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 RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
You design and manufacture mounts and install objects exhibited in the Museum’s temporary exhibitions and permanent galleries, as well as for storage and photography. You collaborate with curators, conservators, and designers to contribute to the vision of an installation.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
Design and fabricate custom supporting mounts for objects following the Museum’s established practices.
Install objects in galleries both inside cases and on gallery walls or pedestals
Collaborate with designers, conservators, conservation preparators, curators, technicians, Buildings staff, couriers, and vendors to facilitate appropriate mounting specifications
Navigate high pressure situations and adapt to changing circumstances
Participate in departmental fundraising activities and other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in studio art, fine art, or related field.
Skill and experience in a variety of metalworking and fabrication techniques including cold working and hard soldering of brass with an air-acetylene torch preferred. Use of the lathe and other machine-shop tool operations.
Studio art skills in a variety of materials.
Two years’ experience as a mount maker/preparator.
Knowledge of the principles behind the safe and proper handling and installation of works of art required.
Excellent communication skills required.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in a team environment and anticipate the needs of others required.
Energy, motivation, and willingness to learn new techniques required.
Ability to pass FDNY G-60 Certificate of Fitness for Torch Use of Flammable Gases within 6 months.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work on a ladder or rig required.
Applicants should submit CV and cover letter.
End-date: 25-month appointment from state-date.
Compensation Range:
Assistant Conservation Preparator: Pay Range: $64,000 - $66,000
Associate Conservation Preparator Pay Range: $72,000 - $77,000
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.
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.