Associate Administrator of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Associate Administrator, Ancient Near Eastern Art
Job Status: Full-time
Description:
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 Associate Administrator is responsible for providing overall administrative support and oversight to the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art (ANE) and serves as the lead point of contact for the Curator in Charge while also assisting other departmental staff with administrative needs. Importantly, this role prepares and manages the Department’s operating budget, and manages the Friends of Ancient Near Eastern Art (FANEA) and Visiting Committee (VC) groups. This position will begin at a very intense but exciting time for the Department – the reimagining and renovation of our permanent galleries after nearly 40 years.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
Financial Support: Assists in preparation of the budget and actual expenses, prepares monthly expense accruals, request for payments, purchase orders, and other departmental financial tasks (through multiple cost centers); liaises with senior staff, offices of Budget and Planning, Finance, and Development.
Administrative Duties: Coordinates meetings and functions in person and virtually for the Department and assists with all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the Department.
• The Associate Administrator is the representative for the Computer Liaison Group.
• The Associate Administrator assists departmental staff with travel arrangements, authorizations, and expense reports.
Procurement: Prepares requisitions and configurations; approves all charges to the department’s cost centers; signs off on spend authorizations for curators in Workday, FedEx/DHL requests, all requisitions; processes Requests for Payment; places orders with procurement card; reconciles statements; orders supplies and gallery materials for the department.
Public Facing: The Associate Administrator will need to coordinate and/or assist other members of the Department in interactions with donors, volunteers, visiting scholars, and other visitors, and to facilitate work connected with participatory and engagement initiatives, which could involve complex coordination with multiple groups both inside and outside the Met as well as cultural sensitivity when dealing with diverse and/or marginalized communities. All of the above includes interaction by phone, in person, through written correspondence, and via social media.
Friends of Ancient Near Eastern Art and the Ishtar Society:
• Manages all correspondence and serve as point person for FANEA of 15+ members
• Serves as principal liaison between donors, supporters, Development, Membership, and Special Events
• Coordinates and manages 6-7 programs and events for FANEA per year with Development, Special Events, and other curatorial departments; this includes all logistics, media, materials, and catering
• Drafts renewal letters and acknowledgement letters for the Curator in Charge
• Creates membership brochure and calendar of programs & related events
• Creates and tracks all event and program reminders, invitations, RSVPs, attendees
• Assists with developing the FANEA events and programs
• Maintains Departmental file on current and past members ANE Visiting Committee:
• Coordinates two annual VC Meetings for 30-40 VC members, ANE staff, and Executive staff
• Corresponds with Executive Staff on biannual meeting dates, attendance, and agenda
• Manages communications including save-the-dates, invitations, and agenda to all VC members and Executive staff
• Coordinates all aspects of annual formal dinner of 50+ guests for VC, FANEA, and prospective members, including a reception
• Develops meeting agendas
• Coordinates logistics, media, materials, and catering for meetings
• Maintains departmental files on current and past members
Other Duties:
• Assists Curator in Charge with email triage as needed; monitors their calendar and provide s schedule reminders
• Drafts letters and correspondence for Curator in Charge as needed
• Oversees production of annual departmental Newsletter
• Leads the updating process for the department Homepage
• Assists with organizing and maintaining the departmental archives room
• Liaises with other administrative departments in the Museum such as Exhibitions Office, Counsel’s Office, Human Resources, Registrar, Digital, IS&T, Office Services, and Security
• 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:
• Strong written and verbal skills a must
• Five years of administrative experience
• Autonomous and detail oriented
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work well under pressure, multitask, and balance urgent with long-term needs
• Ability to follow directions and execute tasks promptly according to specifications • Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with all staff, donors, and visitors
• Previous experience with a variety of executive tasks, including filing, answering phones, and managing an executive calendar
• Resourceful, high energy, flexible, and trustworthy with confidential information
Knowledge and Education:
• Master’s Degree preferred
• Thorough proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook with willingness to learn new computer programs as required
• Familiarity with art history and standard museum procedures, policies, and practices desired
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.
To Apply:
Applicants are asked to please provide a cover letter in addition to your resume, expressing your interest in the position.
Applications can be submitted via the posting on LinkedIn. Alternatively, applications can be submitted via email to Careers@MetMuseum.org – please reference position “Associate Administrator, Ancient Near Eastern Art“ in the subject line of the email. Applications received with the requested cover letter will be given priority.