[Nhcoll-l] Job: Collections Manager, Mammalogy, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Fri Aug 30 19:41:23 EDT 2019

*Collections Manager, Mammalogy*
Regular Full-Time
Los Angeles, CA, US

The Natural History Museum of LA County (NHMLA) seeks a Collections Manager
of Mammalogy. NHMLA’s mammalogy collection consists of approximately 98,000
specimens, including skins, skulls, skeletons, fluid-preserved specimens,
tanned hides, and frozen tissues of terrestrial and marine mammals. The
staff of the mammalogy department includes two curators and two full-time
collections managers; this position is directly supervised by the Curator
of Terrestrial Mammals.

The Collections Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the
mammalogy collection, including processing incoming and outgoing loans,
preparation and integration of new specimens, maintaining and improving
specimen records in NHMLA’s EMu database, conserving and organizing
specimens, managing physical improvements and digitization projects,
facilitating the use of the collection by researchers, and supporting the
needs of other NHMLA departments including Exhibitions, Education and
Programming, and Marketing and Communications.  The Collections Manager
will also train and supervise volunteers, students, and other personnel,
and collaborate with other departments to manage shared space and
facilities.

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 Mammalogy collection on a day-to-day basis, including
   organizing and conserving specimens. Plans and oversees the digitization,
   rehousing, and movement of the collection as necessary and/or directed by
   the Curator(s). Assists with the development and implementation of plans
   for collection growth and improvement. Works cooperatively with other
   collection management and conservation staff to achieve the highest level
   of collection care and productivity across organizational units.
   - Provides documentation for the collection, including cataloging,
   entering/updating database records, inventorying, enhancing documentation
   through digitization, and researching specimen and/or material information.
   - Processes all incoming and outgoing specimens and/or materials
   including new field specimens, donations, exchanges and loans. Maintains
   extensive knowledge concerning the organisms and specimens in the
   collection. Serves as the liaison to donors and lenders between Mammalogy
   and the Registrar’s Office.
   - Supports the Curator(s) in the acquisition of new specimens and/or
   materials for the collection through donation, exchange, field collection,
   and salvage.
   - Facilitates visits by researchers using the collection.
   - Supports the planning, installation and maintenance of temporary and
   permanent exhibits. Expedites the use of collection materials for display.
   - Participates in education and other public program activities of the
   Museum including but not limited to tours for the public and Museum
   members, training of Museum Docents and Gallery Interpreters, and
   participation in public museum events. Handles inquiries from the public
   and researchers.
   - Stays current with the research field related to the collection
   including trends and techniques in collections management, collection-based
   research, conservation, digitization, biodiversity informatics, and
   documentation.
   - Trains, supervises, and manages collections personnel, including
   students and volunteers.
   - May lead or participate in ongoing or original research related to the
   collection.
   - Initiates and/or assists with identifying potential funding sources
   and writing proposals seeking grant funding for the collection.
   - Advocates for natural history collections and effectively communicates
   their importance to members of the public and the scientific community.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

   - Master’s degree with specialization in mammalogy, museum studies, or a
   related field and at least two years of technical experience in the
   collection, organization, care and/or conservation of natural history
   specimens/collections; or a bachelor’s degree in an applicable field and 5
   years collection experience; or an equivalent combination of education and
   experience.
   - Working knowledge of mammalian taxonomy, common mammalian specimen
   preparations, and the organization and management of mammalogy collections.
   - Database and Informatics Experience: Experience with database software
   typically used in natural history collections; working knowledge of common
   principles of biodiversity informatics and external data repositories such
   as GBIF and iDigBio.
   - Communication: Demonstrated excellence in oral and written
   communication.
   - Writing Skills: Ability to write reports, grants, professional
   correspondence, and procedure manuals.
   - Presentation Skills: Ability to effectively present information to and
   respond to questions from groups of managers, scientists, and the general
   public.
   - Computer Experience: Experience using a personal computer and with
   typical word processing, spreadsheet, email, calendar, and other software
   (PC and/or Macintosh).

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

   - Experience supervising a diverse team of staff, volunteers, and
   students.
   - Working knowledge of international, federal, and state regulations
   governing the collection and use of mammal specimens by museums.
   - Experience with typical methods used for field collection and
   processing of mammals.

OTHER INFORMATION

   - Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. This
   is a full-time, regular, exempt position with excellent benefits.
   - The primary location for this job is at the Natural History Museum of
   Los Angeles County, in Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Some offsite travel
   will be required, including to the large mammal collection facility in
   Vernon, CA.
   - 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 application deadline is September 30, 2019. Submit a current CV, 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 through the Museum’s employment site at
   https://nhm.org/careers-our-museums/careers-natural-history-museum or
   https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=2fc0a355-012e-4bef-9c85-724ae074a06a&jobId=296475

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity
Employer. Please contact jobs at nhm.org for any application inquiries.

--
Trina E. Roberts, Ph.D.
Associate VP, Collections
Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
213-763-3330
troberts at nhm.org
she, her, hers
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