strong knowledge and experience of university careers services and/or the recruitment sector, and of the art world and its structures. An understanding of the luxury industry would be an advantage, as would a professional network in either or both industries.
Employability outcomes are at the centre of the Institute’s mission and this exciting opportunity allows scope for shaping and enhancing a dynamic service at the heart of our community.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the lead professional expert on careers and employability matters
- Manage a small team
- Act as budget holder for the Careers Service
- Provide/manage provision for one-on-one career advising sessions, plan and implement career development programmes and events, including skills-building activities, as well as review CV’s / cover letters etc.
- Research, develop and deliver professional development workshops and seminars
- Manage our internal job / internship portal and careers database
- Develop new employment, placement and internship opportunities within the art world by cultivating contacts and fostering relationships with auction houses, galleries, museums, art fairs, galleries and other arts organizations.
- Work with our alumni department to enhance the employability of alumni and connect alumni in different ways with current students.
- Run careers fairs, hosting opportunities for prospective employers to present their companies and for our students to network and to learn more about various careers
- Develop and manage new and existing work placement opportunities for students, collaborating with academic staff to ensure learning outcomes are achieved and employability is enhanced
- Work closely with Sotheby’s Institute of Art New York to develop and support careers activities and share resources and strategies
- Continue to develop and administer, alongside Sotheby’s Institute of Art New York, the graduate outcomes survey
- Liaise with Sotheby’s Auction House and Human Resources Department
- Serve as an ambassador for Sotheby’s Institute of Art, promote professional development in the art market, and proactively advance the careers of our students and alumni
- Advise the Institute on changing trends in relevant employment fields
- Speak at admissions events, alumni events, and participate on career panels where appropriate
- Collaborate on special projects and Institute-wide initiatives as needed
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Skills, Experience and Qualifications:
Essential criteria (E) Desirable criteria (D)
- Extensive knowledge and experience of the art world (E)
- Extensive knowledge of the luxury industry (D)
- Educated to at least degree level (E)
- Experience of working in a careers advisory / related role (D)
- Experience of working in a careers advisory role in Higher Education (D)
- Professional qualification in career development (D)
- High level organizational skills, ability to work under pressure and deal with conflicting priorities (E)
- Excellent verbal, including public speaking skills, and written communication skills (E).
- High level interpersonal skills (E)
- Postgraduate degree in an arts related subject (D)
- Second language skills (D)
- Strong IT skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint (E)
Please note the following:
- Please submit your CV and a covering letter demonstrating how you meet the person specification for this position via the ‘Apply‘ button above. Please state where you have seen this role advertised.
- Salary dependent on skills, qualifications, and experience. Salary range is £58,000 – £69,000 per annum.
- Benefits include 25 days annual leave plus up to 4 days additional discretionary leave during the Christmas period, life insurance and 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme.
- Closing date is: 18 August 2023. Applications will be assessed on submission, and we reserve the right to close the post early.