Assistant Conservator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Assistant Conservator
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $68,000 – $75,000
Description
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.
The Assistant Conservator assists the Costume Institute’s Conservation department with the care, display, and conservation of the department’s collection. The department maintains an active exhibition, loan, acquisitions, and collection assessment schedule. The Assistant Conservator’s duties are broken into two main areas: conservation support for the department’s collection and handling potential and new acquisitions. The Assistant Conservator additionally provides conservation support for all other departmental responsibilities. Duties include: examining and documenting artworks with condition and treatment reports; conducting treatments; performing materials and scientific analyses; object mounting; loan couriering; and creating and maintaining digital assets. Other responsibilities include carrying out preventive conservation tasks, performing consultations, and lab maintenance duties as requested.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILIES & DUTIES:
- Carry out condition reports, treatments, mounting and installation in support of the museum’s exhibitions and other projects
- Review and evaluate potential acquisitions, collaborate with curatorial and collections staff to maintain and process new acquisitions, and create and maintain tracking records
- Participate in daily activities including exhibition maintenance, lab maintenance and safety, ordering supplies, using/maintaining equipment, and other activities
- Support and supervise department interns, fellows, and volunteers when appropriate
- Assist in special projects as required
- Respond to consultation requests
- Manage the conservation program for internal exhibitions as assigned
- As time allows, contribute to the department’s research and publication program as set forth by the head Conservator and Curator-in-Charge
- Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Graduate degree from a recognized conservation training program
- Strong knowledge of conservation principles, ethics, materials, and techniques for costume conservation with demonstrated high standards of conservation treatment experience
- Knowledge of fashion history
- Minimum of 2 years as a practicing conservator; Museum experience favored
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge in the treatment and preservation of historic costumes, textiles, and accessories
- A high level of manual skill and ability to complete treatments in an efficient manner in order to fulfill a heavy exhibition and loan schedule
- Demonstrated effective prioritization and project management experience
- Proven ability to document treatments
- Proven ability to perform scientific and material analyses of objects
- Proven ability to create, modify and dress mannequins according to conservation protocols
- Knowledge of sewing techniques and garment construction
- Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Must be a proactive and communicative team player with proven follow-through
COMPENSATION RANGE:
- Pay Range : $68,000 – $75,000/Annually
- 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.
Location Requirements
At time of employment, employees are expected to be located within commuting distance of the Museum. “Commuting distance” means that they are located in one of following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania (the “Tri-state and PA” areas), and be able to commute to and from the Museum in a single day.
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.