Porter

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, is an esteemed cultural institution dedicated to showcasing the most prominent collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. With a rich history spanning over 90 years, the Whitney Museum has become a beacon of modern and contemporary American art, celebrated for its commitment to supporting innovative artists and serving diverse audiences. Located at 610 West 26th Street, the Museum's mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art, emphasizing the complexity and diversity of the nation's cultural landscape. It stands as an influential force within the art community, continuously defining what is groundbreaking in American art today.

The role of Porter at the Whitney Museum is a vital position within the institution, supporting the daily functionality and upkeep of the museum’s physical spaces. This role encompasses a wide variety of cleaning and maintenance duties across office areas, lounges, restrooms, gallery floors, glass surfaces, and the lobby, ensuring that all spaces reflect the museum's high standards of cleanliness and order. Beyond standard janitorial tasks, the Porter is also responsible for supporting front-of-house duties, conservation efforts, art handling, and the maintenance of the library and storage facilities. Additionally, the Porter assists with special event setups and breakdowns, project cleaning associated with exhibition floor changes, and upkeep of the exterior areas such as the largo and sidewalks.

This position requires a proactive and detail-oriented individual capable of working both independently and collaboratively with various museum departments. The Porter will use cleaning solutions, equipment, and supplies to maintain the elevators, bathrooms, hallways, stairways, and other public and administrative spaces. They play a critical role in garbage removal, maintaining museum entrances, and supporting logistical tasks like moving boxes (not exceeding 50 lbs) and deploying flood barriers when necessary. The nature of the work means the Porter must be comfortable operating cleaning equipment such as vacuums and buffers as well as handling the physical demands of the role. This role also occasionally involves detailed cleaning of exhibition floors and office carpets, as well as assisting with furniture relocation and event furniture setups.

Compensation for this hourly position is $24.00, supplemented by a robust benefits package including medical, dental, vision coverage, and participation options in a 403(B) retirement plan. Employees enjoy generous paid time off, commuter benefits for parking and mass transit, and unique perks such as admission to world-renowned museums locally and nationwide. Additional benefits include pet insurance and discounted memberships for Citibike. The position may be covered under the UAW Local 2110 union, and all applicants are encouraged to highlight their interest in the arts and cultural sector in their cover letters.

This role represents an excellent opportunity for individuals seeking to contribute to a prestigious cultural institution, whether they are new to arts administration, returning after a career break, or looking to advance within this sector. The Whitney Museum values diversity and is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity, encouraging a broad range of candidates to apply. The position offers both a chance for stable employment with competitive pay and an enriching work environment dedicated to the celebration and support of American art and culture.