Job Description

Location:

Sotheby's Institute of Art - London, Bedford Square, WC1B 3EE

Reports to:

Head of Careers, dotted line to Global Head of Admissions

Contract:

Permanent role. Part-time for 3 days per week (0.6fte), hybrid

Salary:

27,000 - 31,200 per annum (0.60fte pro-rata of 45,000 - 52,000)

About Us

Established in 1969, Sotheby's Institute of Art is now among the world's leading specialist higher education institutions. Our offerings cover everything from art history to key business skills from our campuses located in the world's art capitals of London and New York, as well as online. With a global network of more than 8,000 alumni in influential roles across the industry, the Institute remains at the forefront of art and luxury business education.

Master's programs in London provide a rigorous exploration of both the art and luxury markets, equipping students with critical expertise and market-ready skills. Through lectures, panels with leading scholars and professionals, site visits, case studies, and immersive field study trips, graduates leave with not only theoretical and practical knowledge but also the connections and confidence to excel in the global art and luxury sectors.

In London the Institute is situated in Bedford Square, the best-preserved Georgian square in London with a private central garden. The London Institute is part of the 'larger academy' of Bedford Square, with the University of London and the British Museum in the neighbouring square. Sotheby's auction house, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Royal Academy of Arts are a few minutes' walk away. The Institute is also close to Mayfair, the traditional centre of the London art market, where many dealers and galleries are located.

Sotheby's Institute of Art is owned by Edconic, an organisation that partners with prestigious companies to deliver relevant, experiential learning programs taught by industry experts from the world's best brands. As well as Sotheby's Institute of Art, The Edconic portfolio currently includes The School of The New York Times, Vogue College of Fashion, Manchester City Sports Business School and WIRED Education. Edconic's academic programs range from pre-college to master's degrees with campuses in New York, London, Madrid and Online, and partnerships in Seoul and Beijing.

Job Purpose

We are seeking a knowledgeable arts and luxury professional to join our Careers Service as the new Career Pathways & Employer Engagement Lead. This dynamic public-facing role combines student support through the delivery of sector-led, informed 1:1 career advice with strategic employer relationship-building that translates into facilitating meaningful work opportunities across the art and luxury worlds. The postholder will engage more broadly with SIA's careers team and faculty to enhance the student experience through collaborative working across Edconic brands.

Working with the admissions team the postholder will engage early with prospective applicants via webinars, open days, tours and interviews with potential students to highlight the value of the Careers Service offer.

With the support of the Head of Careers, the postholder will seek to enhance the offer of year-round work placements, job and internships opportunities for current students and graduates, including identifying and brokering relevant education/ industry partnerships to secure lead access to art and luxury recruitment pipelines.

This position plays a vital role in preparing current students for successful and sustainable careers through tailored advisory and relevant skills-based teaching, workshops and presentations.

Key Responsibilities

Prospective applicants:

Collaborate with the Admissions department and faculty to engage prospective students through webinars, open days, and interviews, to prioritize the Careers Service offer, showcasing alumni and student successes, and organize networking events and social media engagement. Use Careers as a recruitment admissions tool to secure further enrollments.

Career preparation:

Prepare current students for successful and sustainable careers through careers advisory services, including 1:1 coaching and skills-based workshop presentations

Strategic employer engagement and industry partnerships:

Identify, build and maintain strategic industry relationships with employers and enterprise, brokering relevant education/ industry partnerships to enhance access to recruitment pipelines within the art and luxury sectors

MA work placement / practice-based dissertation:

Support on the continued growth of the Spring MA Work Placement elective and Practice-based dissertation focused on industry immersive projects.

Activate SIA Alumni:

For Careers events, possible mentorship, placement and job opportunities

Monitor and evaluate data:

ensure continuous improvement to industry relationships measured alongside graduate outcomes data
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an individual undertaking this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and skills, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may be reasonably be expected within the scope of the post.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Educated to degree level (or equivalent) Significant experience of working in the art and luxury sectors and /or in recruitment or careers services Proven experience in building and understanding of career pathways and the hiring space of the arts and luxury sectors to support current students and secure prospective applicants. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with sector relevant employers Experience in coordinating HE work placements and internships, including working with visa and compliance teams Experience in HE Careers counselling or an equivalent mentorship programme Experience in data analytics Strong networking and sector relevant relationship-building skills Project management: ability to coordinate working with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities Digital fluency: using digital tools with a flair for data analysis and reporting to inform decision making Strong problem-solving skills with an ability to prioritise project development and delivery alongside day-to-day challenges

Desirable Criteria

Certification in careers coaching - AGCAS or CDI certification or equivalent

Application Process

Please submit your CV plus a covering letter demonstrating your interest in this position and how you meet the person specification to: ukvacancies@edconic.com. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 28th November 2025. Applications may be shortlisted upon receipt, and we retain the right to close the post early.

Benefits of working for Sotheby's Institute of Art include:

25 days annual leave plus up to 4 days additional discretionary leave during the Christmas period Option to purchase an additional 5 days annual leave on a salary sacrifice basis 2 discretionary Company Global Celebration Days 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme Access to any course within the Edconic online course portfolio free of charge (subject to eligibility) Employee and family discounts on all Edconic courses Volunteering days Life insurance Discount for gym membership Access to a comprehensive e-learning platform Hybrid working
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 27,000.00-31,200.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Enhanced maternity leave Enhanced paternity leave Free flu jabs Life insurance Paid volunteer time Sick pay Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London WC1B 3EE