Jobs Archive
Curatorial Assistant
UCL Culture manages museums, theatres, and collections and facilitates engagement within and outside of UCL. This includes the Bloomsbury Theatre, the Grant Museum of Zoology, the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, the Art Museum, the Pathology Museum and collections including the auto icon Jeremy Bentham. We bring diverse performers and audiences into the heart of UCL to energise the student experience and fuel UCL's creative culture with cutting edge cultural experiences. We collaborate with UCL students and staff to provoke, connect and engage more powerfully. We use our objects, insights and expertise to reframe questions and surface new ideas. We believe that open minds see further.
The Grant Museum is one of the UK's foremost zoology museums, with a reputation for innovative and experimental work. It is named after its founder Professor Robert Edmond Grant, who was the country's first Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy. The collection comprises around 68,000 skeletal, taxidermy, fossil and wet specimens, covering the whole of the animal kingdom. It is accredited by Arts Council England and works to influence the museum sector in areas of audience engagement and collections management. Alongside a lively public events programme, the Museum is used daily in academic programmes across the disciplines at UCL and other Higher Education institutions.
Duties and responsibilities
UCL Culture invite applications for the post of curatorial assistant in the Grant Museum.
The post holder will assist with all aspects of museum work and collections care, contributing to public engagement and visitor services, with a particular focus on providing access to collections and support for collections management tasks.
Key requirements
The successful candidate will have experience of working with museum collections and cataloguing systems, providing information to the public and using social media platforms professionally and an interest in, and knowledge of natural history.
Further details
For further information about this post contact: Briony Webb (briony.webb@ucl.ac.uk)
Tanyptera Regional Entomologist
Background
Are you passionate about insects and wildlife conservation?
Would you like to share this passion with more people?
The Tanyptera Trust and National Museums Liverpool are looking for an exceptional person to promote the conservation of insects and other invertebrates in North West England. As well as your enthusiasm, you will be a capable entomologist with good field skills and will be excellent at communicating with fellow enthusiasts, specialists, conservation organisations and the wider public.
The post holder will be based in the Entomology section of World Museum (Collections and Estates Division) and will initially be managed by the Director of World Museum. The post holder will work actively across Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The post and project will report to a group comprising the Director of World Museum (or nominated representative) and three external appointees of the Tanyptera Trust.
Purpose of the Job
To support the Tanyptera Trust's objectives in understanding, publicising and promoting the conservation of insects and other invertebrates in the Lancashire and Cheshire region (Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside).
To develop and co-ordinate activities and projects funded by the Tanyptera Trust.
This will be achieved by working with NML's Entomology Section, developing and strengthening partnerships with external organisations and individuals.
To support the work of NML’s Entomology Section in advancing, promoting and facilitating regional entomology, developing scientifically valuable, well documented, collections and bringing people and wildlife closer together.
