escriptions

Principal Auctioneer

The Principal Auctioneer manages the Art Department and is responsible for the success of the onboard art auction program. He/she will conduct auctions in a high energy, entertaining fashion. A successful Auctioneer will gear all of his/her activities towards carrying out a marketing plan that generates revenue through the sale of the Park West artworks and other products available onboard his/her assigned ship. This includes promotion, direct selling, and sales through live auction. As the Principal Auctioneer is the head of this department, this position is promoted directly from the pool of Associate Auctioneers who are training onboard other vessels around the world..

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for all sales activities related to art provided by Park West Gallery onboard assigned ship.

• Sells art at auction. Facilitates auction in a high-energy, entertaining fashion geared towards maximizing sales potential.

• Initiates and executes sales conversations with cruise guests; describes art to cruise guests to initiate sales.

• Exhibits professional selling skills to effectively market Park West product.
• Represents Park West with utmost integrity and professionalism at all times.

• Demonstrates complete understanding of all art inventory and its respective pricing structures.

• Maximizes all opportunities in the process of closing a sale.

• Coordinates marketing efforts with other shipboard departments (i.e. Spa, Gift Shop).

• Creates and executes marketing programs for art program on board.
• Develops an ongoing database of leads for potential art sales. Sources and develops client relationships and referrals.

• Implements Park West marketing plans as needed.

• Creates and conducts effective art presentations highlighting current inventory, artists and history as relevant. Auctioneer gears all presentations towards increased customer participation at upcoming sales events (i.e. auctions).

• Maintains accurate records of all sales and prospecting activities including sales calls, presentations, closed sales and follow-up activities. Reports this information to pertinent Park West Fleet Manager.

• Receives and offloads art inventory. Maintains accurate records of all inventory transactions.

• Completes appropriate documentation in cooperation with shipboard and/or corporate regulations. Coordinates said documentation with onboard staff as required by the cruise company and/or its designate.

• Documents all sales and inventory transactions for each voyage including a minimum of Reconciliation Report, Inventory and Collateral Reports and Budget Deficit. Sends all reports to Park West physically and electronically at end of voyage.

• Supervises all Associate Auctioneer and Art Steward activities. Develops staff to achieve maximum sales potential. Delegates activities as needed.
  
  
• Manages appearance of gallery and art displays throughout ship as per cruise line and Park West guidelines.

• Ensures all art staff activities and gallery functions are held within appropriate guidelines as outlined by Park West and/or the cruise company.

• Performs related duties as required. This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the individual occupying this position. Shipboard management may require other job-related duties in conjunction with the above.

Qualifications:

• Experience as Associate Auctioneer with consistently high performance ratings and sales success.
• Ability to manage the financial aspects of art auctioneering, including the successful identification of expense reduction through
  cost efficiencies and revenue growth through promotional and one-on-one sales.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal service including needs assessment techniques, quality service standards, alternative delivery systems, and customer satisfaction evaluation techniques.
• Ability to manage international staff in a positive and productive manner by motivating, developing and managing employees
  as they work.

Compensation
Once promoted to the Principal Auctioneer position, commissions and the potential of earning six-figures begin. Accommodations and meals onboard the ship are still covered; in addition, Plymouth covers costs to an approved budget designed to be adequate to properly operate the art program. Auctioneers may, at their own discretion, sometimes exceed the budget (typically on high revenue cruises) and may incur expenses. These are typically more than offset by increased net earnings.

Commissions are paid on the net revenue. Commission rates are paid with respect to achievement of each ship's goals. Living accommodations and meals onboard continue to be covered by the company.

There are additional advancement and management opportunities available to Principal Auctioneers with a proven track record in running a successful on board Art Program.

Associate Art Auctioneer

The Associate Auctioneer position prepares the Associate to become a Principal Art Auctioneer; it is essentially an extension of the training program during which the Associate will be paid to hone his/her art history knowledge, product knowledge, auctioneering and selling skills. Associates work directly with the Auctioneer in developing, maintaining, and executing the art program on board. Associates are full, integral parts of the marketing plan onboard. This position is very dynamic, and requires a pro-active skill set and forward thinking. The Associate Art Auctioneer plays a key role in market penetration onboard the cruise ship, and helps develop alternative promotion to reach the ever-changing demographic onboard their respective ship. The time it takes an Associate Art Auctioneer to advance to Principal Art Auctioneer varies. Some will advance in as little as four weeks, whereas some may remain in the Associate position for several months while developing the skills necessary to manage a program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist Principal Art Auctioneer in developing, maintaining, and executing the art program on board.
• Learn through hands-on, integral involvement in the art program and hone selling, management, and auctioneering skills in preparation for promotion to a Principal Art Auctioneer position

Qualifications:

• Strong public speaking skills
• Extremely outgoing, full of energy and enthusiastic
• Coach able and has the willingness and desire to learn
• Ability to manage a staff and work as a team player
• Has personable demeanor and professional appearance
• Ability to work 4-6 months consecutively on a luxury cruise ship
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Must be at least 21 years old
• Demonstrated sales experience is preferred, but not required
• College degree is preferred, but not required.

Compensation
The Associate assignment is a paid training position; accommodations and shipboard meals are also covered by the company. The Associate assignment is an essential aspect of the training program, in which one learns about the Art Program and all of the unique intricacies of the job. Succeeding as an Auctioneer is directly related to an Associate's learning, hard work, dedication, and demonstrated success during his training with a Principal Auctioneer on a ship.

During this training period, in addition to accommodation and shipboard meals, Associates are provided a stipend each week while training.

General Requirements:

• Passport: Everyone working at sea must maintain an up-to-date passport valid at least through the end of one contract.
• Visas: United States Citizens are usually not required to obtain any visas. Candidates from other countries are responsible for securing any visas required by the itinerary and/or cruise line. This requirement also includes a C1/D visa to travel in and out of the United States.
• Medical Exam: All members of the Art Department must complete a medical exam and be declared fit for duty by a physician. Each cruise line maintains a list of required medical exam documents. All Art Department members must bring this medical paperwork onboard ship with him/her.
• Background Check: Park West requires each independent contractor to undergo a full background check. This investigation will include both employment and criminal background investigations.
• Drug Screen: Park West also requires each independent contractor to undergo a full drug screen. Any individual found with illegal substances within his/her body will not be eligible to represent Park West onboard the ship.

Language Requirements:

• Ability to speak English clearly, distinctly and cordially with guests.
• Ability to read and write English in order to understand and interpret written procedures. Must give and receive instructions in written and verbal forms to present information and respond to questions from guests, supervisors and co-workers.
• Other language skills such as Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Mandarin or Japanese are preferred, but not required.

Physical Requirements:

• You will regularly be required to stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• You must be physically able to participate in emergency life saving procedures and drills.
• Full use and range of arms and legs as well as full visual, verbal and hearing abilities are required to follow instructions in the event of an emergency including the lowering of lifeboats.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.