Category Manager Asian & Tribal Arts

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 we offer over 110,000 unique items in auction, carefully curated by our passionate in-house experts.

Category Manager Asian & Tribal Arts

About the Role

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.

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 We Offer

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.