Collections Manager (Life Collections)

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. It is seeking to appoint a new Collections Manager for the Life Collections. The Life Collections comprise six million specimens, of which around 30,000 are zoological type specimens, and there are currently 10 staff with collection management responsibilities in this area. The collections have particular strengths in insects, crustaceans and vertebrates. The Collections Manager will work across all areas of Life Collections, but the role will have particular emphasis on the vertebrate and/or malacology collections. The successful applicant will be responsible for documentation, imaging, databases and conservation, and will facilitate research visits and loans. They will also be part of the teams developing new exhibitions and displays, and will participate fully in the museum’s outreach and public engagement programme. It is expected that the successful applicant will engage in field collecting and some collections-based research.

For this post, you should have a degree with a substantial biological sciences component together with a postgraduate degree in museum studies or a biological discipline. You will have an excellent understanding of whole-organism zoology and a track record of collections-focused museum work. You must show evidence of working effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and will need to have experience of working with relational databases and collections management systems.

Whilst the role is a grade 7 position, we would be willing to consider candidates with potential but less experience who are seeking a development opportunity, for which an initial appointment would be at grade 6 (£27,057- £32,227 p.a.) with the responsibilities adjusted accordingly. This would be discussed with applicants at interview/appointment where appropriate. 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. If you have any enquiries please contact the Head of Life Collections, Darren Mann (darren.mann@oum.ox.ac.uk).

To apply for this post and for further details, including a job description and selection criteria, please go to http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/jobs/index.html Closing date: Mid-day, 10th April 2015. Interview date: 30th April 2015. The University of Oxford is an Equal Opportunities Employer.