Jobs Archive
Moves Conservator, NHM Unlocked
Working with teams across the NHM Unlocked Programme particularly Curatorial staff, Collection Moves Assistants, Digitisation team and Project Managers you will develop conservation-based recommendations for specimen protection. Your role will involve working closely with curatorial staff to identify specimens with complex needs and to develop packaging and transport requirements. You will design and test specimen support systems and assist with the design of more general protection for standardized collection drawers. You will establish and oversee stabilisation and remedial treatment projects for specimens, and will advise on specimen handling protocols and associated equipment required for large, heavy and/or complex specimens.
Main Responsibilities
- Carry out and advise on remedial treatments for complex specimens including condition reporting.
- Develop generic treatment and stabilisation documentation for sign off by curators.
- Line management of up to 4 Conservation Move Assistants
- Manage small project teams including work planning and co-ordination.
- Undertake condition surveys of a wide variety of natural history collections, with a view to prioritising remedial conservation workloads.
- Co-ordinate and supervise Conservation Moves Assistants in surveying and stabilisation techniques.
- Coordinate setting up workspaces within collection or adjacent areas (mini lab spaces) to carry out remedial conservation treatments and stabilisation works essential for safe relocation of specimens.
- Assist with workshops/training and preparation of guidelines.
- Assist with the production of guidelines for collection preparation, hazards and transport.
- Assist with the preparation of guidelines for decanting specimens at TVSP and manage the removal of temporary storage materials ensuring specimens are stored safely in their new collection furniture.
- Liaise with and advise external specialist moving companies to pack and move complex specimens.
- Undertake materials testing.
Assistant Keeper Grade II – Natural History
The National Museum of Ireland is seeking applications from suitable candidates to fill the post of Assistant Keeper Grade II – Natural History. This is a full-time permanent position and will be filled by open competitive interviews.
The post-holder will act as a curator, with specific responsibility for assisting the Keeper in the operation of the Division and delivery of services. This will be during a time of major capital project work in the NMI, involving collections moves, building refurbishment, exhibition development, and the development of public and specialist biodiversity services.
The Assistant Keeper Grade II will have day-to-day responsibility for specific collections within the Natural History Division. A responsibility of this role will include supporting biodiversity research services, including provision of access for taxonomic research, and collaboration with 3rd level institutions, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and other relevant organisations. This will include a focus on mobilising historic data from the collections. The post-holder will also be responsible for supporting exhibition maintenance and supporting colleagues in the delivery of public programmes in relation to education and learning.
Curator, Fossil Cnidaria
Embedded within Invertebrates and Plants Palaeobiology, this is a curatorial role in a world-renowned institution with a strong scientific mission and commitment to enhancing our research infrastructure.
The successful applicant will join a large science group composed of approximately 300 scientists. The NHM (Natural History Museum) houses some of the largest, most significant scientific collections in the world, which includes the internationally important natural history library, a suite of advanced analytical and imaging facilities, and offers the opportunity to contribute science to national and international audiences.
The Curator will be responsible for acquiring, curating, and making specimens within their area of responsibility in Fossil Invertebrates available to facilitate research, teaching, and exhibitions. These collections are frequently accessed by internal and external researchers and are used for the NHM’s public engagement activities, including permanent exhibitions, temporary and touring exhibitions, and outreach events for the general public and media.
Applications are open to candidates in the field of invertebrate palaeontology, with particular expertise in Fossil Corals.
Applications are open to candidates with collections expertise in invertebrate palaeontology.
Curator, Fossil Bryozoans, Sponges, Worms and Trace Fossils
Working within the Invertebrates and Plants Palaeobiology curatorial team, the Curator of Fossil Bryozoans, Sponges, Worms and Trace Fossils will have curatorial responsibility within the Natural History Museum’s historically important collection. The role will work closely with those responsible for the equivalent recent collections. The collections are frequently accessed by external researchers and are also used for the NHM’s public engagement activities, including income-generating exhibitions and events for the general public and media.
