AVP, Programming Manager

THE ROLE

The AVP, Programming Manager serves as the operational and strategic anchor of Sotheby’s global programming engine, overseeing the full lifecycle of exhibitions, live events, and public programs across our flagship locations. This role transforms creative concepts into flawlessly executed experiences, ensuring every activation reflects Sotheby’s standards of excellence, innovation, and cultural leadership.

Just as critically, this role acts as a catalyst across the business, inspiring and aligning teams to think strategically about how to activate our global spaces with compelling, always-on programming that serves both cultural relevance and commercial goals. The AVP will help Sotheby’s achieve sustained momentum, where every region, department, and partner understands how programming can drive audience growth, deepen client relationships, and strengthen the broader business ecosystem.

A key focus of this position is to build governance processes, refine organizational workflows, and strengthen collaboration across departments. By establishing clarity, efficiency, and repeatable systems, the AVP, Programming Manager enables Sotheby’s to scale its global programming efforts and deliver high-impact cultural experiences that connect audiences to our brand, elevate our spaces worldwide, deepen our relationship with clients and cultivate the next generation of collectors.

Working in close partnership with the VP of Global Programming & Retail Experience, this role will help define annual program calendars, streamline cross-functional communication, introduce best practices in project and event management, and support the long-term evolution of a world-class programming ecosystem. The ideal candidate brings sharp operational instincts, exceptional cross-functional influence, and deep fluency in the cultural and luxury landscapes.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead project management for global exhibitions, live events, and public programs from concept through execution, managing timelines, budgets, stakeholders, and deliverables.
• Develop and manage run-of-show documents, technical requirements, production schedules, and onsite logistics for talks, performances, masterclasses, and special events.
• Build and maintain governance structures, workflows, and cross-regional systems that enable consistent, scalable, always-on programming globally.
• Serve as the central cross-functional connector, uniting Specialist Departments, Private Sales, Retail, Marketing, PR, Events, Digital, and Operations around shared programming priorities and building-wide activation strategies.
• Lead pre-production and production meetings to ensure teams are informed, prepared, and aligned on responsibilities, workflows, and outcomes.
• Manage relationships with speakers, artists, performers, moderators, vendors, and production partners.
• Oversee onsite event execution globally, ensuring a seamless guest experience and consistent brand presentation.
• Track and report on KPIs for live events, including attendance, capacity, engagement, conversion, and foot-traffic impact.
• Maintain strong external networks across art, design, luxury, and culture to support talent curation, partnerships, and program development.
• Partner with regional teams to identify opportunities for ongoing space activation and ensure programming reflects local audiences while staying aligned with global strategy.
• Support the VP in annual program planning, long-term roadmap development, and the evolution of our global cultural strategy.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES

• Bachelor’s degree required; museum studies, arts administration, or related fields a plus.
• 7–10+ years in art, culture, luxury, design, museums, or experiential/live event project management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex live events, including talent coordination, technical production, guest experience, and onsite operations.
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional collaboration and driving organization-wide alignment.
• Experience developing governance frameworks, workflows, or organizational processes.
• Strong fluency in the cultural landscape; comfort operating in luxury environments.
• Museum or institutional programming/production experience is a strong bonus.
• Exceptionally organized, detail-oriented, and adept at managing multiple deadlines in fast-paced environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; composed and solutions-oriented under pressure.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity within an entrepreneurial, evolving function.
• Proactive, resourceful, collaborative, and able to operate independently.
• Fluency in English required; additional languages beneficial.

The proposed base salary for this position ranges from $110,000-$140,000. In addition to base salary successful candidates are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus, as well as a competitive benefits package. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered.