[NHCOLL-L:672] Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology

Tue Aug 8 08:17:25 EDT 2000

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Vicen

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National Museums of Scotland
Applications are invited for this permanent post within the Department
of Geology and Zoology, based at the Royal Museum, Chambers Street,
Edinburgh. The starting salary for this through graded post (spanning
five grades) is likely to be between £12,330 and £21,298 per annum,
subject to level of appointment, qualifications and experience. The
postholder will be expected to progress and develop in this post,
according to agreed competence criteria. 	

Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology
You will curate, develop and make accessible NMS's important and
extensive fossil invertebrate collections, with a subsidiary
responsibility for fossil plants. Duties will include responsibility for
maintaining and improving documentation of the collections; and for
acquisitions; exhibitions; research; publications; and answering public
enquiries.

You should normally have a good first degree in geology, and a higher
degree in palaeontology. You will have proven ability in research and
publication; and appropriate computer skills. A working knowledge of at
least one foreign language, and experience in museum work, are
desirable. Staff management skills would be an advantage. Possession of
a current driving licence, or evidence of progress towards this, is
essential. You must be able to work effectively both independently and
as part of a team, and possess good written and verbal communication
skills. 

Further information is given below. An application form, to be completed
and returned by Monday 9 October 2000, may be obtained by calling in
person at the Royal Museum's Information Desk, or by telephoning
0131-247 4094 (answerphone). Please state clearly the post you are
applying for and quote reference NMS00/28. Interviews will be held at
the Royal Museum at the end of October/early November 2000.
An Equal Opportunities Employer.

www.nms.ac.uk

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VACANCY STATEMENT - NMS00/28

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY

CURATOR OF INVERTEBRATE PALAEONTOLOGY

The National Museums of Scotland invites applications for the post of
Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology, within the Department of Geology
and Zoology. This is a permanent post, which is through graded Grade
5-1. Appointment will be made at Grade 5, 4, or possibly Grade 3.

The National Museums of Scotland (NMS) came into existence on 1 October
1985, when the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, the Royal
Scottish Museum and the Scottish United Services Museum at Edinburgh
Castle were joined together in a single organisation, governed by a new
Board of Trustees. The National Museums of Scotland covers a wide range
of Museum disciplines - archaeology, the applied arts, military history,
the history of science, technology, working life, geology and zoology.
The Museums acquire and exhibit to the public specimens illustrating
these subjects. NMS also answers public enquiries, undertakes research,
and makes the material in the collections available to external
researchers.

A number of important initiatives are currently under way: the use of
information technology is being extended to many aspects of the Museums'
work, and there are plans for new educational services and exhibitions.
Commercial activities have been greatly expanded. The Museum of
Scotland, dedicated to telling the story of Scotland through the
collections, from its geological beginnings to the present day, has,
together with the existing Royal Museum, created one of the most
significant museum complexes in Europe.

The largest single source of funding for the National Museums is
Government Grant-in-Aid from the Scottish Executive Education
Department. Income from admission charges, sponsorship, commercial
activities and public donations makes an increasingly important
contribution. There are about 400 staff.

Department of Geology and Zoology

At present the Department has 23 staff, of which 8 are concerned with
Geology. The geological collections consist of almost 200,000 specimens
of fossils, minerals and rocks, and are among the finest in the world.
They are particularly strong in early fossil fish and amphibians, but
contain over 80,000 invertebrates, including strengths in crinoids, and
in Palaeozoic eurypterids and crustaceans, and smaller palaeobotany
collections. Long known for their international importance for research,
these collections continue to attract researchers from all over the
world, and much material is lent for study. In addition to fossil
invertebrates and plants, the Department has geological curatorial
sections dealing with fossil vertebrates, rocks, minerals and gemstones;
and well equipped laboratories for analysis, preparation and geological
conservation. Other sections of the Department are concerned with extant
animals (Zoology).

