Jobs Archive

Vacancy reference: JJ/NHM/C
Location: South Kensington
Area of business: Earth Sciences

Role description: The Mineral and Planetary sciences division of the Earth Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum has a rare permanent opening for a new member of its internationally active curation team. The role is an opportunity for the correct candidate to build a solid career foundation at the NHM and become involved within the wider international geological heritage community. For an already keen mineralogist-geologist the post is an opportunity to work with one of the largest and most scientifically significant mineral collections in the world.

The mineral collections curator is responsible for undertaking everyday curation, documentation, movements and preservation of the NHM mineral collections. The curator will provide access and supervision to both visiting international and NHM based scientists and scholars. With the supervision and guidance of the Senior Curator, the post will help deliver specific parts of the NHM digitisation project and contribute to long term collections management and development goals. The new curator will be encouraged to familiarise themselves with both the mineral collection and the wider mineral kingdom as part of their scholarly development.

Role competences: BEFORE beginning your application - Please read the section below about the ‘Online Application Process’ carefully.

If you wish to be considered for this role you will need to address each of the following competences in the ‘other information’ section of your online application:

1. BSc (or equivalent) in Earth Sciences/Geology or Cultural Heritage/Museum studies
2. Proven experience of working with and safely handling large numbers of natural history objects in collections. (Geological objects desirable)
3. A reasonable knowledge of geological terminology. (Mineral specifics/taxonomy desirable)
4. Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of object & collections relevant information.
5. Ability to identify basic mineral & petrological (rock) specimens.
6. Experience using spreadsheets and database software. (KeEMu desirable)
7. Demonstrable understanding of the importance of geological collections and enthusiastic desire to develop collections through information, data and objects.
8. Excellent communication skills with demonstrable experience of solving problems in a flexible and creative manner
9. Experience and desire to talk and present to both peers and the public.
10. Proven time and project management skills.
11. Ability to confidently follow complex instructions, methods and procedures.
12. Experience of at least one other wider museum activity – (conservation, loans, facilitating displays, facilitating research, public outreach events, social media, specimen acquisition)

Online application process: You are required to provide a response to ALL of the role competences listed above within the ‘Other Information’ section of the online application form (up to 140 words per competence). In order to demonstrate how you meet each competence fully, please provide specific examples from your achievements, knowledge, skills and/or experience.

IMPORTANT: The ‘Other Information’ section will ‘timeout’ after 35 minutes and any information not saved during this time will be lost. Please therefore prepare your answers on a separate document before transferring and saving them to your application.

The ‘Additional Questions’ regarding right to work in the UK and age are mandatory questions and any applications received without these answers will not be considered.

Please review your application fully before pressing ‘submit application’ as you will not be able to make any further amends after submitting, and any applications received which have not addressed ALL competences in full and/or the mandatory questions will be rejected.

Please note that CVs will not be accepted outside of the online application process or as a substitute for completion of the competences.

The attached ‘Role Specification’ provides further information on the role and how to apply.

Please also be aware that we are not able to offer a certificate of sponsorship for this role. If you do not have the right to work in the UK without a visa sponsored by NHM, then unfortunately you will not be eligible to apply for this vacancy.

Start date: 1st July 2015
Closing date: Open until filled

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) seeks a Curator for its renowned late Pleistocene Rancho La Brea collections housed at the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits. The successful candidate will conduct collection-based research in evolutionary biology and paleoecology including systematics, biogeography, climate change, and biodiversity science. The NHM, the largest natural history museum in the western United States, has recently finished a dramatic transformation including new ground-breaking exhibitions and a wildlife garden. It anticipates completing a similar transformation at the Page Museum facility and adjacent La Brea Tar Pits during the next decade. The NHM¹s mission is to inspire wonder, discovery, and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds . Our strategic intent - "To be the best at communicating how our planet and life on it changes over time and why this matters" - guides our priorities for the next decade. The successful candidate will have a record of outstanding research and publications as well as excellent communication skills, a talent for collaboration across disciplines and an innate ability to engage and enthuse the public and stakeholders through his/her work.

The Page Museum is the site museum for the La Brea Tar Pits, one of the world¹s richest Ice Age fossil sites that has to date yielded an estimated 5 million specimens representing more than 600 species of animals and plants of Late Pleistocene age. These collections afford a huge potential for a broad array of research and public programs and are continuously growing through ongoing excavations.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing a dynamic, productive, and scientifically significant program of research to build a growing scientific and public profile, overseeing the development and curation of important collections, maintaining and strengthening the NHM¹s presence in key professional and governmental networks, and establishing active internal NHM collaborations, especially with the Education and Exhibits, Marketing and Communications, and Advancement Departments.