Main Activities
The post-holder will:
Be an advocate and ambassador for the objectives of the Tanyptera Trust and NML
Negotiate and develop partnerships with societies, academic institutions, conservation organisations, individuals and other organisations at regional and national levels as appropriate and communicate with the wider community
Promote the work of the Tanyptera Trust and NML regionally and nationally through appropriate activities and media to wide-ranging audiences through websites, blogs, social media and publications as appropriate
(NML) in relation to the Project and the museum's entomology collections and related activities
Represent the Project and NML at meetings and events
Reporting to the Steering Group
Liaise with NML Education staff and external organisations/partners to deliver invertebrate engagement programmes for the public through activities such as talks, workshops and events Enable wider access to the products of the Project and NML's entomological resources (including websites, blogs, social media, collections, expertise, publications, events)
Support the work of NML's Entomology Section in helping to develop collections, databases, networks and the library
Encourage applications to the Tanyptera Trust's grants scheme and to advise on selection of projects
Develop, manage and co-ordinate invertebrate biodiversity projects in partnership with entomologists, conservation bodies and land-owners
Assist with financial planning, place purchase orders where appropriate, manage the Project budget and provide quarterly financial reports to the Steering Group
Maximise funding opportunities by developing partnerships and identifying external funding opportunities
Liaise with and provide information to the Marketing and Communications Team
Contribute to the updating and delivery of the Entomology Team's innovative Development Plan
Participate in wider meetings, symposia and conferences at NML and assist with their development and delivery
Other Requirements
When required, supervise staff, students and/or volunteers in association with other NML staff in relation to the Project
Maintain a commitment to continuing professional development
Maintain and develop a personal research specialism, including fieldwork, in an agreed area and disseminate the products to the wider community
Develop NML’s commitment to Equality and Diversity and promote non-discriminatory practices in all aspects of work undertaken
Manage NML’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures and make a contribution to the continuance of a sound health and safety culture within the department and in relation to Tanyptera Trust funded external projects
Undertake additional duties, as required, from time to time
Undertake training and development courses and programmes, as required
Show the highest integrity and confidentiality in the pursuance of these duties
Collections Assistant - Mineralogy and Petrology
The Sedgwick Museum is pleased to offer this opportunity to join the Museum's collections team working with its extensive world class mineralogy and petrology collections.
The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is the departmental museum of the University of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences. It houses a collection of over 1.5 million rocks, fossils and minerals used for research, training, teaching, and public display. The Museum receives over 130,000 visitors a year.
The petrology collection contains about 250,000 igneous and metamorphic rock thin sections and about 160,000 hand specimens. This includes about 500 meteorites. It also has about 100,000 sedimentary rocks. The mineral collection comprises about 40,000-50,000 specimens.
The role holder will assist the Collections Manager and Curator of Mineralogy & Petrology with the identification and cataloguing of specimens, organisation of museum stores, processing of incoming and outgoing loans and the provision of specimens for research, teaching and examinations.
The role will contribute to the development of policy, procedure and strategy relating to the management and use of collections.
The role holder will be required to undertake the following duties: catalogue specimens and maintain Collections Management System records for the Museum's collections in accordance with agreed policies, procedures and standards; identify rocks and minerals in hand specimen and thin section using appropriate techniques; contribute to the Museum's enquiry and identification services; carry out inventories of Museum collections and contribute to the Museum's Collections Management and Documentation strategies; undertake the movement of specimens between Museum premises and to and from external organisations, maintaining up to date documentation of all items and their whereabouts; assemble and return to stores specimens used in research, teaching and display; promote the collections and carry out reporting and administrative duties as required.
Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the following essential skills and experience: degree level qualification or equivalent in a relevant subject; knowledge of geology and an enthusiasm for mineralogy/petrology; ability to identify rocks and their mineralogy in thin section (knowledge of optical petrology); good ICT skills (word processing, image processing, spread sheets, email, museum documentation and databases); excellent communication skills; ability to work independently and as part of a team; effective problem solving skills.
The following attributes are desirable: experience of museum documentation and standards; familiarity with Health and Safety and COSSH regulations; full clean drivers licence;r ecognise and mitigate the risks of hazardous rocks and minerals.
Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment and a standard Disclosure and Barring Service check.
This post is part time (0.6FTE) and we envisage that the person appointed will work 3 days/week.
Collections & Learning Curator
Can you manage collections and bring the stories they hold to life?
We are seeking outstanding communicators with proven interpretation, collections care community engagement and events skills to join our Collections and Learning Team at Ipswich.
This is an exciting time to join our Museum Service as major capital developments and new ways of working in our museums are changing the cultural landscape of Colchester and Ipswich.
We welcome applicants who can demonstrate their experience and commitment to engaging audiences with collections in innovative and creative ways. Knowledge and experience in the following areas would also be an advantage:
•Natural History/Science
•Events management in a museum context
•Learning in a museum context
In this role you will be responsible for all aspects of collections care, interpretation, engagement, events and learning across our three museum sites: Ipswich Museum, Art School Gallery and Christchurch Mansion.
