Head of Editorial, North America & Europe

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Note: No application deadline was provided by the employer. Please refer to the posting date for reference, as availability may change.

Salary: $100,000-$135,000
Location: New York, USA

About Sotheby’s

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

The Role

Sotheby’s is seeking a world-class editor to lead its editorial efforts across North America and Europe. As Head of Editorial, you will drive storytelling across Sotheby’s platforms—covering everything from fine art and vintage cars to rare watches and cultural trends.

You will join a high-caliber Content team alongside professionals from brands like Vogue, Apple, and the Royal Academy of Art, reporting to the Global Head of Content. The role is based in New York and requires onsite presence Monday through Thursday.

Responsibilities

Oversee the editorial strategy and content production for Sotheby’s in North America and Europe, ensuring alignment with brand voice, business goals, and audience needs.
Assign, edit, and publish a range of article formats on Sothebys.com, including:
- Auction previews and buy-now features
- Evergreen collecting guides and educational content
- Cultural commentary with a Sotheby’s perspective
- Post-sale reporting and market analysis
Manage the editorial calendar across New York, London, and Paris offices, coordinating hundreds of annual auctions and exhibitions.
Lead the production of Sotheby’s Selects, the weekly editorial newsletter; analyze performance and collaborate with the Growth team to optimize impact.
Maintain high editorial standards through line-editing, proofreading, and content optimization within the CMS.
Implement SEO best practices; manage or oversee junior SEO-focused writers as needed.
Translate departmental goals into measurable editorial strategies; track and report on progress against KPIs and performance metrics.
Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including specialists across fine art and luxury categories.
Support brand-wide storytelling by contributing to print collateral, exhibition materials, auction scripts, and other copy needs.
Collaborate with the Head of Editorial, Asia, and cross-functional teams (Video, Social, Design, Photography) to deliver a unified content strategy.

Ideal Experience & Competencies

8+ years of experience demonstrating superb writing and editing skills. While this is primarily an editing role, you should be able and willing (and excited!) to write when needed.
Deep knowledge of the fine-art and/or luxury worlds. At least one is mandatory. Both are preferred.
Experience commissioning, budgeting and managing an extensive network of freelance writers, curators, and other art/luxury experts who can contribute to our website.
Confident pitch and presentation skills.
Strong problem-solving, analytical and quantitative skills. Ability to synthesize findings into tangible actions that help drive business outcomes.
Strong organizational skills. A demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and lead complex projects with a high degree of ambiguity.
Eagerness to experiment with emerging technologies.
Fundamental visual layout skills – understanding where photos should go and how captions should read
Mastery of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Fluency with:
Content Management Systems (CMS)
Analytics tools (e.g. Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics)
Google Suite (e.g. Docs, Sheets)

Ability to work onsite Monday through Thursday. Bachelor’s degree or higher in art history, journalism, English, communications, or related field. A quick wit, a sense of humor, a boundless creativity, and a strong point of view.

The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $100,000-$135,000. In addition to base salary successful candidates are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus, as well as a competitive benefits package. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered.

Image credits: By ajay_suresh – Sotheby’s, Public Domain