Principal Curator in Charge (PCiC) – 3 Permanent positions in the divisions of Insects, Invertebrates and Vertebrates

This is an opportunity to take up a collections leadership role in a world-renowned institution with a unique scientific mission and public profile.

The successful applicants will join a large science group that comprises a group of approximately 300 scientists, that houses some of the largest and most significant scientific collections in the world, that is home to an internationally important natural history library, that includes a suite of advanced analytical and imaging facilities, and that has the opportunity to communicate science to a huge national and international audience.

Applications are open to collections-based scientists across the breadth of the NHM’s activities in Life Sciences to take up newly developed roles as Principal Curator in Charge (PCiC), in each of 3 of the following Life Science Divisions: Insects, Invertebrates, and Vertebrates; a PCiC position has been filled already in the Division of Algae, Fungi & Plants. We are especially interested in applicants who combine disciplinary expertise with a demonstrated ability to use that expertise to lead access to and development of collections.

PCiC positions are available in the following Divisions: (a) Division of Vertebrates, (b) Division of Invertebrates, (c) Division of Insects

Salary: £43,350 per annum plus benefits
Contract: Permanent role as Band 3 Principal Curator; 5 year rolling appointments as PCiC
Closing date: 9am, Monday 17 October 2016

Role competences: Qualifications:
Relevant higher qualification (MSc or relevant postgraduate experience is required, a PhD is desirable) or equivalent experience with an emphasis on taxonomy or systematics, collections care and the use of natural history collections in science.

The skills and experience required:

1. Collections management, development, conservation and care
In depth knowledge and extensive experience of collections management, care and developmentDemonstrable high-level experience of working with internal and external researchers and facilitating collections-based research projectsExperience of collection digitisation, databases and digital curation
2. Collections scholarship and leadership
A deep knowledge of one or more relevant phyla, their key taxonomic/diagnostic characters and interrelationships, the relevant literature, and with proven ability to describe and delineate speciesTrack record in publishing scientific articles as lead author and experience of taking an executive role in an international society and/or for an academic/professional journalTrack record in supervising PhD/MSc students and/or teaching/training
3. Income generation
Experience in developing applications for external funding to support collections development and/or scholarly collections-based research.
4. Public-facing activities
Demonstrable experience of significant contribution to public-facing activities.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; presenting, writing, working with the press office and media
5. Management and leadership
Substantial experience of successfully managing and leading teams in line with strategic prioritiesDemonstrable experience of successfully leading and delivering major projects Wide experience of working with a wide variety of stakeholders (internal and external researchers, public engagement, visitors, students, volunteers), as a team leader/member with good interpersonal skills

Online application process: You do not need to complete your application online, but we ask candidates to email their application to Jan Manthey, Recruitment Officer at hrrecruitment @nhm.ac.uk