Applicants should be aware that the shortlisting process may include a brief telephone interview.
Collections Manager (Earth)
Oxford University Museum of Natural History houses the University’s internationally important geological and zoological collections, which are used for research, teaching, and public engagement in science.
The Collections Manager will work flexibly across Earth Collections (palaeontology, mineralogy and petrology), but with particular emphasis on the development and management of the mineralogy and petrology collections. The postholder will be responsible for documentation, imaging, databases and preventative conservation, and will facilitate research visits and loans. The postholder will also participate as part of a team to develop new exhibitions and displays, and will participate fully in the museum’s outreach and public engagement programme. It is expected that the postholder will engage in field collecting and collections-based research.
You should have a degree with a substantial Earth Sciences component together with a postgraduate degree in museum studies or geology. You will have an excellent working knowledge and understanding of mineralogy and petrology, a track record of collections-focused museum work, evidence of working effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and experience of working with relational databases and collections management systems.
This is a full-time post, part-time working will be considered.
As part of your online application, you will be required to upload a covering letter that shows how you meet the selection criteria, and a full CV. For further details see the website (www.oum.ox.ac.uk) or contact the Director of the Museum, Professor Paul Smith (tel: 01865 272956; email: paul.smith@oum.ox.ac.uk).
Only applications received before 12.00 midday on Monday 9 January 2017 can be considered. Interview date will be Monday 23 January 2017.
Contact Person : Professor Paul Smith
Contact Phone : 01865 272956
Contact Email : paul.smith@oum.ox.ac.uk
Closing Date : 09-Jan-2017
Vacancy ID : 126307
Animal Assistant
ref: CPE9.16
Salary: £20,200 per annum (rising to £20,604 after probation)
Contract type: Permanent
Hours of work: Full time/35 hour week. Working a 14 day rota of work (Mon - Sun), days off (Mon & Tues), work (Wed - Fri), days off (Sat & Sun).
The Horniman Museum and Gardens in south east London has been open since Victorian times, when the tea trader and philanthropist, Frederick John Horniman first opened his house and extraordinary collection of objects to the local community. Since then, our collection has grown significantly and includes internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as an acclaimed aquarium and natural history gallery - all surrounded by 16 acres of beautiful Gardens offering breathtaking views across London.
The Animal Walk further brings to life founder Frederick Horniman's vision of an outside space reflecting the Museum's collections. Linking to the Museum's Natural History collections, it looks at the connection between domesticated animals and their wild relations, and why people live alongside domesticated animals. Home to alpacas, goats, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and more, the Animal Walk guides visitors on a walk through the centre for a close up view of the animals.
We are looking for an Animal Assistant to assist the Animal Keeper in the day-to-day running of the Animal Walk. You'll have a BTEC in Animal Management (or equivalent) and genuine flair and enthusiasm for animal care.
You will have had hands-on experience of caring for animals (ideally in a city farm/wildlife centre/zoo environment), and will be used to interacting with the public in a busy and popular attraction - you'll be able to inform and enthuse visitors of all ages about the animals in your care. You'll be able to work in all aspects of running the Animal Walk (animal care, maintenance, record-keeping) and willing to work outside all year round in all weathers.
To apply, visit our website: www.horniman.ac.uk/about/jobs
The closing date for applications is 10am on Wednesday 30 November 2016.
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 14 December 2016.
