Assistant Curator of African 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. 

The works in the Africa collection of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing span fired clay figures shaped in present-day Mali during the twelfth century to the fiber creation Bleu no. 1 (2014) by contemporary innovator Abdoulaye Konaté. Major forms of visual expression surveyed relate to traditions of portraiture, dynastic succession, generational rites of passage, ancestor veneration, healing and divination, and theatrical performance. Their authors have contributed to major social and cultural developments, including the flourishing of urban centers such as ancient Jenne, evident in devotional sculpture sponsored by its citizenry; the arrival of Islam through trans-Saharan trade reflected in decorative arts ranging from tunics to architectural design; the early embrace of Christianity by Ethiopian monarchs and their sponsorship of liturgical works; the dawn of coastal trade with Europe and the exchange of exotic presentation pieces wrought from locally sourced ivory for imported luxury materials; a transformation in representation and the development of modernism in the West; and dynamically resilient historical traditions that endure into the present day.

As the Assistant Curator for African Art, you will contribute to the presentation, documentation, communication, and study of African Art to the broad public. You will produce original research and insights into works of art in the Museum’s permanent collection. You will support and originate special exhibitions under the discretion of the Curator in Charge. You will collaborate with Conservators and Scientists and act as an allied professional within the wider curatorial field through the publication and presentation of your work within professional forums.

• The Museum may recommend that a new hire at Assistant Level be awarded credit for time worked in the same or similar role with comparable responsibilities as outlined in the Regulations for Curatorial, Education, Library, Conservation, and Scientific Research employees.  An Associate level may also be considered with an additional 5 years’ experience.

Please include a cover letter with your application. Application Deadline: September 11, 2026

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Present, document, study and communicate works of art in the collection to the wider public.

• Originate new research on area of expertise to update documentation of permanent collection.

• Support and originate special exhibitions under the guidance of the Curator in Charge.

• Propose new strategic acquisitions for the permanent collection.

• Write, support and ideate scholarly documentation for print or online publication including catalogue essays, entries, labels, blogs and texts.

• Participate in professional meetings and give public talks on area of expertise.

• Participate in museum fundraising, grant writing and department’s development of donor relations and outreach activities.

• Support the professional development of interns and fellows.

• Refine and develop plans for rotations of works in the Africa collection for the collections in the newly renovated Michael C. Rockefeller Wing in consultation with the Curator in Charge

• Provide training relating to permanent collection to docents and Educators

• Maintain and expand information on the Africa collection in the TMS database and online catalogue

• Maintain and develop international networks with museums, universities, and research institutes, including handling correspondence with international researchers and institutions concerning their inquiries about access to works in the collection and related information; assist with scholarly collections study

• Prepare end of year gift reports

• Other related duties

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree with specialization in area of expertise. PHD or equivalent preferred. 

• Demonstrated language skills.

• Demonstrated experience working within museum collections, including research, and curation.

• Demonstrated experience originating research on area of expertise.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

• Excellent computer skills, familiarity with TMS, Adobe Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite.

• Ability to adapt and produce results on multiple projects with shifting priorities

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team with ability to receive/give productive feedback/criticism.

COMPENSATION RANGE:

• Pay Range: $87,000 - $92,000 / 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

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 [email protected].  

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.