Assistant Curator, Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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

An Assistant Curator specializing in the arts of Africa is sought to develop and expand projects in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. The works in the Africa collection span fired clay figures shaped in present-day Mali during the twelfth century to the fiber creation Bleu no. 1 (2014) by contemporary innovator Abdoulaye Konaté. Major forms of visual expression surveyed relate to traditions of portraiture, dynastic succession, generational rites of passage, ancestor veneration, healing and divination, and theatrical performance. Their authors have contributed to major social and cultural developments, including the flourishing of urban centers such as ancient Jenne, evident in devotional sculpture sponsored by its citizenry; the arrival of Islam through trans-Saharan trade reflected in decorative arts ranging from tunics to architectural design; the early embrace of Christianity by Ethiopian monarchs and their sponsorship of liturgical works; the dawn of coastal trade with Europe and the exchange of exotic presentation pieces wrought from locally sourced ivory for imported luxury materials; a transformation in representation and the development of modernism in the West; and dynamically resilient historical traditions that endure into the present day.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

The Assistant Curator is required to be a specialist in the arts of Africa. You will report to and collaborate with the Curator in Charge of the MCR Wing setting long-term department priorities and will participate in: the renovation of the permanent galleries, including research, cataloguing, presentation, publication and interpretation; and the development of special exhibitions and collaborations with international partners.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Refine and develop plans for the installation of the collections in the newly renovated Michael C. Rockefeller Wing in consultation with the Curator in Charge
• Expand and enhance interpretative strategies for the planned renovation, including writing labels and developing digital content with colleagues in and beyond the department
• Assist with on-going special exhibition projects for MMA; develop new exhibition projects in coordination with the curator
• In coordination with other Department members, initiate, plan and develop outreach activities relating to the collection for audiences ranging from donors to the general public, including production of the Department’s newsletter, support group events, and other responsibilities
• Handle requests from the Education Department for information concerning works featured in the Africa galleries and ongoing training of MMA volunteers
• Maintain and expand information on the Africa collection in the TMS database and online catalogue
• Maintain and develop international networks with museums, universities, and research institutes, including handling correspondence with international researchers and institutions concerning their inquiries about access to works in the collection and related information; assist with scholarly collections study
• Research and write on the collection for MMA and other publications, including exhibition catalogues and digital platforms
• Conduct research on incoming acquisitions, gifts, and deaccessions
• Prepare routine gallery rotations
• Other related duties
  
  
  

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience and Skills:

• Knowledge of both primary sources and secondary literature required
• Demonstrated ability to write and speak about works of art with precision and care
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, that reflect high standards and good judgment, across a range of international constituencies
• Fluency with collection databases
• Three to five years of museum experience
• Advanced computer skills
  
  
  

Knowledge and Education:

• MA in the Art History of African Art; PhD preferred
• Strong working knowledge of French required
  
  
  

COMPENSATION RANGE:

• Pay Range: $80,000.00 - $85,000.00 / 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
  
  
  

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.