Duties

The post is based at the Royal Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh;
however, visits to other NMS facilities will be required periodically.
The postholder will be responsible to the Keeper of Geology and Zoology.
Principal duties will include:

· curation and documentation of the fossil invertebrate collections,
with a subsidiary responsibility for the fossil plant collection;
· in due course, conducting scholarly research on these collections for
publication;
· planning and helping to execute exhibitions;
· promoting accessibility of the collections through loans, popular
publications and other media;
· developing the collections by initiating acquisitions through
donations, fieldwork and purchase;
· answering enquiries from specialists and the public;
· providing information and advice on topics relating to Departmental
and institutional policy;
· where appropriate, management, organisation and specialist training of
staff and volunteers.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should normally have a good first degree in geology, and a
higher degree in palaeontology. Applicants will have proven ability in
research and publication; and appropriate computer skills. A working
knowledge of at least one foreign language, and experience in museum
work, would be desirable. Staff management skills would be an advantage.
Possession of a current driving licence, or evidence of progress towards
this, is essential.

Personal Qualities

Applicants must be able to work effectively both independently and as
part of a team, and possess good written and verbal communication
skills. 

Salary

The starting salary will probably be between £12,330 and £21,298 with
initial grading and placing on the salary scale to be determined by the
Selection Board, taking into account qualifications and experience.
Although the post is through graded, with the potential for the
successful candidate to progress to Grade 1, it is likely that an
appointment will be made towards the lower end of the scale, at Grade 5,
4, or possibly Grade 3. The salary maximum for Grade 1, subject to
achieving appropriate performance markings, is £40,897.

Pay progression is subject to a satisfactory level of performance as
assessed in Annual Staff Reports, and the resources available to NMS.
The reporting year runs from 1 April to 31 March. 

Prospects

Staff in through graded posts are eligible for an annual grading review,
taking into account the recommendations contained in Annual Staff
Reports, and measured against agreed competence criteria. A postholder
appointed at Grade 5 level, who consistently achieves high levels of
performance and shows evidence of promotability, will have prospects,
under this system, of reaching Grade 1.

Hours

Normally a 5 day week of 42 hours, including lunch breaks. Normal hours
of attendance are Monday to Thursday 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Friday 8.30
a.m. to 4.30 p.m. A flexible working system is in operation.

Annual Leave

Staff appointed on Grade 5 or 4 will receive an annual leave allowance
of 22 days, rising to 25 days after one year's service, and to 30 days
after 15 years' service. Staff appointed on Grade 3 will receive an
annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry, rising to 30 days after 10
years' service.

In addition, all staff receive 10½ public and privilege holidays, taken
at fixed times of the year.

Probation

Staff are on probation for a period of 12 months from date of
appointment.

Pension

Staff are automatically members of the Principal Civil Service Pension
Scheme (PCSPS). However, membership is not compulsory, and staff have
three months to decide whether to opt, instead, to pay into the State
Pension Scheme (SERPS), or into a personal pension scheme. Under the
terms of the PCSPS, no deduction for superannuation benefits is made
from salary, except for widows'/widowers' pensions, towards which all
members contribute 1½% of salary.

Conditions of Service

Although staff of the National Museums of Scotland are not Civil
Servants, since they are appointed by the Board of Trustees and not by
the Crown, their terms and conditions of service are, in other respects,
in line with the Civil Service Management Code.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on NMS premises, other than in
specific designated areas.

Attendance for Interview

Candidates invited for interview will be required to attend in person.
There are no arrangements currently in place to enable interview by
alternative means, for example, video or telephone conference calls.

Travel Expenses

Reasonable travel expenses may be considered for reimbursement at the
least expensive rate available. Claims of less than £5.00 will not be
reimbursed. Candidates travelling from outwith the UK should note that
expenses may be claimed from port of entry only.

Application Forms

Completed application forms, quoting reference NMS00/28, should be
submitted to the Personnel Office, National Museums of Scotland,
Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, by Monday 9 October 2000.

Interviews

Interviews will be held at the Royal Museum at the end of October/early
November 2000. The successful candidate would normally be expected to
take up appointment soon after.

A large print version of this vacancy statement is available from the
Personnel Office, on request.
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