The curator will:
- Be responsible for collections management, development, care and identification of conservation needs within the named collections area
- Identify areas suitable for development and facilitate donations and acquisitions as appropriate
- Work closely with the NHM Unlocked delivery team to document, organise, sort and prepare the collections to ensure the move to a new site in Reading is both safe and beneficial for the fossil invertebrate collections
- Ensure best practice in collections care, understand approaches to due diligence and collections Registry policy such as Spectrum Museum standards and apply them to the area of responsibility
- Provide the information needed to maintain, develop, make accessible and use the collections, particularly by the development of digital records in the collections management system
- Facilitate research access to the collection and answer enquiries
- Contribute to scholarly outputs in appropriate outlets (journals, monographs, technical reports, scientific articles, etc)
- Seek and apply for funding to support projects
Senior Curator-Botanist (Africa)
This is an excellent opportunity to join the Herbarium Curation team in Science Collections as a Senior Curator-Botanist (Africa). The successful candidate will curate the Herbarium collections to a high standard, which includes processing new acquisitions, preparing loans, welcoming visitors and working with Kew's Integrated Collections Management System. In addition to this, the role includes facilitating access for our many visitors to the collections from around the world, identifying specimens collected from Africa and providing research support within Kew Science.
Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience) and with a proven background in a similar role with significant experience in curation, our ideal candidate will be a team player who can manage multiple priorities of the Africa Curation team, whilst being able to adapt to changing processes across curation. This position will also have the added flexibility to work across the geographical teams when needed providing management to curation projects during the New Herbarium planning. They will enjoy teamwork, and have some supervision, mentoring or management experience; have experience of working with herbarium specimens and be familiar working with databases and curation procedures.
This role is based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.
Digitisation Officer
Essential skills and experience include handling collections or working with fragile and delicate material, data entry and imaging skills along with a strong interest in Biodiversity, its sustainable use and conservation. The position will require attention to detail and a high level of motivation.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.
We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.
Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi.
The salary will be £24,252 per annum (pro rata).
Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.
Collections Manager, Mineral Sciences
The Natural History Museum of LA County (NHMLAC) seeks a Collections Manager of Mineral Sciences. NHMLAC’s Mineral Sciences collection includes approximately 150,000 specimens, including minerals, rocks, meteorites, gems, and related synthetic materials. The collection is worldwide in scope but has particular strengths in minerals from California, native gold, and gem crystals. Approximately half of all known mineral species are represented in the collection, which is actively used for both research and exhibitions.
The Collections Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the mineral sciences collection, maintain and improve database records, conserve and organize specimens, improve and enhance the collection through physical improvements and digitization projects, facilitate the use of the collection by researchers and other users, train and supervise volunteers and students, and support the needs of other NHMLA departments including Exhibitions, Education and Programming, Communications, and Advancement. This position is directly supervised by the Curator of Mineral Sciences.
The NHMLA values and endeavors to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within its organization and communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, a person with a disability, a veteran, and/or a part of the LGBTQAI+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply. NHMLA is especially interested in candidates whose background and experience have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to engage and include culturally diverse audiences in museums and in science.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Cares for the collection and manages activities on a day-¬to¬-day basis, including organizing, storing, securing, and conserving objects. Proposes, develops, and oversees plans for collection growth, improvement, and reorganization. Processes all incoming and outgoing objects and/or materials including purchases, donations, exchanges, field collections, and loans, serving as a liaison between donors, lenders, and the Registrar’s Office.
• Provides documentation for the collection, including cataloging, entering and updating database records, inventorying, enhancing documentation through digitization, and researching object, specimen, and/or material information.
• Responds to requests for information about the collection; facilitates visits and access to objects and data by researchers and others using the collection. Uses modern analytical techniques (e.g. XRF, XRD, Raman) for mineral identification and to assist visiting and remote researchers.
• Participates in education and other public program activities of the Museum including but not limited to collection tours, supporting exhibitions, and participation in public museum events. Trains, supervises, and manages students and volunteers.
