Category Manager Asian & Tribal Arts

Netherlands

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

Asian & Tribal is one of the most culturally rich and commercially complex categories within Collectables. It spans Asian Art, Tribal & Ethnographic Art, and related subcategories where heritage, craftsmanship, provenance, and collector trust are critical. The category attracts a diverse global buyer base ranging from emerging collectors to highly specialised, repeat buyers, and requires strong judgement, commercial sharpness, and leadership to balance growth with quality.

As Category Manager, you treat Asian & Tribal as a high-potential business with depth and long-term upside. You own the category strategy, drive sustainable growth, and translate data into clear execution. You lead and develop a team of experts, build strong external networks with sellers and institutions, and ensure a high-quality buyer experience that reinforces trust and repeat engagement.

This role is based in the Netherlands with a hybrid setup. You are expected to work from the Amsterdam office two days per week to collaborate closely with other Category Managers, Commercial teams, and key stakeholders.

What You’ll Do

Build, own, and execute the strategic growth plan for the Asian & Tribal category, with a clear focus on sustainable YoY growth
Own the category P&L and drive commercial outcomes through data-led decisions
Use dashboards and performance data to steer auction quality, pricing, RP strategy, and supply mix
Shape auction planning around seasonality, market dynamics, collector behaviour, and seller portfolios
Drive curation excellence and consistency across the category, reducing performance volatility
Identify commercial opportunities early and influence internal teams to act on them
Partner closely with Sales and Business Development to strengthen the seller pipeline and attract high-quality, repeat consignors
Build and maintain strong relationships with key sellers, institutions, and professional networks in the Asian & Tribal field
Lead, coach, and develop an international team of Experts, with a strong focus on performance, growth, and engagement
Create clarity, focus, and pace for the team through strong prioritisation and decision-making
Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Operations, and Commercial teams to unlock new growth opportunities
Monitor global trends in Asian & Tribal markets, including pricing dynamics, collector demand, and competitive movements

What You’ll Bring

A strong commercial mindset with the ability to spot opportunities and translate them into impact
Proven experience driving growth, performance, and accountability in a complex category or business environment
A data-driven approach; you are comfortable turning dashboards into concrete actions
Strong people management skills, including coaching, performance management, and talent development
Resilience and decisiveness in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment
Excellent networking skills and the ability to build trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Strong influencing and communication skills across different seniority levels and teams
Entrepreneurial energy and a hands-on mindset, balanced with strategic thinking
Comfort working with Google Suite or similar tools
Interest or background in Asian Art, Tribal Art, or Collectables is a plus (deep expertise can grow on the job)

Where You’ll Be

This is a hybrid role based in the Netherlands. You will work from the Amsterdam office at least two days per week to collaborate with fellow Category Managers, Commercial teams, and key stakeholders.

What We Offer

A category with cultural depth, global reach, and significant commercial potential. You will have real ownership, the space to shape strategy and execution, and the opportunity to lead and develop a strong expert team. You will work alongside ambitious international colleagues in a collaborative environment with clear expectations, strong development opportunities, and a focus on sustainable growth.

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. That said, some roles may be an exception: if the job description states that the position is fully remote or 100% office-based, that arrangement will apply instead.

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.