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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.

About the Department

The Sherman Fairchild Center for Works on Paper and Photograph Conservation is dedicated to the treatment, examination, preservation, technical analysis, and research of works of art from all seventeen of the Museum’s curatorial departments, to contribute to the scholarship of the collection and make objects available for exhibition, education, and study.

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 Paper Conservation Department is looking for an Assistant Paper Conservator for activities related to the relocation. These objects include a wide variety of drawings, watercolors, gouaches, prints, collages, and other mixed media works that are cared for by the Paper Conservation Department.

You will be part of a team conducting a survey of modern and contemporary works on paper which will entail digital imaging and written documentation of several hundred works of art in portfolios. You will be responsible for recommending housing and working with collections specialists to prepare these works for travel.

This is a position with an established end-date or time frame. Time frame will begin upon hire: 1 year.

Note: Please include a statement of interest/ cover letter with your application

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

+ Carry out condition examination and some treatments of assigned works of art.

+ Undertake written and image documentation of work of art and track their progress through the survey process

+ Devise conservation strategies and housing solutions based on current conservation standards and ethics.

+ Communicate conservation issues regarding treatment, movement, and packing of the collection verbally and in written reports with numerous parties.

+ Assisting the management and maintenance of the laboratory including the preparation of chemical reagents and solutions

+ Organize and maintain conservation supplies, equipment and chemicals according to established safety procedures,

+ Prepare chemical solutions, consolidates and adhesives for treatment and testing.

+ Work cooperatively or independently as needed.

+ Other related duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

+ Master’s degree from a recognized conservation training program with specialization in paper conservation.

+ One year of full-time experience as a Paper Conservator

+ Excellent examination skills. Knowledge of use of microscopes and alternative light sources.

+ Demonstrated experience in performing basic conservation treatments.

+ Ability to devise housing solutions based on current conservation standards and ethics.

+ Knowledge of preservation standards for archival matting and housing, environmental conditions.

+ Ability to lift and move solander boxes and some framed works of art

+ Ability to use digital cameras and electronic resources for documentation and willing to learn Museum databases, digital documentation protocols.

+ Willing to obtain training on rigs and ladders and able to work at heights (8-10ft)

+ An interest in Modern and Contemporary material is desirable.

COMPENSATION RANGE:

+ Pay Range: $75,000.00 - $80,000.00 / Annually

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

We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the desired attributes 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 [email protected] .

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.