◦The successful candidate will have a Ph.D., a strong track record of published research, and experience in generating funding to support research.
◦His/her demonstrated talent for successful public communications will enhance collaborations with non-scientists in the NHM's Education and Exhibits, Marketing and Communications and Advancement Departments.
◦Experience in collections management would be an advantage, as would an interest in creative ways of engaging the public in research (e.g., citizen science).
◦The Curator will be expected to develop an active and publically engaging research program, develop working relationships with local universities, mentor students and postdoctoral fellows, and maintain research through obtaining competitive grants and/or funding from other external sources
◦The candidate must have the vision and capability to build a research program that can be integrated within the NHM¹s ongoing efforts to document and interpret biotic responses to environmental change.
◦He/she will manage the collection's growth and undertake research in ways that increase both its scientific and public appeal.
◦The ability to communicate effectively and engage with a wide variety of audiences, including the public and the NHM¹s various stakeholders is paramount.
◦The successful candidate will be expected to help oversee staff and supervise the NHM's Rancho La Brea program including the collections and excavations
◦He/she will actively participate in a broad range of museum activities, such as exhibits, education, outreach, training of educators, public communications including, but not limited to, media interactions, and fundraising.
◦The successful candidate will be expected to play a key role in the ongoing transformation of the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits.
◦The Curator will also be responsible for building productive ties with local universities, professional associations, educators, and other relevant organizations within the scientific and general community.

Applicants should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, salary history, and the full contact information of at least three professional references to thayden@nhm.org, Page Museum Curatorial Search, Research & Collections, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA.

Job Announcement Number: MT-DEU-2015-0001
Control Number: 382713700

About the BLM

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource. The BLM manages more land – approximately 253 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estates throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. For additional information about the BLM, please visit our website.

The position

BLM is seeking a dynamic and energetic individual to join the team to serve as a Paleontologist for the Montana State Office, Division of Resources, Planning, and Fire, Branch of Social and Cultural Resources.

This is an Interdisciplinary position that will be filled as a Geologist (Paleontology), in the GS-1350 series or as a Paleontologist, in the GS-0401 series. This position is located in Billings, Montana.

Information about the Billings area can be found at www.billingschamber.com.

Key Requirements

◦U.S. Citizenship is required;
◦Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections;
◦You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you
◦have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land;
◦Direct Deposit Required;
◦Security Clearance/Background Investigation is required
Duties

The incumbent is responsible for performing a variety of duties including, but not limited to, the following:

◦Developing and maintaining liaisons with professional, amateur, industry, and advocacy groups, and museums and other institutions for the purpose of exchanging accurate information about the management of paleontological resources on the public lands.
◦Administering the Paleontological Resources Use Permit program for Montana and the Dakotas. This includes reviewing all permit applications and all reports of permitted work, preparing and ensuring adherence to professional standards of work and compliance with laws and requirements, and providing expertise as needed in order to monitor permittees for adherence to terms and conditions of permits.
◦Writing and reviewing information on paleontological resources for land use planning.
◦Developing and implementing training program and outreach programs
◦Developing, analyzing and interpreting policy for statewide and regional application.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The work environment involves approximately 70% percent of incumbent’s time in an office environment, and 30 percent in the field (including travel time). The work may involve frequent travel throughout the three state area of Montana, North and South Dakota, and to other distant meeting locations. Fieldwork may involve rugged settings and extremes of weather.

Review of applications will begin 27 October 2014 and continue until the position is filled.

The Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates (CUMV) is seeking an ornithologist or mammalogist to curate and grow the collections through an organized program of accession in-volving Cornell students in all aspects of museum-based activities. We are interested in a leader for all aspects of the program, from field collections through specimen preparation and curation, to use of the collections in modern specimen-based research. The successful candidate will curate the Ornithology and Mammalogy Collections (including co-supervision of a full-time collections manager) and maintain an active research program in collections-based research.

The CUMV is a unit of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and is housed in the modern Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity, along with the Lab of Ornithology and its 200 plus faculty and staff. The CUMV holdings include over 1.25 million specimens, including over 60,000 bird and 38,000 mammal specimens and a substantial tissue collection. The CUMV includes space for teaching, specimen preparation and molecular work; a walk-in freezer; X-ray lab; dermestarium; etc. Cornell supports a diverse community of faculty, staff and students pursuing an uncommonly large number of programs and projects in vertebrate biology, ecology and evolution.

Qualifications: Applicants should have a Ph.D. in ornithology, mammalogy, or related area, have broad knowledge of birds and/or mammals, have experience working with natural history collections, and display an interest in interacting with students and the broader scientific communities at the Lab, Cornell and beyond.

Inquiries are encouraged to either of the co-chairs of the search committee: Prof. David W. Winkler (dww4@cornell.edu) or Prof. Jeremy B. Searle (jbs295@cornell.edu). Please submit (as a single pdf file) a CV, a letter describing your vision for future collections-based research and education, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three individuals who can serve as references to: curator_search@cornell.edu.

Cornell University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Applications from women and minorities are encouraged.