Collections Specialist, Registrar at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Collections Specialist, Registrar
Job Status: Full-time, end-dated
Location: New York, NY
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 Modern and Contemporary Art, is working on a capital project to completely design and build the new Tang Wing. The collection of modern and contemporary art comprises more than 12,000 objects, including painting, works on paper, sculpture, decorative art, and time-based media, most of which is presently located on site.
The project requires a complete assessment of the permanent collection that is both on display and in onsite storage, for movement to offsite storage in advance of construction for the Tang Wing.
The Collections Specialist, Registrar will be a key member of the collections team working closely with the department’s Senior Manager, Chief Registrar, the collections managers and other Met staff in all activities related to the care of the and assessment of the collection during the enabling work and renovation of the Tang Wing. This position will require a high degree of project management experience, organizational coordination, knowledge of collections care, as well as art handling and movement, the ability to work closely with other team members.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
- Work with Senior Manager and collections team to create an assessment plan for the collection.
- Coordinate viewings of the collection in storage by curators, conservators, collection managers, photographers, and others to assess objects and to update record keeping.
- Work with the collections team and registrar department to develop a plan for the movement of artworks on and offsite during the enabling phase for the new Tang Wing.
- Coordinates and works with contract staff hired to assist in the assessment of the collection and the move offsite.
- Work with Senior Manager and other departments to develop a budget for the move offsite and move back to The Met Fifth Avenue.
- Monitors and updates collection-move data, such as dimensions, locations, components, etc., into The Museum System (TMS), collection management software working with other members of the Collections Team.
- Compiles and maintains collections documentation associated to the project, both digitally and in physical files.
- Coordinating the transfer of artwork to/from the Museum including the organization of transportation, security, insurance, unpacking, storage, with emphasis on documentation.
- Track costs around art movement.
- Leads the collections team in setting up storage locations and outfitting storage spaces.
- Coordinate the packing and rehousing of collection works.
- Candidate must complete Security Threat Assessment application.
- Organize transfers of objects for Collections from off-site locations.
- Will be required to work in multiple locations.
- 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:
- Minimum 5 years working with museum collections preferred.
- Strong interpersonal skills required
- Collections Management database experience in TMS Excellent organizational, management, and communication skills required.
- Intermediate knowledge of archival materials and best practices in collections care.
- Intermediate documentary photography and post-production skills.
- Formal or on-the-job training and experience in handling and moving 3-dimensional artworks required, familiarity with fragile composite objects preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt and produce high-level results on multiple projects with shifting priorities.
- Ability to work independently and in collaboration/coordination with collections, conservation, curatorial, and administrative staff.
- Proactive task management required.
- Familiarity with the following software preferred: collection management software with a strong preference for TMS, Adobe Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite.
Knowledge and Education:
- BA degree required; MA in Museum Studies or Collections Management 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
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.