Curator, Earth & Planetary Sciences
The Division of Physical Sciences of American Museum of Natural History seeks to hire a tenure-track assistant curator in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. We seek candidates who will bring petrological and geochemical methods to bear on problems related to planetary evolution. For example, candidates might integrate field, analytical, and theoretical studies of the rock record to provide insights into fundamental aspects of climate, environmental, and biogeochemical variability through time. The successful candidate will have demonstrated scientific creativity and the potential to build and sustain an innovative research program. They will be expected to take advantage of resources available at AMNH, which include world-class geological collections; a wide range of optical, electron beam, and x-ray analytical tools; experimental laboratories; LA-ICPMS facilities shared with Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University; and a program supporting scientific expeditions. They will also oversee and expand the AMNH petrology collection. We welcome an intention and ability to collaborate with colleagues within AMNH and the regional academic community, including Columbia University and The Graduate Center of CUNY, and to engage in AMNH's MA in Teaching of Earth Science and other education initiatives.
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education and exhibition. The Museum is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world's cultures.
The Museum's dedicated employees and volunteers who serve in a variety of ways are each a part of the Museum community, and are each important to the life of the Museum
Required Qualifications
Ph.D.
Natural Science Research Curator II
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) vision is to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences mission is to illuminate the interdependence of nature and humanity. It is the state's most visited museum, the largest institution of its kind in the southeast US, a National Medal recipient from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and an innovative player in the global field of nature and science museums. The Museum is adding a new section titled Community Engagement to its integrated structure comprising resource administration, collections and research, living collections, exhibits and digital media, education onsite, offsite, online and outdoors, and development in concert with the Friends of the Museum.
This position of Research Curator, Paleontology, has several areas of responsibility, including:
Development of an original scientific research program in Paleontology (vertebrate or invertebrate; taxon unspecified, but non-archosaur focus is preferred); research could involve systematics (taxonomy, phylogenetics), evolution, ecology, and/or related fields; research may have local, regional, and/or international focus and will include pursuit of external research funding, data generation and analyses, and publication/dissemination of results; some aspects of this research should, ideally, include collaborations with other agencies, universities, and/or citizen scientists.
Curatorial responsibilities for the Paleontology Research Collection, including maintenance and growth of collection, migrating collections data to database format, specimen loan activities, and setting curatorial best-practice guidelines for collection
Assisting Paleontology Unit Head with the operational management and administration of the Paleontology Unit, a subdivision of the Research & Collections section; duties may include supervision of laboratory with oversight of equipment, budgets, and personnel.
Participation in science communication initiatives, including participation in Museum educational programming, delivering public science-based presentations, conducting tours, interacting with Museum visitors, serving as a role model for students and citizen scientists, and creating programmatic themes that raise the science literacy of visitors.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies
Considerable taxonomic/systematic knowledge of Paleontology, in general, and of some taxonomic groups (vertebrate, invertebrate, or paleobotany, but non-archosaurian preferred), specifically experience applying principles and practices of research, with special expertise in at least one aspect of Paleontological systematics (taxonomy, phylogenetics), evolution, ecology, and/or related fields.
Demonstrated mastery of materials, equipment, and techniques used in relevant research (laboratory based protocols and fieldwork) and specimen collection curatorial activities.
Demonstrated track record of effective and creative science communication to diverse audiences.
Experience managing/supervising research projects, a research laboratory, and/or personnel.
Experience in preparing grant proposals to fund paleontological research and/or administering budgets supporting research or collections-related activities.
Experience in publishing technical science papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Possession of a master's degree in biology, zoology, or a science curriculum related to area of expertise and three years of experience in specialty area; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred: A Ph.D. in paleontology or related science field.
Additional Information to include: Applicants should attach: a current CV; contact information for 3 personal references; and a vision statement outlining their short and long term research goals, their approach to collection curation, and their philosophy and objectives regarding science communication
Collections Manager
Museum introduction:
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for informal science education. Located in the heart of Denver’s City Park, and neighbor to the Denver Zoo, the Museum offers a variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities that help Museum visitors experience the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. More than 300,000 students and teachers are served by Museum each year. The Museum houses artifacts and specimens in its collections from around the world.
