Shipping Manager France

About the Bonhams Network

Founded in 1793, Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.  In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement. 

About You 

The Shipping Manager will provide support to the  Paris salesroom  and be a point of contact for the Europe Team to support the safe, timely and cost-effective movement of fine art property pre and post-sale to Paris salesroom.
They will help manage relevant paperwork and documents for import and export, work closely with the Specialist Departments, Finance and The Customer Service Post Sale team and ensure Bonhams are operating in an organised and compliant manner in relation to all areas of shipping. They will work with 3rd party shippers, managing their performance, ensuring their compliance and provide advice and support to internal teams where required.

About the Role

In your role as Shipping Manager you will be required to carry out the following:

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provide daily management / administration of import advices from 3PLs & internal teams
• Manage the shipping coordinator based in Paris.
• Assist in maintaining Bonhams import database and ensure continuous standards are maintained
• Work to ensure Bonhams are always compliant and ‘audit ready’
• Provide guidance for temporary admission and temporary export, monitor all formalities documentation at each step of the process. all documentation in the system.
• Obtain licences, certificates in timely manner for import/export.(“licences, carnat ATA, CITES”…) and ensure the follow up with the French authorities( SMF,SLL,DRIEE,CCI…).
• Provide any justification needed for exports ( tax certificates) to comply with French legislation.
• Support the Customer Service Post Sale team to ensure a smooth export process.
• Manage the relationship with custom agent for Bonhams France.
• Be the point of contact of French Custom authority.
• Provide source of import/export information and advice to Specialist Departments, Legal and Finance teams.
• Work with all European offices in charge of exportation in order to have a tracking list of all objects sent to Paris salesroom including such information as size, characteristics, export licences, certificates….)
• Manage travel exhibitions to other offices/selling locations with other shipping managers in Bonhams group.
• Support property movement for touring and special exhibitions
• Match import shipments against A3 contracts and add import entry details
• Provide quotes for internal and pre or post sales shipping, alongside co-ordination with any 3rd party shippers and take care of any specific requirement linked to the shipment.
• Manage the local current relationship with current shipping companies selected by Bonhams.
• Investigate any new shipping supplier in order to reinforce the Bonhams offer with high standard quality/cost and match the departments expectation.

In addition to the tasks and responsibilities listed, you may be required to perform other duties as assigned by your Manager. 

Key Skills & Experience

• Ideally you will be educated to degree standard or you will have experience working in a customer focused role within the art, auction of shipping industries
• Fluent in French and English
• eCustomer experience preferred
• Have excellent communication skills both written and verbal and will be able to present information in a clear and concise manner
• You must have good reasoning skills and be able to analyse data and prepare reports
• Ability to negotiate and influence across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• You will be required to work with industry standard computer packages such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint
• Demonstrable experience in navigating organisational structures

What We Offer

Some of our benefits include:

• Travel Allowance
• Learning and Training Funding Programme
• Welfare and Retirement Plans
  

If you wish to apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by the 2nd July 2026 at midnight.

We thank you for your interest in this position but please note that we will only contact candidates chosen for further consideration.

Bonhams is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.