About us Whisky.Auction is a globally recognised leader in fine and rare spirits auctions and part of Speciality Drinks Group within the Pernod Ricard family. Combining specialist expertise with a trusted global platform, we connect collectors, enthusiasts and sellers with exceptional bottles, memorabilia and fine spirits. As part of a broader group spanning Whisky.Auction, The Whisky Exchange retail business and The Whisky Exchange Trade, we offer the opportunity to work across one of the most respected drinks groups in the industry. With ambitious plans for growth, Whisky.Auction is focused on expanding its reach, enhancing client experience and strengthening its position globally. The opportunity Reporting to the Digital Director, the Head of Whisky.Auction will define and deliver the strategy to accelerate the performance of the business, with the ambition to significantly scale revenue and market presence over the coming years. This role combines strategic leadership, commercial ownership and category expertise. The successful candidate will lead the expert Whisky.Auction team across consignment acquisition, authentication, valuation, auction planning and client experience. They will bring strong commercial awareness, the ability to identify and unlock growth opportunities, and the leadership capability to build a high-performing, ambitious and customer-focused team. This is a role for someone who can operate at both strategic and hands-on level; setting a clear roadmap for growth, making smart commercial decisions, building trusted client relationships, and ensuring operational excellence in the delivery of every auction. Your unique contribution Strategic leadership and growth Own and deliver the Whisky.Auction growth strategy, with a clear roadmap to scale the business Develop commercial plans to grow revenue, profitability, consignments and bidder participation Identify new growth opportunities across categories, audiences, geographies and partnerships Use market insight, customer data and performance trends to prioritise opportunities and shape strategy Commercial performance Take ownership of auction performance against revenue, profit and client targets Build and maintain a strong pipeline of commercially successful auctions with the Auction Manager and team Drive seller acquisition and retention through proactive business development and relationship management Monitor KPIs and budgets closely, using insight to improve conversion, sell-through, hammer prices and client satisfaction Client and market leadership Build strong relationships with collectors, sellers, buyers and key industry stakeholders Act as an ambassador for Whisky.Auction, strengthening brand reputation and market presence globally Deliver a premium client experience that builds trust, loyalty and differentiation Maintain expert knowledge of fine and rare spirits, wines and memorabilia to provide credible advice Operational excellence and continuous improvement Oversee the successful end-to-end delivery of auctions, ensuring high standards across valuation, authentication, cataloguing and client experience Drive continuous improvement through smarter processes, innovation and the effective use of technology Partner cross-functionally with digital, buying, operations, product and technology teams to deliver excellence Leadership and team development Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing team with clear accountability and ambition Build capability within the team and create an environment where people can grow and perform at their best Foster an inclusive, collaborative and customer-focused culture Your blend of talent Our ideal candidate is someone who has: Significant experience in auctions, fine spirits, fine wine, luxury goods, collectibles or a related specialist category A proven track record of leading a commercial function or business area with responsibility for growth, performance and results Strong experience in sourcing, valuation, authentication, auction planning, client relationship management, team leadership and budget ownership A strategic and commercially minded approach, with the ability to turn vision into action and deliver results Experience as a credible and effective leader, able to motivate teams, build strong relationships and drive accountability A highly organised, resilient and adaptable approach, with strong influencing, negotiation, judgement and governance skills Applications are to be received by Monday 13 April, however we reserve the right to close the advertisement sooner. Benefits of joining The Whisky Exchange Fun Stuff Staff Discount at The Whisky Exchange | Tastings | Product Education | Access to Events | Cycle to Work Scheme | High Street Discounts Serious Stuff EAP | Great Parental Leave Policies | Life Cover | Private Medical Insurance | Employer Pension Contribution Feel Good Stuff S&R Initiatives | Personal Day | Career Development | Employee Networks | Flexi Work | 25 Days Holiday (plus Bank Holidays) We're committed to diversity and inclusion. We promote diversity and inclusion throughout our business. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture - an environment where we can truly be ourselves. We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors. Please feel free to leave these off your CV and application form if you so wish.