Manager, Patron Events

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 Met’s membership program is one of the largest in the world, with over 140,000 loyal Members from around the globe. Members give between $90 and $50,000 annually and collectively contribute more than $30 million per year. The Membership Program is experiencing rapid growth and change as it rebounds from the pandemic, innovates its operations, and prioritizes diversity, inclusion, equity, and access.

The Membership Engagement Team designs and executes over 140 events annually for Members and Patrons, strategically aimed at encouraging upgrades, new joins, renewals, and reactivations. Through dynamic onsite and experiences, the team fosters deeper connections and drives sustained membership growth. 

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Reporting to and working closely with the Deputy Chief Membership Officer for Events and Onsite Engagement, You will be responsible for developing a comprehensive calendar of events for Patrons, overseeing all aspects of event logistics. Working collaboratively with the Patron Team, you will create and manage a National Patron Weekend and develop a Patron Travel Program.  You will work closely with the Design Department to establish a cohesive look and feel for both the National Patron Weekend and Patron Travel Program.  You will be doing high-touch, bespoke event planning and execution, requiring exceptional communication skills and attention to detail. You are organized and a team player who thrives in a collaborative environment and is committed to delivering outstanding experiences for Patron-level members.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Organize events for Patron Circle members ($2,500-$50,000), including the Leadership Circle Dinner, Sustainers Series, Spring Garden Party at The Met Cloisters, and other signature programs.

• Manage all event logistics, including venues, internal vendors, catering, AV, security, staffing, and communications.

• Develop a National Patron Weekend and collaborate with senior Membership staff to develop an itinerary, transportation, hospitality, scheduling, and behind-the-scenes events.

• Design and oversee domestic and international travel experiences for upper—level Patrons.  Collaborate with travel company and curators, manage budgets and itineraries, and ensure smooth execution

• Design and maintain the annual Patron events calendar and track engagement metrics using Tessitura. Partner with Development and Membership teams to help align events with broader goals.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Work cross-functionally and collaboratively with departments, including Development, Design, The Membership Patron Team, and the Institutional Advancement Operations Team and others

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

• 3- 5 years of experience in event planning, preferably in a museum or nonprofit setting

• Demonstrated success managing complex, high-profile events and programs

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills

• Strong written and verbal communication abilities

• Proficiency with CRM and event management systems (Tessitura preferred)

• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed

• Proficient in the Micro