Department Technician for Medieval Art & The Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Job Title: Department Technician

Job Status: Full-time

About the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art collects, studies, conserves, and presents significant works of art across all times and cultures in order to connect people to creativity, knowledge, and ideas.

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Since it was founded in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum’s galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

The Departmental Technician is the caretaker of the Medieval Department’s collection at The Met 5th Avenue and works closely with departmental curatorial and collections staff and associated conservators. Responsibilities include art handling, installation and deinstallation of objects, maintenance of the galleries and storerooms, and documentary photography of the collection. The Departmental Technician conducts the annual inventory for the Met 5th Avenue collection and completes TMS data entry of object location information under the supervision of the collections manager.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

  • Responsible for the handling, movement, installation, and deinstallation of works of art in the Medieval Department and at The Met Cloisters as needed.
  • Conducts daily inspection of permanent and departmental special exhibition galleries.
  • Responsible for monitoring conditions in storerooms and proper storage of objects as well as maintenance of relevant tools and supplies.
  • Responsible for producing documentary photography of collections as needed.
  • Works with the Principal Departmental Technician at The Met Cloisters and collections manager on all departmental projects and exhibitions at both The Met 5th Avenue and The Met Cloisters.
  • Maintenance (dusting) of all objects in the galleries, storerooms, and off-site warehouse.
  • Assists collections manager with label production, including cutting and installing departmental labels.
  • Supervises the viewing of art in storage by scholars, students, and other visitors in coordination with the collections manager and escorts authorized visitors into restricted areas or storerooms.
  • Coordinates with the Buildings shops (Riggers, Metal, Plexi, Carpenters, Lampers, Electricians) in all gallery and storeroom projects.
  • Works with collections manager on scheduling gallery work and storage concerns.
  • Responsible for the annual inventory of all objects, recording their movement and location in TMS under supervision of collections manager.
  • Supervises galleries during concerts, special events, and Communications projects, including set-up and breakdown in the galleries as required.
  • Orders supplies in conjunction with curators and conservators.
  • Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine (or approved for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, sincerely held religious belief, or pregnancy, or because you are a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sex offenses).

Experience and Skills:

  • Minimum of two-years experience with art handling or collections care in a museum, gallery, fine art moving company, or professional art studio.
  • Attention to detail required.
  • Ability to display initiative, to work independently, and to follow directions required.
  • Multi-tasking, ability to shift priorities regularly and to be flexible is essential.
  • Ability to work with curatorial, conservation, administrative, and facilities staff of all levels required.
  • Digital photography and computer skills required.
  • Mechanical aptitude and physical ability to perform duties required.
  • Routine travel between Met 5th Avenue and The Met Cloisters is expected

Knowledge and Education:

  • College degree in art, art history, museum studies, or conservation preferred
  • Proficiency in MS Office, Photoshop, TMS, digital photography, Lightroom preferred.

To Apply:

Apply via LinkedIn

The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.