German, Austrian & Swiss Classical & Modern Art Expert

Germany

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, more than 110,000 unique items are auctioned, all carefully curated by our passionate in-house experts.

Having sold over 25 million unique objects, our mission is to become the world’s most popular destination for special objects. As a growing, diverse and sustainable scale-up, we proudly live by three core values. If these values resonate with you, we’d love to explore how you can join us.

Taking ownership and driving impact
Being open to change and feedback
Being passionate about our mission and our customers.

About the role

Join Catawiki as a German, Austrian & Swiss Classical & Modern Art Expert. You will source and evaluate artworks spanning late medieval and Renaissance works up to the 16th century, German and Austrian Old Masters, 19th-century painting, German/Austrian/Swiss Modernism, and key classical-to-modern movements from the region — areas where deep art-historical and market expertise are essential. The role also includes selected international works aligned with category needs and market demand.

You will handle a high volume of submissions, ranging from top-tier masterpieces to mid- and lower-value works that still demand rigorous assessment. This role reports to the Sr. Category Manager of Secondary Market Art and is remote with an immediate start date. If Amsterdam-based, two days per week at the Amsterdam office are encouraged.

About the team

You will work within the Classical & Modern Art category alongside our existing experts, the broader expert team, Sales and the category leadership team to grow our German, Austrian & Swiss Classical & Modern Art offering. The role blends curation, commercial ownership and close collaboration with Sales to grow the overall category and deliver strategic initiatives.

The team values ownership, cross-functional delivery, measurable commercial impact and strong interpersonal collaboration. As part of a connected group of experts, you will also support and collaborate across adjacent art categories when needed.

What you’ll do

Source, evaluate and curate German, Austrian & Swiss Classical & Modern Art lots across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, wider Europe and key international markets — including reviewing a large daily volume of artworks with varied market value (plus selected international works when relevant).
Produce expert lot descriptions, set public estimates and recommend reserve prices aligned with market realities.
Partner with Account Managers to design and deliver single-seller auctions and tailored seller-growth plans.
Actively generate and convert leads by visiting sellers and prospects, running on-site meetings with Account Managers and independently, and building trust through expert guidance and commercial clarity.
Represent Catawiki at art fairs, previews and industry events, using these moments to develop pipeline, strengthen market presence and secure quality consignments.
Plan and execute travel across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and key international hubs to identify, approach and onboard new sellers at scale — balancing proactive scouting with high-priority opportunities.
Build and maintain commercial relationships with galleries, dealers, collectors, museums and estates; leverage your network to secure quality supply — commercial ownership and relationship-building are must-haves in this role. Leverage your network to identify, secure and convert quality supply at scale.
Lead valuation, condition and authenticity assessments; own lot pricing and appraisal recommendations based on up-to-date market intelligence.
Work collaboratively within the Classical & Modern Art team to ensure cohesive curation, shared market intelligence and operational excellence.
Support neighbouring expert categories when needed, contributing to a flexible and resilient art organisation.

What you’ll bring

A strong track record in German, Austrian & Swiss Classical & Modern Art, including hands-on appraisal, provenance research and pricing experience.
Proven experience in gallery management, auction houses or art dealing — ideally within European classical and modern art markets.
A distinctly commercial mindset, with the ability to recognise opportunities, convert leads and develop long-term seller relationships.
Credibility and presence in the German-speaking art markets, supported by trusted relationships and a strong professional reputation.
A true team player with excellent collaboration skills, able to work smoothly with fellow experts, sales teams and cross-functional partners.
Flexibility and openness to support adjacent art categories when required.
Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and communication skills.
Experience working in online marketplaces or within the broader art-trade ecosystem.

Nice to haves:
An established professional network across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including galleries, collectors, museums and artist foundations.
Multilingual skills — must be fluent in German and English (Dutch/Italian is a plus depending on team setup; French is beneficial for Switzerland/international consignments).
Familiarity with European market-analytics tools, CRM systems or other art-industry platforms that support expert decision-making.
Prior experience handling cross-border consignments or coordinating with European cultural institutions.

Why You'll Love Working with Us

Create a visible impact by working at scale in a global organisation serving millions of customers across 80+ categories. In our flat structure, every role has a broad scope and directly impacts both our customers and the business.
Learn and grow through our Learning & Development initiatives, including clear development plans and mentorship programmes to support your career progression.
A culture of connection defines us. We’re a passionate, diverse team of 800+ Catawikians representing 60+ nationalities. We foster an inclusive and queer-friendly environment where everyone is encouraged to bring their full self to work.
Celebrate life’s moments with us. You’ll receive a €100 Catavoucher when you join, a €50 Catavoucher on your birthday, and an extra day off each year to “Pursue Your Passion”. We also offer additional leave for key work anniversaries and important life events. Benefits may vary by location.

Our Offices and Way of Working

Our vibrant offices in Amsterdam, Paris and Lisbon are designed to inspire collaboration. Most Catawikians operate in a hybrid setup, combining office-based and remote work, with a minimum of two days per week in the office, unless a role is explicitly stated as fully remote or fully office-based.

Interested?

Apply with an English CV and Cover Letter. By applying, you agree to Catawiki’s Applicant Privacy Policy. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.