Research Associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Job Title: Research Associate
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $63,000-$68,000
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
You are responsible for the coordination and administration of all loans for The Costume Institute, including incoming exhibition loans, outgoing loans, and interdepartmental loans. You will work with exhibition curators and colleagues in the Registrar’s Office and Conservation to support the department’s active loans program for special exhibitions and to negotiate the domestic and international loan of collection objects. You will be responsible for all loan inquiries and correspondence, for managing the status of loans in process, and for documenting and tracking loan objects on site.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
- Coordinate all incoming special exhibition loan requests
- Provide administrative and research assistance to Curatorial, Conservation, and Installation through correspondence with lenders about incoming objects, display requirements, catalogue photography
- Generate incoming loan requests in TMS, and initiate and finalize requests with lenders
- Organize and maintain accurate records of incoming exhibition loan documents, correspondence, and lender contacts
- Coordinate object shipments to/from the museum, loan packing/unpacking, and courier schedules in collaboration with Registrar and Conservation
- Document incoming loan objects and assist with maintenance of object records in TMS
- Notify lenders of incoming object condition upon arrival or while on site; request permissions for treatment and initiate Damage & Loss reports as needed
- Track incoming loans status and coordinate and lead update meetings
- Coordinate and manage all outgoing loan requests
- Act as the primary point of contact for all external and interdepartmental borrowing requests
- Communicate outgoing loan deadlines and display guidelines to potential borrowers
- Gather exhibition dates, venue details, display plans, and publication plans from potential borrowers
- Notify potential borrowers of loan approval status in a timely manner
- Maintain outgoing loans calendar and coordinate and lead update meetings
- Collaborate with other departments on clerical issues affecting lender contracts, long-term loans, CITES, Damage & Loss, and Immunity from Judicial Seizure
- Collaborate with the acquisitions coordinator to process the acquisition of exhibition loans
- Assist the curatorial team with exhibition- and publication-related image, film, and music licensing
- Lead exhibition tours, assist with object dressing and exhibition installation as needed.
Education And Experience
- M.A. in Costume, Art History, Design History, or related field
- Knowledge of costume history and contemporary fashion
- Knowledge of textiles/fabric science
- Related experience in costume handling
- Must have an understanding of curatorial and registrar processes
- Related experience in an art museum or other non-profit setting
- TMS/collections database proficiency
- PC/Apple platform and Microsoft Office proficiency
- Knowledge of a second language
- Must be a proactive, personable, communicative team player with proven follow-through and ability to work independently
- Must have superior organizational skills
COMPENSATION RANGE:
- Pay Range: $63,000 – $68,000/annual
- 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.