Collections Management Associate at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Collections Management Associate
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $31.80/hr
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.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
As a key member of the Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Collections Team your primary responsibility is to ensure the physical care and well-being of the department’s art collections, galleries and storage spaces through specialized cleaning, passive conservation, and integrated pest management. Your work positively impacts the visitors’ experience. Additional responsibilities will include data entry and clerical support to the Collections Management Team, inventory, and environmental monitoring. You will work four days a week for European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, and one day a week with the Robert Lehman Collection. The deployment of the primary responsibilities and duties may vary between departments.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
- Monitor and maintain the art objects on open display, in closed cases, and in storage by performing daily upkeep through specialized cleaning methods appropriate to the object
- Monitor the collection for changes in condition and report them to Manager
- Maintain galleries and storerooms for the purpose of collections care and positive visitor experience
- Monitor gallery conditions for temperature, pests, lighting, and proper functioning of equipment and report any issues to Manager
- Ensure that gallery displays reflect the museum’s standards and our visitors’ expectations of quality
- Enter data and assist with clerical tasks for the Collections Management team using The Museum System software and analog files
- Conduct occasional object-based documentation including measurement and photography
- Other duties as assigned
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- BA/BFA in art, art history, museum studies, or conservation
- Basic knowledge of collections management and preventive conservation concepts
- Familiarity with standard office environment software; familiarity with Adobe Photoshop and basic documentary photography skills
- Experience with art, antiques, furniture, or decorative arts collections care preferred or demonstration of same skill set
- Superior care and attention to detail
- Demonstrated ability to work independently to complete tasks on an established schedule
- Must be able to stand, kneel, bend down and reach above head for an extended period across an entire work shift. Ability to lift and move normal housekeeping equipment, including ladders.
COMPENSATION RANGE:
- Pay Range : $ 31.80 / Hourly
- 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.