Department Technician, Asian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Department Technician, Asian Art
Job Status: Full-time
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:
The Department of Asian Art is one of The Met’s most active curatorial departments due to the large number of light-sensitive objects in its collection. The Departmental Technician is responsible for the safe handling, movement, and installation of works of art for display in the permanent galleries and in special exhibitions, as well as for making them available from storage for study, conservation, or photography. Responsibilities also include carrying out the upkeep and maintenance of the Department’s three storerooms and permanent galleries, recording the location of objects in The Museum System (TMS), supervising viewings of art in storage, conducting the annual inventory, and other related duties.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
- Care for the collection, recommend and implement best practices
- Expertly handle and safely move and de/install works of art for study, conservation, photography, and display in the permanent galleries or special exhibitions
- Maintain galleries and storerooms, including keeping spaces clean and accessible
- Lift heavy objects, open and close cases, and move pedestals
- Record the movement and locations of artworks in The Museum System (TMS) in a precise and timely manner
- Assist with conducting the annual inventory of the collection
- Supervise the viewing of art in storage for scholars, students, and other visitors as needed
- Carry out work professionally and efficiently
- Communicate effectively and respectfully with art handling team, curators, and conservators
- Other related duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience and Skills:
- Minimum of three years’ experience in the care and handling of artwork in a museum, gallery, fine art moving company, or professional art studio preferred
- Experience handling works of traditional Asian art preferred
- Ability to work as a member of a team required
- Ability to follow directions and to work independently required
- Ability to work cooperatively with curatorial and administrative staff and other museum colleagues required
- Ability to lift heavy objects, open cases, and move pedestals required
- Careful and meticulous attention to detail in handling works of art and recording location information required
Knowledge and Education:
- College degree preferred
- Background in art handling, art studio, collections management, art history, or conservation preferred
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
To Apply:
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.