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.
The Department of Photographs at The Met is devoted to the study, collection, and exhibition of photography and time-based media from 1839 to the present. Established as an independent curatorial department in 1992, the Department of Photographs houses a collection of more than 90,000 works as well as the archives of three American artists: Walker Evans, Diane Arbus, and James Van Der Zee. In 2025, the Department's collection of late-twentieth century and contemporary photography and time-based media was greatly expanded with the acquisition of The Walther Collection. The landmark gift comprises more than 6,500 photographs, including exceptionally important works from Africa and Asia, as well as related nineteenth and twentieth-century vernacular photography.
As the Collections Specialist, you will work in collaboration with Associate Collections Manager and the Walther Collection Curator in the Department of Photographs. You will be responsible for departmental needs surrounding the unpacking and processing of The Walther Collection. You will Create and update object location records, assisting with processing and rehousing, scheduling and organizing object photography, creating and maintaining object files and cataloging works in the collection.
This is a position with an established end-date or time frame. Time frames will begin upon hire: 1 Year
Organize and assist with the unpacking, moving , and rehousing of the Walther Collection: includes coordinating with technicians, photo conservation, and curator.
Oversee the daily schedule for staff at UOVO
Create object locations and maintain/update location records as Walther Collection works are unpacked
Coordinate conservation checks and object/catalogue photography
Create and maintain records in The Museum System (TMS)
Compile and maintain collections documentation associated to the project, both digitally and in physical files.
Assist with cataloguing of the Walther Collection
Respond to Walther collection inquiries
Work with the collections and conservation teams to order supplies and materials
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Bachelor's degree in art history or related field required, emphasis on history of photography preferred.
Master's degree in collections management, museum studies, art history, or related field preferred.
One to three years of collections care experience required, preferably in a museum or cultural institution
Demonstrated ability as a competent, detail-oriented, proactive professional with the ability to work well under deadlines, problem solve independently, and work within a team
Strong knowledge of photographic practice and/or history
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to manage time and multitask
Ability to create and maintain precise records
Fluency with TMS or other collections management systems strongly preferred
Fluency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required
Fluency with project management systems, such as Workday and JIRA, strongly preferred
Ability to lift boxes up to 40 pounds
Will be required to work at offsite location
Pay Range: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 / 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.
We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the desired attributes 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.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also known as 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 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.
Mission: The Met’s mission is to collect, study, conserve, and present significant works of art across time and cultures in order to connect all people to creativity, knowledge, ideas, and one another.
Every day, art comes alive in the Museum's galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.
At The Met, every staff member lives by the core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity. If you share our community’s values, please apply to one of our exciting opportunities!
