Associate Manager of Friends Groups, American Wing

The Metropolitan Museum of Art•The Met Fifth Avenue, NY

12h•$75,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy, operating from two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters, with a significant online presence. Founded in 1870, The Met aims to be more than a treasury of objects, fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a diverse staff passionate about creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum globally. Staff members adhere to core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity. The American Wing, established in 1924, houses one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of North American artistic expression, comprising some 20,000 works from the mid-17th to early-20th century, with select contemporary pieces. These dynamic collections, spread across 75 galleries, include paintings, sculpture, drawings, furniture, textiles, regalia, ceramics, basketry, glass, silver, metalwork, jewelry, historic interiors, and architectural fragments by both trained and self-taught artists. The department is active with a curatorial staff of twelve, along with administration and collection colleagues, regularly programming diverse exhibitions and installations. The Associate Manager will oversee the administrative functions for the American Wing’s two support groups—Friends of the American Wing (approximately 80 paying households) and the William Cullen Bryant Fellows (approximately 60 paying households)—as well as the American Wing Visiting Committee (advisory board). This role also includes managing departmental special events such as educational programs, exhibition openings, and external communications. The position requires close collaboration with the Wing’s Curator-in-Charge/Department Head, Senior Manager of Administration & Operations, and Associate Administrator, serving as the primary liaison with the Museum Development Office. Responsibilities include communicating information between Curatorial and Development staff and maintaining thorough records of donor interactions and support. The Associate Manager will also provide general administrative support and execute daily tasks for the smooth operation of the Department.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
2-3 years of administrative and/or special-events experience in a museum or similar non-profit environment
Strong interpersonal skills and absolute discretion required in working with high-level American Wing donors and supporters
Superior organizational skills and ability to work as a team and coordinate events across various departments
Highly detail-oriented, ability to multitask and prioritize
Demonstrable ability to create and maintain precise records
Excellent time-management skills and ability to plan months in advance
Ability to maintain composure in a busy environment
Demonstrable initiative and ability to work independently as well as part of a team
Excellent interpersonal as well as written and verbal communication skills
Attention to detail with follow through
Computer literacy, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and InDesign

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in an art related field, preferred
Experience in development/fundraising, managing donor/patron groups, and running special events, preferred

Responsibilities

Organize, manage, and execute support groups’ schedule of events, including approximately four programs each season and annual gala dinner
Plan and execute two annual trips—Friends of the American Wing Day Trip and William Cullen Bryant Fellows overnight trip
Collect and track membership fees, draft renewal and acknowledgement letters; assist in on-boarding new support-group members
Serve as primary point of contact for all Friends and Bryant Fellows; field questions regarding special events and membership
Under supervision of Department Head and Senior Manager, and with Associate Administrator, coordinate Visiting Committee meetings, special programs, donor luncheons, and other similar events with relevant departments across Museum
Serve as liaison between curatorial team and Development colleagues, collecting and relaying information regarding donors in timely fashion
Work with American Wing staff to plan and coordinate content and production for all membership communication, including renewal letters, as well as event invitations and other communications, as needed, in InDesign
Create and maintain donor spreadsheet and face book
With Associate Administrator, maintain departmental donor files
With Associate Administrator, answer/direct incoming telephone calls; receive guests and visitors to American Wing offices
Facilitate private group tours with curators
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

Competitive compensation
Generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees
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