Auction Shipping Photography & Cataloging

Auction Operations Associate – Shipping, Photography & Cataloging

Immediate Hire | Westminster, Maryland

B&D Auctions is seeking a dependable, efficient, and detail-oriented Auction Operations Associate to join our team.

This is a hands-on, varied position supporting multiple parts of our auction cycle. Depending on where we are in the sale schedule, the day may include shipping completed auction purchases, photographing and preparing merchandise for an upcoming auction, assisting with cataloging, helping customers during pickup, or supporting the team with house calls and general auction-house operations.

We are looking for someone who can comfortably move between responsibilities, maintain a productive pace, and understand that priorities change throughout the auction cycle.

Responsibilities may include:

• Carefully packing antiques, collectibles, artwork, and other auction purchases for shipment
• Selecting appropriate boxes and packing materials based on the item
• Processing shipments efficiently while maintaining accuracy
• Matching merchandise to the correct customer orders
• Keeping the shipping area organized and stocked
• Communicating professionally with customers regarding shipping when needed
• Recognizing when fragile, valuable, unusual, or complicated shipments require additional attention

The right candidate understands that good shipping requires both speed and judgment
. We need someone who can keep orders moving without becoming careless with customer property.

This is not a traditional photography position focused on styling, artistic composition, or spending extended time on individual pieces.

B&D Auctions typically photographs approximately 2,000 lots per auction with a team, so this role requires someone who can work efficiently, maintain a consistent pace, and make good decisions about where additional time is necessary.

Responsibilities may include:

• Photographing auction merchandise clearly, accurately, and efficiently
• Maintaining production pace while still producing useful images for online bidders
• Identifying which items can be photographed quickly and which pieces require additional photographs or closer attention
• Capturing condition issues, signatures, labels, maker's marks, model numbers, damage, provenance information, and other important details
• Photographing furniture and larger merchandise
• Assisting with basic cataloging and item descriptions
• Gathering identifying information from merchandise to assist catalogers
• Researching or gathering additional information when directed
• Organizing merchandise as it moves through the auction process
• Asking questions when something is unclear rather than guessing

We are not looking for someone who already knows everything about antiques. We are looking for someone who can develop the judgment to recognize when an item may be important, unusual, damaged, signed, marked, or otherwise deserving of additional attention.

Curiosity and the willingness to learn are extremely valuable in this position.

This position will also interact with our customers and assist with day-to-day auction operations.

Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting customers during auction pickup
• Locating and retrieving purchased merchandise
• Helping customers safely load purchases
• Providing friendly and professional customer service
• Occasionally answering incoming phone calls and directing them to the appropriate team member
• Assisting with U‑Haul rentals after training
• Recognizing when a customer question or concern should be escalated

Customer service experience is a strong plus. We value someone who can remain professional and helpful while also understanding that they are not expected to know every answer immediately.

We would much rather have an employee ask the right questions than confidently give the wrong answer.

Because we are a small, team-oriented auction company, this position may also assist with work outside of the traditional shipping and photography areas.

This may include:

• Assisting the team with loading and unloading trucks for house calls…