Senior Specialist / Specialist, Wine & Spirits

About Bonhams Founded in 1793, Bonhams is one of the world's leading auction houses — defined by connection, and home to the curious. With over 230 years of expertise, Bonhams operates a global network of trusted specialists across 24 countries, including flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris and Hong Kong. Across more than 60 specialist categories, Bonhams serves collectors of every kind — from emerging to established — with the objects, stories and expertise that define their collecting journey. Beyond auctions, Bonhams is both a destination for discovery and for industry-leading services and support. Its rotating programme of exhibitions and public programming is free and open to all, reflecting a longstanding commitment to curiosity, cultural conversation and the enduring power of objects. Bonhams: A house built on knowledge. Defined by connection. Home to the curious. About the department The Wine & Spirits department is a global market leader in fine and rare collectible bottles, recognized for record-setting auctions and trusted relationships with the world’s most sophisticated collectors. With flagship sales in Hong Kong, London, New York, and Paris, Bonhams has established itself as a major force in the secondary market for fine wine and rare spirits. In your role as Senior Specialist/ Specialist, you will be required to carry out the following: Key Tasks and Responsibilities Business Development & Consignment Sourcing Develop relationships with leading collectors, investors, and trade partners in the fine wine & rare spirits market. Identify and secure major consignments of rare and investment-grade wine & spirits for auction and private sale by building and managing a pipeline of opportunities. Client Development & VVIP Engagement Provide tailored advice to clients on buying, selling, and building collections and develop long-term partnerships. Represent Bonhams at industry events, tastings, and private client engagements. Auction Curation & Specialist Expertise Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, and Operations, for pre-sale activities Assisting with all aspects of Auction Days – setting up auction, telephone bidding, absentee bidding Organize and assist in department tasting events Catalogue wine & spirits, and assist with preparation of the catalogues on a timely basis to meet deadlines Valuation & Appraisal Conduct appraisals of rare wine & spirits collections for auction, private sale, and advisory purposes. Work closely with warehouse partners to receive, inspect, assess, catalogue, and prepare inventory lots for auction, ensuring accuracy and compliance with operational standards. Market Intelligence & Strategic Insight . Maintain deep knowledge of global trends in collectible fine wine and rare spirits. Collaborate with global Wine & Spirits specialists to expand the department’s reach and reputation. Key Skills and Experience Relevant Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent work experience Relationships with established dealers and collectors in the field. Proven experience in the specialty field and/or in the auction industry. Strong written and verbal communication and networking skills. Detail-oriented, well-organized individual. Ability to prioritize and meet strict scheduled deadlines. Familiar with MS application, able to work within our business enterprise software. Ability to travel as necessary