Job description
At Catawiki, every day brings the extraordinary! Whether it’s Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 Car, a Woolly Mammoth’s Skeleton, Lady Gaga’s Jumpsuit or Usain Bolt’s running shoe, we encounter exceptional objects every day.
We’re a one-of-a-kind marketplace for buying and selling special objects! Each week we offer over 75,000 unique items in auction , carefully curated by our passionate in-house experts.
Having sold over 20 million unique objects to date, we’re on a mission to become the world’s most popular destination for special objects. As a growing, diverse and sustainable scale-up, we proudly live by our core values:
- Taking ownership and driving impact
- Being open to change and feedback
- Being passionate about our mission and our customers.
If these values resonate with you, we’d love to explore how you can join us on this exciting journey!
About the role
As a Japanese Art & Antiquities Expert, you will work closely with evaluating and arranging lots submitted by our users. Leveraging your expertise in Japanese art, particularly in modern and contemporary works, and your extensive network, you will be responsible for creating attractive lot listings each week.
In this role, you’ll also act as a commercial representative for Catawiki, attending art fairs and engaging directly with buyers and sellers. You’ll negotiate effectively, providing expertise to facilitate successful transactions and fostering trust and transparency. Additionally, you’ll play an essential role in expanding Catawiki’s market in Japan, strategically growing new supply areas and launching campaigns tailored to attract younger collectors, including Gen Z.
What you’ll bring
Our ideal candidate will bring a full-time commitment to Catawiki, along with the following:
- Expertise in Japanese Art & Antiques, with a particular emphasis on modern and contemporary Japanese art.
- Commercial acumen, with proven experience in negotiating deals and representing a platform at fairs and exhibitions.
- General knowledge of Asian Art & Antiques, which is a strong advantage.
- Professional trading experience on leading platforms such as Catawiki, 1stDibs, eBay, Yahoo! JAPAN Auction, and relevant Japanese Art & Antiques fairs.
- Skills in optimising auction strategies (reserve price, sell rate, cash flow) and tracking auction performance, while guiding sellers on current market trends.
- A strategic mindset for growing Catawiki’s marketing initiatives in Japan, with a focus on engaging young collectors and Gen Z.
- Outstanding communication skills in Japanese and English (English language course may be provided if needed).
- Strong computer skills and familiarity with online sales platforms.
- A robust network of potential sellers, buyers, and experts in Japanese Art & Antiques, with the ability to tap into new supply areas.
- Diplomatic competence for mediating disputes and maintaining excellent user relations.
What you’ll bring
As an expert in the Asian & Tribal department, you’ll be based in Japan and work remotely, connecting with a global team.
Why You’ll Love Working with Us
- Create a Visible Impact by working at scale in a global organisation that serves millions of customers across 80+ categories. In our flat structure, every role has a broad scope that directly impacts both our customers and the business.
- Learn and Grow with Us through our Learning & Development initiatives, which include clear development plans and mentorship programmes designed to support your career progression.
- A Culture of Connection defines us. We’re a passionate, diverse and collaborative team of 800+ Catawikains and 60+ nationalities, all coming together to build a one-of-a-kind marketplace. We foster an inclusive and queer-friendly work environment, committed to making every Catawikian feel welcomed and empowered. Whatever your story, we encourage you to bring your unique perspective to our team.
- Celebrate Life’s Moments with us at Catawiki. When you join us, you’ll receive a €100 Catavoucher, and on each birthday, you’ll get a €50 Catavoucher to celebrate. Enjoy an extra day off each year to “Pursue Your Passion”. We also recognise significant work anniversaries (3, 5, 8, 10 years) with additional time off, plus extra leave for life’s big moments like marriage, engagements, or moving house.
Please note that benefits can vary by location. For specific information regarding what’s available in your country, please consult your recruiter.
Our Offices and Way of Working
Our vibrant offices in Amsterdam, Paris and Lisbon are designed to inspire and connect. Most Catawikians are within commuting distance of one of our offices and enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid work model. This means we typically ask you to be in the office 2 out of 5 days, roughly 40% of your working time, to collaborate and connect with your colleagues. Of course, if the job description specifies that the role is 100% remote—such as for certain expert or sales positions—then that arrangement will apply.
Interested?
Apply directly with an English CV and cover letter by submitting your information at the bottom of this page. By submitting your application you agree to Catawiki’s Applicant Privacy Policy.
If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