• Stays current with professional topics relevant to the management of the collection, including trends and techniques in collections management, analytical methods, collection-based research, conservation, digitization, government regulations, and documentation.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• 3-5 years experience in the collection, organization, care and/or conservation of mineral science, geology, or related museum collections; relevant experience may have been gained through work as a student or professional. We expect qualified applicants will have either a substantial history of museum work or a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a related field and some museum work experience, but we encourage applicants in their cover letters to explain how their particular combination of education and experience qualifies them for the position.
• Working knowledge of factors important to the management of the collection, such as mineral classification, gemology, geological formations, and community standards and existing best practices in the care of minerals, gems, and other collection objects.
• Working knowledge of international, federal, and state regulations governing the collection and the use of its objects.
• Experience writing reports, grants, professional correspondence, and/or procedure manuals.
• Experience effectively presenting information to and responding to questions from individuals or groups of managers, scientists, and the general public.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience with database software typically used in natural history or similar museum collections; working knowledge of common principles of informatics and external data repositories common in these fields.
• Experience with analytical techniques in mineralogy, such as X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy.
• Experience supervising a diverse team of staff, volunteers, and students.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, access and inclusion.
OTHER INFORMATION
Annual salary for this position is $64,500. This is a full-time, regular, exempt position with excellent benefits.
The application deadline is September 1, 2023. Submit a current resume, a cover letter describing how your experience, knowledge, and interest qualify you for this position, and the names and contact information of three professional references using the link on the Museum’s employment site at https://nhm.org/careers-our-museums/careers-natural-history-museum.
The primary location for this job is at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, California. Some offsite travel will be required.
Applicants and employees are invited to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made to assist them to perform the essential functions of the position they seek or occupy. The incumbent must be able to perform this job safely, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health or safety of him/herself or others.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please contact jobs@nhm.org for any application inquiries.
Assistant Conservator
The University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge is seeking a full-time fixed-term Assistant Conservator. The post-holder will provide practical and preventative specialist conservation advice and treatment across the collections.
The role offers a unique opportunity to work as part of a fast-paced team building practical experience working with natural history collections. Core activities will include providing conservation treatments to the permanent exhibits as well as upcoming exhibitions and stored collections. They will be responsible for the care of the collections through monitoring and improving upon environmental and storage conditions, including pest management. They will promote and develop best practice in conservation and collections care. The postholder will also be expected to work on the Museum's spirit-preserved specimens.
It is essential the successful candidate is able to work independently and collaboratively with colleagues as well as have the ability to work effectively to deadlines.
Collections Assistant (Natural History)
Gallery Oldham is looking for a freelance Collections Assistant to work with our collections of natural history. This role will oversee the ongoing documentation and packing of natural history collections to prepare for a store move in 2024. It will also support our Natural History Curator to carry out much of the day-to-day work on these collections.
This opportunity is a freelance position working 3 days per week at a rate of £110 per day. The initial appointment would be for 6 months. Please email a CV and covering letter including details of two professional references on no more than three pages to karen.heatley@oldham.gov.uk by 9am on Monday 21st August. Use the subject line ‘YOUR NAME – Collections Assistant (Natural History). Shortlisting will take place on 22nd August and interviews will be held on Tuesday 29th August.
To discuss any aspect of this role please contact Patricia Francis, Exhibition and Collection Co-ordinator – patricia.francis@oldham.gov.uk
Visit our website for the job description and more details: https://galleryoldham.org.uk/about-gallery-oldham/support-us/
Quality Assurance Officer
We are seeking to appoint an individual with high attention to detail and experience of transcribing and imaging Natural History or museum specimens to assist with the development and documentation of Quality Assurance protocols. They will also be responsible for reporting where digital outputs of Herbarium or Fungarium specimens do not meet agreed standards.
Essential skills include ability to check image and data quality against defined standards, write protocols, a competent understanding of taxonomy, nomenclature and geography and Excellent IT Skills.
This role is based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.
We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.
Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi.