What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sales Director position at Appraisal Bureau?
About Appraisal Bureau
Appraisal Bureau is a technology platform that modernizes fine art appraisals, making valuations faster, more consistent, and scalable. We work with collectors, insurers, and financial institutions to streamline appraisal workflows and bring transparency to a traditionally manual industry. Our goal is to transform how art is valued by turning appraisals into a data-driven, tech-enabled service.
The Role
We're hiring a Director of Sales to partner directly with the founder in scaling Appraisal Bureau's client base. This is a senior, mid-career role for someone who already has a network in the art, collecting, insurance, or wealth-management sectors and is ready to activate it behind a category-defining product.
You'll own the full pre-appraisal client journey — from first contact through signed contract — and then hand each new account off cleanly to our appraisal management team for execution.
This is the first dedicated sales hire at the company. The person in this role will help shape how Appraisal Bureau sells, set the foundation for a sales org, and hire and lead a team under them as we grow.
Responsibilities
- Activate and grow your existing network to originate new business from collectors, galleries, insurers, financial institutions, and estate professionals
- Build and manage a qualified pipeline through outreach, referrals, and industry events
- Own sales conversations end-to-end — discovery, scoping, proposal, and contract negotiation
- Represent Appraisal Bureau at art fairs, industry gatherings, and client meetings
- Work directly with the founder to refine positioning, pricing, and the sales playbook
- Hand off signed accounts cleanly to the appraisal management team
- Maintain CRM hygiene and accurate forecasting
What We're Looking For
- Minimum 5 years of sales experience in art or luxury services
- An existing, relevant network — collectors, advisors, galleries, insurers, family offices, estate attorneys, or similar
- Proven track record of originating and closing new business
- Strong commercial instincts — you can scope engagements, negotiate terms, and close without heavy hand-holding
- Fluency in the contemporary art market
- Direct experience with fine art appraisals — whether from a prior role in appraisal services, auction house specialist work, insurance valuation, estate services, or a closely adjacent field
- Comfortable operating in a small, fast-moving startup environment where you're building the process as you go
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience
- Uncapped commission on new clients you bring in, with a target of $25,000 annually
- Benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401k
- Generous paid holidays and PTO
- Global WeWork access
Salary : $25,000