[NHCOLL-L:1079] Position Announcement--Exhibits

[John E. Simmons]

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
PROGRAM ASSISTANT – EXHIBITS

The University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity
Research Center houses extensive, world-class exhibits of fossil and
living plants and animals. The half-time exhibits assistant contributes
to the responsible care of the exhibits collection and produces,
installs, maintains, and evaluates natural history exhibits. The
exhibits assistant is a key staff member in a small department with
responsibility for both permanent and temporary gallery exhibits and for
exhibit elements used in educational programs. The exhibits assistant
will be expected to work in groups charged with planning and designing
exhibits. Both the public programs planning group and the exhibits
director review the exhibit assistant’s work for conformance to
instructions and museum standards.

Duties:
(1) Manage the exhibits collections including routine collection care,
record keeping, usage and maintenance of exhibits and galleries.
(2) Participate in and supervise all phases of exhibit production
including design, materials acquisition, prototyping, fabrication,
evaluation and removal.
(3) Generate graphics and typography for labels and other interpretive
materials
(4) Provide and coordinate live animal care
(5) Other duties as appropriate

Required Qualifications:
(1) Bachelor’s degree in biological science, art and design, museum
studies or closely related field
(2) Demonstrated knowledge of museum standards and practices for
collection care and exhibitry (i.e. protocols and techniques for exhibit
planning, design, construction, and evaluation; exhibit security,
lighting, and conservation)
(3) Experience in informal science education, or exhibit development
(4) At least one year’s experience in a museum exhibits setting
(5) Demonstrated skills with various carpentry techniques and materials
applications (i.e. paint, epoxies, glues, etc.; basic carpentry;
plastics fabrication; dry mounting and lamination; computer typesetting
and graphics)
(6) Demonstrated project management abilities – including the ability to
work with museum and university staff and external contractors to
achieve project objectives, budgets and schedules.
(7) At least minimal knowledge of evolutionary biology
(8) Demonstrated ability to visualize how scientific topics can be
depicted to lay audiences in exciting, dynamic, and memorable ways; an
ability to work in a highly collaborative atmosphere; follow specific
instructions; clearly and effectively communicate, both verbally and
visually

Preferred Qualifications:
(1) Supervisory experience
(2) Master’s degree in biological science, art and design, museum
studies, or closely related field or degrees or work experience in two
or more of these fields
(3) Two or more years’ experience in museum exhibit development,
construction, etc.
(4) Experience with materials selection and procurement, state and
federal contracts and regulations, animal care

Review begins: 16 July 2001

Salary: $14,000 - $18,000 a year depending on qualifications and
experience.

Application procedures: Submit a cover letter addressing qualifications,
resume and names and phone numbers of three references to Brad Kemp, The
University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research
Center, 1345 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045; 785-864-4540,
bkemp at ku.edu.

The University of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Employer. The University encourages applications from underrepresented
group members. Federal and state legislation prohibits discrimination on
the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry sex, age,
disability, and veteran status. In addition, University policies
prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, marital
status, and parental status.