Senior Research Associate, DEIA [End Dated]

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. 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The Research Associate will undertake research on the history of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with the intention of better understanding issues related to race and other pertinent social questions during the period from the museum’s founding in 1870 until WWII.  This represents the initial phase of our research. You will work in the archives and libraries of The Met, as well as external archives and libraries to gather information related to the topic in regard to staff, the museum’s New York audiences and communities, its leadership, and those who made decisions about the growth of the collection.  You will work under the direction of the Chief Diversity Officer and the Deputy Director for Collections and Administration , and with the museum’s archivists.  You will contribute to a final report that will be shared internally and on the museum’s website. 

This is a position with an established end-date or time frame. This role is currently slated to end in June 2026.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Conducts research to better understand the social history of The Met through the lens of race as it impacted all members of our community from 1870 through WWII

• Works with the museum’s archivists and other members of staff, such as curators, on identifying the source material relevant to the research project

• Contributes to the writing and organization of texts for a final report to be distributed internally and on The Met’s website

• Participates in the communication of findings to stakeholders throughout the building

• Serves as a point person for all elements of this project, including gathering of images, communication with librarians and archivists, and the editorial process

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced degree in subject matter expertise area, including but not limited to, New York or American History, Sociology, Urban Studies, and Museum Studies, Cultural Anthropology, Political Science

• 3 years of research experience, including towards an advanced degree

• Strong research skills with proven follow-through

• Excellent organizational and planning skills

• Demonstrated writing skills

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

COMPENSATION RANGE:

• Pay Range: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 / 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: Ben