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 Textile Conservation is responsible for preservation, conservation, technical study, research, and installation of the Museum’s collection of approximately 36,000 textiles in twelve curatorial departments, stored primarily in the Antonio Ratti Textile Study and Storage Center. The expansive collection represents a broad range of textiles, including flat textiles, tapestries, carpets, embroideries, costumes, archaeological and three-dimensional fiber art as well as accessories from all periods and cultures. The Department sets and follows guidelines for documentation, care, handling, display, and storage of the textiles and plays a vital role in The Met’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The Department of Textile Conservation at The Metropolitan Museum of Art upholds the highest professional standards in the conservation of the Museum’s collection of textiles.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
You play a vital role in the well-functioning of the department, supporting conservators responsible for textile collections in various curatorial departments. You will be actively involved in different aspects of conservation work, varying from documentation through conservation treatment to analytical work through the interactions with colleagues working with diverse materials and projects, including a full range of historic and contemporary textiles and costumes. You will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills by learning traditional tapestries and carpet weaving/re-weaving techniques, as well as contribute to the development of treatment and display methodology of modern and contemporary textiles, ranging from flat textiles to three-dimensional fiber art along with mixed-media textile art.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
Perform condition checks, examination and documentation of textiles using photographic and computer-aided technology within the safe and proper handling of textiles.
In-depth analysis of materials and weaving techniques including fiber and weave structure analysis using microscope equipment
Assist liaison conservators with conservation treatment through discussion, research, analysis and implementation of appropriate methodology based on assigned projects
Assist with time-sensitive projects and duties as assigned by Conservator-in -Charge
Participate with installation/de-installation of exhibitions/gallery rotations ranging from assisting liaison conservator(s) or requiring teamwork (e.g., large tapestries and carpet installations/de-installations at various physical heights)
Assist with preparation and installation of textiles for loans and acquisitions and possible courier travel to accompany and safeguard the art both domestically and internationally
Contribute to the continual development of preventive conservation techniques leading to the long-term preservation, treatment and storage of organic and particularly synthetic and mix-media materials
Contribute to the department’s research and publishing on conservation treatments, methodologies, materials and techniques, etc.
Conduct IPM activities individually and as part of team such as vacuuming, anoxic treatment, freezer treatment
Document condition reports and treatment proposals
Work with analytical equipment to conduct fiber identification, weave structure analyses
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Master’s degree from an internationally recognized graduate conservation program.
2 years of work experience in textile conservation with some museum experience; a demonstrated capacity for conservation treatment of textiles including modern and contemporary ones
Manual skills (sewing & machine techniques); attention to detail and ability to complete assigned tasks in an efficient manner in order to maintain the department’s heavy workload and smooth operation
Communication skills (verbal, written, interpersonal)
Experience with laboratory dyeing techniques of yarns and fabrics
Experience with the most recent diagnostic techniques such as digital microscopy, multiband imaging, digital documentation with image and drawing software
COMPENSATION RANGE:
Pay Range : $68,000 - $75,000 / 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.
