Deputy General Counsel

The Museum of Modern Art is currently accepting applications for a Deputy General Counsel who will be part of a four-attorney office including the General Counsel and Secretary to the Board, Deputy General Counsel, and Assistant General Counsel.

This role will be concentrated on, but not limited to, serving as legal advisor on a broad range of museum and education-related matters, with a focus on intellectual property, media, marketing, and technology. 

This role will include ensuring compliance with internal policies and procedures. In addition, experience supporting museums on matters relating to art and museum law will be very beneficial.  This position will be located full-time in New York, NY with an in-office work policy.

Primary responsibilities:  

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel will have significant involvement in diverse matters pertaining to, but not limited to, the following:  

• Serves as legal advisor on all matters relating to intellectual property, including but not limited to, licensing arrangements, copyright and trademark, sweepstake and contests, publicity, and social media. 


• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates a wide variety of contracts, including exhibition, acquisition, licensing, publishing, media, and sponsorship agreements. 


• Provides support for Museum issues pertaining to art and museum law.  


• Serves as legal advisor ensuring compliance with internal policies and procedures.


• Advises on all aspects of day-to-day legal issues. 


• Provides legal support to departments throughout the Museum, including assisting in structuring initiatives and projects, identifying, and mitigating legal risks. 


• Drafts memoranda, correspondence, policies and procedures, reports for various board of trustees and staff committees, and other documents. 


• Advises and participates in grievances, arbitrations, investigations, discovery, subpoenas, and other litigation-related issues. 


• Monitors and provides continuous counsel on local, state, and federal laws.


• Performs legal research. 


• Liaises with and supervises outside counsel. 


• Performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above. 

Requirements:

• Top tier academic credentials with demonstrated achievement at each institution. 


• Legal training received at law firms within corporate or not-for-profit practice groups. 


• A minimum of 10 to 15 plus years of legal experience, preferably with experience in museums and exempt organizations. 


• Excellent writing and public speaking skills. 


• Legal research, negotiation, analysis, communication, and organizational skills.


• Ability to work collaboratively, as part of a small legal team. 

Salary range: Minimum of $300,000 to maximum of $370,000 per annum

Application instructions: To apply, please visit MoMA Jobs.  Applicants should submit a resume and a statement of interest.  Applications without cover letters will not be considered.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement: Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at the Museum, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, unemployment status, familial status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, or any other protected category as established by applicable law, including the New York City Human Rights Law (“NYCHRL”).

January 2026