Associate Curator, Modern Decorative Arts [Metropolitan Museum of Art]

ASSOCIATE CURATOR, MODERN DECORATIVE ARTS

Modern and Contemporary

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s finest museums, seeks an Associate Curator of Modern Decorative Arts. The Associate Curator is required to be a specialist in modern decorative arts and design of the first half of the twentieth century. Reporting to the Chairman of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, s/he will participate in: collections development, research and cataloguing, and care; scholarly research, publication and interpretation; and collection presentations and special exhibitions, at both the Metropolitan Museum and the Breuer building on Madison Avenue.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES and DUTIES:

• Lead scholarly research on and interpretation of objects under his/her curatorial responsibility; build and maintain up to date cataloguing records in the collections database for online use;
• Work closely with Museum conservators on collections care;
• Develop acquisition strategies for the modern decorative arts and design collection with a broad international focus; work closely when relevant with the other departments of the museum, including European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, Asian Art, and the American Wing;
• Collaborate with curators within the department and across the museum to initiate and organize compelling scholarly special exhibitions and collection installations for the Museum’s diverse audiences;
• Propose and contribute to Museum publications, including catalogue essays and entries, as well as other printed and online research texts;
• Contribute to public programs (visiting scholars, Education, volunteers and the general public);
• Foster and maintain excellent working relationships with donors, patrons, collectors, dealers, colleagues from other institutions, the scholarly community, and other individuals involved in the interests of the Museum;
• In accordance with departmental objectives, interact with potential sponsors and assist with fundraising as appropriate;
• Other related duties.

Application Deadline: February 27, 2015, 6:00pm

The Associate Curator, Modern Decorative Arts is a full-time position and includes full benefits. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Please send cover letter, resume and salary history to:

Careers@MetMuseum.org

with “Assoc Curator, Modern Decorative Arts” in the subject line.

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.

REQUIREMENTS and QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Skills:

• Minimum five years curatorial experience in a museum or academic institution;
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement including experience conducting original research;
• Strong record of publication in the field;
• Demonstrated engagement with both design theory and international artistic practice;
• Strong knowledge of the art market;
• Proven ability to create and maintain precise and widely researched records;
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, working with Museum colleagues as well as artists, designers, scholars, patrons, and the general public.

Knowledge and Education:

• PhD (or equivalent) in art history;
• Command of English, written and spoken  – required;
• Working knowledge of other European languages – highly desirable.