Associate Administrator, Photo Conservation

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 & DUTIES:

As the Associate Administrator, Photograph Conservation, you will oversee all administrative functions for the department which include supporting office & lab functions, planning departmental events & projects, and preparing reports for committee & budget meetings. You will support study collections cataloging and record archiving, prepare grant proposals and help supervise departmental volunteers and interns. You will provide day-to-day administrative support for the conservators, including schedule management, travel arrangements, and record keeping.

This position offers an exciting and dynamic work environment with an opportunity to initiate improvements to the smooth functioning and growth of the Museum’s newest, smallest, and incredibly active center for conservation, preservation, research, education and advocacy.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

General Administration

• Manage and direct communications from both internal and external sources, via phone, email and in-person visits.

• Manage travel arrangements and expense reporting for all staff.

• Submit work order/maintenance requests to ensure clean & functional lab space.

• Arrange for maintenance of office equipment. 

• Prepare all work statistics, financial reports; and contribute to reports for Visiting Committees and the Director’s Office as needed.

• Maintain departmental records, conservation records, exhibitions lists, calendars and appointments. Act as departmental timekeeper as needed.

• Manage departmental Study Collection; catalog new acquisitions and improve cataloging on previously acquired items for upload to TMS database; rehouse study collection objects and maintain storage spaces.

• Serve as departmental Computer Liaison Group representative, including onboarding new staff, interns, volunteers, fellows, and contractors.

• Serve as one of the department’s Integrated Pest Management representatives.

• Track locations of artworks in the lab as needed.

• Provide updates at all staff meetings as requested.

• Proofread articles and reports for conservators and fellows.

• Attend meetings as needed and take notes for conservators.

• Other duties as assigned or self-initiated.

Finance and Procurement

• Maintain day-to-day financial records and reconcile these records every month with Monthly Operating Performance Reports.

• Prepare all annual departmental budget proposal documents including templates and narratives. 

• Oversee sourcing and purchasing of lab and office supplies and equipment.

• Coordinate service contracts for laboratory equipment, and lab improvement projects, working with Museum departments and outside contractors.

• Initiate and manage contracts for various projects.

Development and Outreach

• Assist with donor outreach, donor oversight, donor event planning, and event execution.

• Plan department tours in conjunction with conservators. Track tour attendees and maintain contact lists.

• Track all donor funds and monitor specified fund spending; ensure donations are allocated correctly.

• Draft,