Organisation: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, USA
Contract: Full-time, two-year position
Salary: $34 per hour
Application deadline: 11 September 2026
Job reference: JR-44188
Visa sponsorship: Not available
About the Position
The Carol B. Grossman Curatorial Scholar is a two-year position in the Department of European Paintings dedicated to developing curatorial practice in a museum setting.
Under the guidance and mentorship of the European Paintings curatorial team, the successful candidate will receive training in duties related to installations and exhibitions featuring the Department’s permanent collection of nineteenth-century European paintings.
Working closely with the curatorial team, the Scholar will undertake research, writing and administrative projects supporting the presentation of the collection to the public.
Responsibilities
The Carol B. Grossman Curatorial Scholar will:
- Conduct research into works in The Met’s collection and related works at other institutions in preparation for upcoming installations and exhibitions, including bibliography, exhibition history and provenance research.
- Assist with the organisation of installations and exhibitions highlighting the permanent collection.
- Maintain object checklists and files.
- Prepare applications for indemnity and immunity from seizure.
- Draft interpretive and promotional materials, including gallery labels, image captions, digital content and other assets.
- Participate in meetings with conservators, designers, the collections care team and other Museum departments.
- Work with the Department’s collections team to maintain updated cataloguing and loan records in TMS.
- Draft discursive entries about permanent collection works for the Museum’s website, as appropriate.
- Undertake other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
Applicants should have:
- An MA in art history, with an emphasis on European painting over the long nineteenth century, from 1789 to 1914.
- Between zero and three years of museum-related experience.
- Excellent written, verbal and editorial skills.
- Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and a commitment to scholarly precision.
- Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Teams and Adobe Acrobat Pro or Photoshop.
Experience with The Museum System database and bibliographic software such as Zotero is preferred. Strong German reading and writing skills are also desirable.
Location and Visa Requirements
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
At the time of employment, employees must live within commuting distance of the Museum. This includes New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, with the ability to commute to and from the Museum within a single day.
Compensation and Benefits
The position pays $34 per hour. Eligible employees receive a benefits package that may include:
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
- A 403(b) retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan.
- Annual leave, sick leave and 13 Museum holidays.
- Long-term disability coverage.
- Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.
- Commuter benefits.
- Free financial-planning services.
- Financial support for relevant coursework, seminars and training.
- A 25% staff discount in Museum shops.
- Access to a subsidised staff cafeteria.
- A Museums Council pass providing free admission to participating cultural institutions.
About The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met presents more than 5,000 years of art from around the world. The Museum operates across two New York sites—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters—and reaches millions of people through its digital platforms.
Founded in 1870, The Met is committed to creating a collaborative and respectful workplace shaped by its values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence and integrity.
