Assistant/Associate Conservator

Assistant/Associate Conservator, Modern & Contemporary

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILIES & DUTIES:

• Conserve relevant objects, including examination, research, treatment, and oversight of environmental conditions in storerooms and galleries.
• Examine and document objects for incoming or outgoing loans, acquisition, and gifts.
• Study objects for questions of material identification and technology, including use of analytical instrumentation such as X-ray radiography and microscopy.
• Prepare samples for analysis by the Department of Scientific Research, and communicate with scientists regarding goals and results.
• Liaise with conservators, conservation preparators, curators, technicians, handlers, Buildings staff, Exhibitions staff, and the Registrar’s Office on incoming and outgoing loans, exhibitions, permanent gallery rotations, and storage.
• Prepare visual and written documentation of treatments and research, and file according to departmental protocols.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed to examine, treat, and courier artworks in connection with acquisitions and/or loans.
• Supervise departmental end date or junior conservators, fellows, and students.
• Assist with time-sensitive projects as assigned by Conservator in Charge.
• Participate in departmental fundraising activities.
• Broaden knowledge of the conservation field by taking advantage of the department’s expertise and resources, and the Museum’s opportunities for professional development.
• Disseminate activities and findings on a range of platforms including public and professional lectures, and print and digital publications.
• Participate in Museum-wide committees and initiatives as appropriate.
• Other related duties

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience and Skills

• At least two years of conservation experience for the Assistant level or five years of conservation experience for the Associate level working with design objects, and/or furniture and historic interiors is required.
• Experience working in a museum preferred.
• Experience in the examination and treatment of objects composed of modern materials required.
• Expertise in the examination and treatment of design objects, furniture, and historic interiors preferred.
• Excellent hand skills, attention to detail, and ability to produce consistent results required.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills required.
• Skill using conservation documentation and investigative tools—including digital photography, high-resolution digital microscopy, and X-ray radiography—preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work on a ladder or rig required.

Knowledge and Education:

• Master’s degree from an internationally recognized graduate conservation program required.
• FDNY C-14 Laboratory Certificate of Fitness or willingness and ability to attain certification within six months of hire required.

COMPENSATION RANGE:

• Assistant Pay Range: $68,000 – $72,000
• Associate Pay Range: $80,000 – $85,000
• 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

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 Department of Objects Conservation is responsible for the conservation and mounting/installation of three-dimensional art at the Museum’s two venues. The scope of the Objects Conservation’s mission-critical responsibilities extends to every curatorial department and all of the Museum’s collections-based activities, including acquisitions, deaccessioning, exhibitions, capital projects, scholarly research, teaching and outreach, etc.  The substantial scope of work includes over 7,000 completed object requests annually and the variation in scale ranges from single beads to historic interiors and architectural stone elements embedded in the Museum’s buildings.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITES & DUTIES:
The Department of Objects Conservation at The Metropolitan Museum of Art upholds the highest professional standards in the conservation of the Museum’s three-dimensional works of art.   The Assistant/Associate Conservator will be one of two objects conservators dedicated to the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art and will be primarily responsible for design objects, furniture, and historic interiors. The two conservators will act as liaisons for activities related to the relocation of the collection of objects from the Modern and Contemporary Department during the preparation and construction work on the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing.

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.

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