Assistant Conservator, (Ceramics)

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. You will be responsible for European and American ceramics from antiquity through the early twentieth century: a collection of approximately twenty thousand objects, ranging in scale from archaeological fragments to large architectural installations.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILIES & DUTIES:

• Conserve relevant objects, including examination, research, treatment, and oversight of environmental conditions in storerooms and galleries according to AIC guidelines and Museum protocols.

• Examine and document objects for incoming or outgoing loans, acquisitions, and gifts.

• Study objects for questions of material identification and technology, including the use of analytical instrumentation such as X-ray radiography, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), 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, art handlers, Buildings and Exhibitions staff, and the Registrar’s Office on incoming and outgoing loans, exhibitions, permanent gallery rotations, and storage.

• Advise on preventive measures regarding object stability and gallery safety, integrated pest management, and other environmental concerns.

• Participate in the selection and supervision of external specialists engaged for projects relating to conservation.

• Prepare visual and written documentation of treatments and research and file according to departmental protocols.

• Travel domestically and internationally as needed to examine and courier artworks in connection with new acquisitions and loans.

• Supervise departmental 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 various 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:

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