The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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 ISLAMIC DEPARTMENT:

The Met has long been recognized as having one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Islamic art in the world. The Department of Islamic Art has been at the forefront of advancing the field with its first large installation of ten galleries which opened in 1975, and the reworked spaces installed in 2011, now marking their 10th anniversary. During that period the collection has grown considerably and continues to evolve.

GENERAL STATEMETN OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

You are an established and experienced scholar in the art and architecture of the Islamic world between 650-1250 C.E., with a good knowledge of Arabic as a language and of historical, literary, and documentary sources in Arabic, as well as a broad view of Arabic-speaking cultures that includes the Western Mediterranean, parts of Africa and the wider Indian Ocean throughout history to the present. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Responsibility for the study, exhibition, and publication of objects from the department’s collection in scholarly volumes, exhibition catalogues, digital platforms and other sites.
• Make new acquisitions of art and related items for the collection.
• Organize path breaking exhibitions that create new knowledge, introduce works to new audiences, and help redefine an artist, period, or works of art.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with donors, trustees, and colleagues from other institutions in the U.S. and abroad as well as with the scholarly community dealers and collection; actively cultivate potential sponsors, including departmental support groups.
• Respond to correspondence relating to the collection and assist the public and visiting scholars; work with scholars throughout the field to expand the collection’s narrative.
• Collaborate with colleagues throughout the Museum and the broader field of art history on related projects and programs.
• Outreach to communities and audiences, travel to the regions involved, and engagement with digital platforms.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Ph.D in Islamic art history required with a specialization in the art and history of the Islamic world between 650 – 1250 C.E.
• Ten to fifteen years curatorial or academic experience in early Islamic Art, from 650-1250 C.E., with a particular emphasis on Arab cultures.
• Competency in Arabic, both as a language and with exposure to literary and historical sources.
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement through publications or exhibitions and/or exhibition catalogues.
• International applicants with degrees from institutions outside the U.S. are welcome

COMPENSATION RANGE:

• Pay Range: $110K - $150K/year
• 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.