Job Description
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science seeks a Collections Manager in the Department of Earth Sciences to curate and manage approximately 1.2 million specimens in the areas of Vertebrate Paleontology, Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleobotany, Palynology, Ichnology, Research Casts, Gems, Minerals, Rocks, Micromounts, and Meteorites. The position supports the effort to grow the scientific output of the Department, to curate and expand its collections, and to help inspire diverse communities’ understanding of, and involvement in, science and the natural world.
The Department of Earth Science is an outwardly focused and collegial team that engages in international fieldwork but has strong emphasis on the geology and paleontology of the American West. The current staff has expertise in invertebrate and vertebrate paleontology and paleobotany, and each curator has at least one scholarly project in Colorado. The Department’s collections are sizeable and are growing; their composition and history are described at http://www.dmns.org/science/collections/. In addition to one full-time collections manager (this position), the Department has five curators, two fossil preparators who run a preparation laboratory that operates 364 days per year, and nearly 400 volunteers who engage in science, collections, and outreach.
Essential duties:
Practices professional collections management for department collections, including knowledge and application of laws and regulations pertaining to collections.
Facilitates the accession, deaccession, documentation, registration, and preparation of collections.
Organizes and systematically stores specimens for ease of access, and for long-term preservation.
Facilitates internal and external access and use of collections for purposes of research, education, loan, and exhibit.
Oversees the work of volunteers (approximately 75), provides trainings as required and mentors/supervises volunteers, students, and interns.
Provides information and expertise on collections to internal and external audiences.
Coordinates with Museum departments to support and deliver 5 – 10 (or more) internal and external educational programs per year.
Minimum qualifications:
Master’s Degree in Museum Studies, earth sciences or a related field required. Collection management experience can be substituted for education.
3 years’ experience handling museum collections required.
3 years’ experience with relational databases required.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office suite required.
Ideal candidate will:
Be a great team player.
Extremely organized, highly motivated, proactive.
Have supervisory experience.
Be able to positively connect with a wide range of people.
Be able to work across diverse communities.
Desire to learn international, federal, state and local laws and protocols for specimen care, and understand the goals and needs of natural history collections.
Core values:
We love science.
We are curious, creative and playful.
We cultivate relationships with each other, diverse communities, the environment and for our future.
We think critically and act with empathy.
Director of Collections
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) seeks a Director of Collections, an individual with a Ph.D. degree or equivalent experience, and the ability to provide a vision for the development, growth, enhancement, direction, and management of the Museum’s vast and diverse natural and cultural collections.
NHM is the largest natural history museum in the western United States and home to one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history. These collections are world-class in size, quality, and research importance, and they sustain award-winning research, education, and exhibit programs. Included in the collections are more than 35 million specimens and objects, some as old as 4.5 billion years. These collections encompass those at the main Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, the world-famous La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in the mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles, and the historic William S. Hart Museum in Newhall, as well as collections maintained at several off-site facilities.
Reporting directly to the Vice President of Research & Collections, the Director of Collections will assist and advise the leadership of Research & Collections on policy development and implementation. He or she will guide collections plans, funding initiatives, strategic growth, digitization efforts, inventories, space allocation, and performance metrics. The Director of Collections will work closely with (but not directly supervise) the curatorial and collections staff, the registrars, conservators, and database managers to oversee a wide-range of collections activities and programs aimed toward making the Museum’s collections more relevant to research and education while increasing their accessibility and use. The successful applicant will have excellent communication skills, a talent for collaboration across disciplines, and the ability to engage and excite both our colleagues and public audience through the relevance of our collections. This position will also be responsible for maintaining and strengthening NHM’s presence in key professional and governmental networks, and for establishing active internal NHM collaborations and cross-departmental initiatives.
The qualified candidate will have a strong background in collections care, management, digitization, and records documentation. He or she will have experience in generating external funding via competitive grants and/or other external sources to support collections. Experience in conducting collections-based research would be an advantage, as would an interest in creative ways of engaging the public in collection support initiatives (e.g., citizen science collections-based activities).