At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development for a premium platform in the art and luxury sector.
- Company: Join Sotheby’s, a historic leader in art and luxury auctions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative team culture with a focus on creativity and excellence.
- Why this job: Shape innovative products that redefine the luxury experience for members worldwide.
- Qualifications: 4-6 years in product management with a passion for art and technology.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
ABOUT SOTHEBY'S
Established in 1744, Sotheby’s promotes access and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions, private sales and retail.
Our deep expertise across 70 selling categories is supported by a leading technology platform and a global network of specialists spanning 40 countries.
Selling categories 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 through RM Sotheby’s and Concierge.
Sotheby’s Financial Services is a leading art lender and provides capital solutions for collectors around the world, having originated more than $12 billion in loans since its inception.
Sotheby’s new global headquarters is now open at the iconic Breuer building at 945 Madison Avenue in New York City.
THE ROLE
The Senior Product Manager will support the VP of Product in owning, defining and driving the product roadmap for this new initiative, translating the business case into a shippable platform across a sequence of releases.
This role will work closely with the VP of Product, engineering, design and the broader founding team to convert the product vision into precise requirements, sequenced releases and a defensible build-versus-buy point of view across the core platform.
The ideal candidate is a motivated, detail-oriented operator who is comfortable running point on a complex, multi-workstream launch, translating ambiguity into a scoped roadmap, and partnering with a small, senior team to ship a premium product on a fixed date.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support the VP of Product in owning and maintaining the product roadmap across a sequence of major releases and the backlog beyond.
- Run day-to-day agile ceremonies and stakeholder meetings across product, engineering, design and the wider operating team; track work in progress and unblock the delivery team.
- Write precise, concise product requirements and specifications for core platform domains (identity, access, booking, payments, member services, CRM) in partnership with design and engineering.
- Develop and maintain a point of view on build, buy or hybrid for each platform domain, and manage the resulting vendor and integration decisions behind a controlled interface layer.
- Partner with membership, experience and service delivery leadership to ensure the platform supports the end-to-end member journey.
- Own content-architecture and discovery requirements for member-facing editorial, ensuring it is structured for both member consumption and long-term platform needs.
- Lead working sessions to make key decisions, remove obstacles and surface risks against a fixed launch timeline, escalating trade-offs to the VP of Product with clear recommendations.
- Develop strong working partnerships with cross-functional leaders (Marketing, Finance, Legal) to keep the platform aligned to business objectives and launch dates.
- Take on both tactical and strategic work depending on team needs, from Agile ceremony facilitation to stakeholder workshops and executive-ready materials.
- IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES
- 4–6 years of product management experience in e-commerce, membership, hospitality or technology platforms, ideally including at least one 0-to-1 or ground-up product launch.
- Demonstrated interest in art, luxury or cultural institutions; an undergraduate degree in a technical field or a quantitative discipline is a strong plus.
- Comfortable operating against a fixed, externally-driven launch date across multiple parallel workstreams (identity, booking, payments, content, CRM).
- Organized, collaborative and flexible, able to work calmly and professionally under time-sensitive deadlines with a small, senior team.
- Persuasive, with excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to write requirements a stranger could build from.
- Logical problem solver with strong attention to detail and a data-first mindset, including familiarity with engagement scoring, retention or CRM-driven product work.
- Experience evaluating build-versus-buy decisions and managing third-party vendors behind a defined interface layer.
- Listens well to stakeholders and business owners while staying focused on delivering a high-quality, premium member experience.
- Nimble with requirements gathering, analysis and documentation; and knows standard product management frameworks.
- Functions well in an agile environment and has prior experience with cross-platform digital transformation projects.
- Comfortable working on a confidential, pre-announcement initiative and maintaining discretion outside the immediate team.
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The Company is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race (including, without limitation, traits historically associated with race, such as natural hair, hair texture, and protective and treated or untreated hairstyles), color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership/union status, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, genetic information, reproductive health decision, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, alienage or citizenship status, domestic violence victim status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province or local law.
The Company complies with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates.
Senior Product Manager employer: Sotheby's
Sotheby’s, a prestigious leader in the art and luxury market, offers an exceptional work environment at its new global headquarters in the iconic Breuer building on Madison Avenue, New York City. As a Client Experience Representative, you will thrive in a collaborative culture that prioritises professional development and employee well-being, while enjoying benefits such as competitive compensation, comprehensive training, and opportunities to engage in innovative client experience projects. Join a team that values your contributions and empowers you to enhance the client journey in a dynamic and rewarding setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Product Manager
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Sotheby's!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Sotheby's would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Sotheby's through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Senior Product Manager, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Senior Product Manager position at Sotheby's. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sotheby's
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
