Assistant/Associate Conservator, Tang Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Assistant/Associate Conservator, Tang Wing
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary:
- Assistant Conservator Pay Range : $68,000 – $72,000
- Associate Conservator Pay Range: $80,000 – $85,000
About The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
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. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.
Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.
At The Met, every staff member – from security officers to researchers to scientists and beyond – lives by our core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity.
Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always.
Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued.
Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission.
Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertise—and inspire curiosity and creativity.
Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve.
About The Department
The Department of Objects Conservation is responsible for the conservation and mounting/installation of three-dimensional art at the Museum’s two venues. The scope of the Objects Conservation’s mission-critical responsibilities extends to every curatorial department and all of the Museum’s collections-based activities, including acquisitions, deaccessioning, exhibitions, capital projects, scholarly research, etc. The substantial scope of work includes over 7,000 completed object requests annually and the variation in scale ranges from single beads to historic interiors and architectural stone elements embedded in the Museum’s buildings.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is constructing new galleries for its modern and contemporary collection: The Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing. This collection consists of over 3,500 objects in all types of materials. At this time, we are hiring three Assistant/Associate Conservators (title awarded based on experience) for a pre-enabling phase of the capital project.
The Assistant/Associate Conservators will work under the supervision of one of the Conservators for Modern and Contemporary. They will be responsible for assessing the collection, conducting condition reports, and preparing the objects for movement to offsite storage.
Note: Please include cover letter with your application
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
- Condition survey including written and photographic documentation
- Undertake remedial conservation treatment as needed
- Liaise with registrars and packing specialists about temporary housing for and to coordinate movement of artworks
- Examine objects for questions of material identification and technology, including use of analytical instrumentation such as X-ray radiography and microscopy.
- Collaborate with colleagues in the Department of Scientific Research for analytical research
- Supervise graduate students and pre-program interns as needed
- Participate in departmental promotional activities
- Other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience and Skills:
- At least two years or more of conservation experience for the Assistant level and At least 5 years or more of conservation experience for Associate level.
- Ability to work as a member of a diverse team of conservation and curatorial specialists required
- Experience with wooden objects, furniture, and historic interiors required (one position).
- Experience with general objects required (two positions)
- Specialization in modern and contemporary preferred
- Excellent hand skills, attention to detail, and ability to produce consistent results required
- Excellent organizational, written, verbal, and interpersonal skills required
- Demonstrable photography and computer skills required
- Skill using conservation documentation tools—including digital photography, high-resolution digital microscopy, and X-ray radiography—preferred
- Familiarity with The Museum System (TMS) collection management software, Adobe Photoshop, and standard office software preferred Ability to work at a height; rig training will be provided
Knowledge and Education:
- Master’s degree from an internationally recognized graduate conservation program required or receiving diploma within six months of application
Compensation Range:
- Assistant Conservator Pay Range : $68,000 – $72,000
- Associate Conservator Pay Range: $80,000 – $85,000
- The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.
Benefits Offerings
The Museum provides competitive compensation, and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits Offering may differ based on Employee Status.
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
- Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
- Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
- Free financial-planning services
- Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
- 25% discount for staff in Museum shops
- A subsidized staff cafeteria
- Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.
The Met is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Met will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed in this process, please contact benefits@metmuseum.org.
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.