Collection Specialist at The Museum of Modern Art

Job Title: Collection Specialist

Job Status: Full-time

Location: New York, NY

Salary: $74,370

About the job

The Museum of Modern Art is currently applications for a Collection Specialist in the Department of Painting and Sculpture to assist curators with research and logistics pertaining to deaccessions, sales, and other collection-related matters.

Additional responsibilities include:

  • Works with departmental curators to review the collection for potential deaccessions.
  • Coordinates the process of vetting works for sale/disposal.
  • Researches the Museum collection and archives as they relate to deaccessions. Answers related inquiries from outside researchers.
  • Updates collections records—both the physical object files and the online collection database—with pertinent information and status changes.
  • Assists Department Manager, Registrar’s office, and General Counsel with preparations for Committee on Painting and Sculpture meetings and Board of Trustees meetings.
  • Drafts reports on proposed deaccessions and prepares PowerPoint presentations of deaccession candidates for Committee and Board meetings.
  • Works with outside sale venues to secure proposals, negotiate agreements, and coordinate the marketing and sale of works to be placed on consignment.
  • Expedites arrangements for registration, conservation, framing, and preparation work as required.
  • Arranges viewings for museum curators, outside scholars, auction house representatives, and dealers to examine works in person at the Museum or at the Museum’s off-site storage facility in Queens.
  • Conducts daily collection gallery inspections and assists with follow-up arrangements in the event of damage, deterioration, etc.
  • Fields image licensing requests, and serves as Department representative on Image Licensing Committee.
  • Works with Provenance Specialist, helping to answer research queries received through the Museum’s Provenance Research Project email account.
  • Monitors auctions featuring Museum property, takes note of bidding activity to share with the curators, and reports auction results to curators.
  • May be trained as a courier and asked to accompany departmental works when they travel.
  • Performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in art history, master’s degree preferred, and three or more years relevant experience in an art advisory, gallery, auction house, or museum.
  • Demonstrated interest in modern and contemporary art.
  • Outstanding communication skills and knowledge of general office protocol essential.
  • Capacity to take initiative and work thoughtfully, thoroughly, and collegially, while handling several projects simultaneously.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Advanced knowledge of and facility with MS Office.
  • Familiarity with The Museum System (TMS) is helpful.

Reports to: The Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture and other senior curatorial titles as assigned

Salary: The salary for this position is currently $74,370 per annum

Application instructions: To apply, please visit MoMA Jobs. Applicants should submit a resume and a statement of interest. Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

This job was sourced via LinkedIn

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement: Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at the Museum, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, unemployment status, familial status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, or any other protected category as established by applicable law, including the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”).

This is a unionized position at MoMA with covered employees represented by Local 2110, UAW, AFL-CIO.