Category Manager Asian & Tribal Arts
CatawikiOnline Auctions company
Amsterdam, NetherlandsManager
Accel
Permira
Lead Edge Capital
Columbia Lake Partners
Keybridge Venture Partners
Bryant Stibel
Operations & Strategy
About the role
TL;DR
Leads the Asian & Tribal Arts category strategy, team, and P&L to drive sustainable commercial growth.
- •At Catawiki, every day brings the extraordinary! Whether it’s Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 Car, a Woolly Mammoth’s Skeleton, Lady Gaga's Jumpsuit or Usain Bolt’s running shoe, we encounter exceptional objects every day.
- •We’re a one-of-a-kind marketplace for buying and selling special objects.
- •Each week, more than 100,000 unique items are auctioned, all carefully curated by our passionate in-house experts.
- •Having sold over 25 million unique objects, our mission is to become the world’s most popular destination for special objects.
- •As a growing, diverse and sustainable scale-up, we proudly live by three core values.
- •If these values resonate with you, we’d love to explore how you can join us.
- •Taking ownership and driving impact Being open to change and feedback Being passionate about our mission and our customers.
- •Your Mission Asian & Tribal is one of the most culturally rich and commercially complex categories within Collectables.
- •It spans Asian Art, Tribal & Ethnographic Art, and related subcategories where heritage, craftsmanship, provenance, and collector trust are critical.
- •The category attracts a diverse global buyer base ranging from emerging collectors to highly specialised, repeat buyers, and requires strong judgement, commercial sharpness, and leadership to balance growth with quality.
- •As Category Manager, you treat Asian & Tribal as a high-potential business with depth and long-term upside.
- •You own the category strategy, drive sustainable growth, and translate data into clear execution.
- •You lead and develop a team of experts, build strong external networks with sellers and institutions, and ensure a high-quality buyer experience that reinforces trust and repeat engagement.
- •This role is based in the Netherlands with a hybrid setup.
- •You are expected to work from the Amsterdam office two days per week to collaborate closely with other Category Managers, Commercial teams, and key stakeholders.
- •What You’ll Do Build, own, and execute the strategic growth plan for the Asian & Tribal category, with a clear focus on sustainable YoY growth Own the category P&L and drive commercial outcomes through data-led decisions Use dashboards and performance data to steer auction quality, pricing, RP strategy, and supply mix Shape auction planning around seasonality, market dynamics, collector behaviour, and seller portfolios Drive curation excellence and consistency across the category, reducing performance volatility Identify commercial opportunities early and influence internal teams to act on them Partner closely with Sales and Business Development to strengthen the seller pipeline and attract high-quality, repeat consignors Build and maintain strong relationships with key sellers, institutions, and professional networks in the Asian & Tribal field Lead, coach, and develop an international team of Experts, with a strong focus on performance, growth, and engagement Create clarity, focus, and pace for the team through strong prioritisation and decision-making Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Operations, and Commercial teams to unlock new growth opportunities Monitor global trends in Asian & Tribal markets, including pricing dynamics, collector demand, and competitive movements What You’ll Bring A strong commercial mindset with the ability to spot opportunities and translate them into impact Proven experience driving growth, performance, and accountability in a complex category or business environment A data-driven approach; you are comfortable turning dashboards into concrete actions Strong people management skills, including coaching, performance management, and talent development Resilience and decisiveness in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment Excellent networking skills and the ability to build trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders Strong influencing and communication skills across different seniority levels and teams Entrepreneurial energy and a hands-on mindset, balanced with strategic thinking Comfort working with Google Suite or similar tools Interest or background in Asian Art, Tribal Art, or Collectables is a plus (deep expertise can grow on the job) Where You’ll Be This is a hybrid role based in the Netherlands.
- •You will work from the Amsterdam office at least two days per week to collaborate with fellow Category Managers, Commercial teams, and key stakeholders.
- •What's in it for you? A category with cultural depth, global reach, and significant commercial potential.
- •You will have real ownership, the space to shape strategy and execution, and the opportunity to lead and develop a strong expert team.
- •You will work alongside ambitious international colleagues in a collaborative environment with clear expectations, strong development opportunities, and a focus on sustainable growth.
- •Why You'll Love Working with Us Create a visible impact by working at scale in a global organisation serving millions of customers across 80+ categories.
- •In our flat structure, every role has a broad scope and directly impacts both our customers and the business.
- •Learn and grow through our Learning & Development initiatives, including clear development plans and mentorship programmes to support your career progression.
- •A culture of connection defines us.
- •We’re a passionate, diverse team of 800+ Catawikians representing 60+ nationalities.
- •We foster an inclusive and queer-friendly environment where everyone is encouraged to bring their full self to work.
- •Celebrate life’s moments with us.
- •You’ll receive a €100 Catavoucher when you join, a €50 Catavoucher on your birthday, and an extra day off each year to “Pursue Your Passion”.
- •We also offer additional leave for key work anniversaries and important life events.
- •Benefits may vary by location.
- •Our Offices and Way of Working Our vibrant offices in Amsterdam, Paris and Lisbon are designed to inspire collaboration.
- •Most Catawikians operate in a hybrid setup, combining office-based and remote work, with a minimum of two days per week in the office, unless a role is explicitly stated as fully remote or fully office-based.
- •Interested? Apply with an English CV and Cover Letter.
- •By applying, you agree to Catawiki’s Applicant Privacy Policy.
- •If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply anyway.
- •You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Required skills
Google Suite
Nice-to-have skills
Asian ArtTribal ArtCollectables
Domain expertise
ecommerce
Benefits & perks
Catavoucher, Extra day off, Learning & Development, Mentorship programmes, Hybrid work, Additional leave
Tech stack
Google Suite