[Nhcoll-l] Collection Manager Position at UTEP

[John E Simmons]

*POSITION DESCRIPTION*

*COLLECTION MANAGER*



Location:  University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA

Department:  Biological Sciences

Title:    Natural History Collection Manager

Classification:   Academic staff, exempt

Position Duration: 3 years, commencing no later than January 30, 2016

Salary:   $37,277/year + benefits

Supervisor:   Dr. Eli Greenbaum, Director, UTEP Biodiversity Collections

Posting:   https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__admin.utep.edu_Default.aspx-3Ftabid-3D73912&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=zGniuU2f7NnSEE4YKA3Dtbb6sDkv5zCtYdc6IQ5A-kc&s=FlOJghvDd81YTd0WYd2dzElyPbJoOLxToo4fYAjPILs&e=   (Job ID: 2384)



The collection manager for the University of Texas at El Paso Biodiversity
Collections (UTEP-BC, natural history collections) will administer a
world-class collection of specimens.  The collections consist of
fluid-preserved specimens, study skins, herbarium specimens, invertebrate
collections, Cenozoic fossils, frozen tissues, wet and dry skeletons,
acoustical recordings, digital and film-image archives, and extensive
library holdings.  The collections have an historical strength in
Chihuahuan desert extant and extinct invertebrate and vertebrate specimens,
and recent collections have focused on this region, Central and South
America, and Central Africa. University curators and students, and national
and international scholars use the collections extensively for research and
education.  The collections manager is responsible for day-to-day
activities in the collection and reports to the director.



Duties:

1. Collections management and conservation (40%)

·         Develop and maintain collection database (Arctos), including data
migration from other computer programs to Arctos

·         Ensure long-term integrity and preservation of collections and
collection-storage environment.

·         Maintain and improve collection-care protocols.

·         Maintain and organize records of collection activity, use, and
status for annual reports, grant submittals, and other documentation.

2. Acquisition and collection development (10%)

·         Oversee the preparation and staging of newly acquired specimens
for their integration into the collection.

·         Organize and prepare documentation necessary for specimen
accession, including national and international permits and associated
documentation.

·         Electronically catalog specimens and their associated
information.

·         Participate in acquisition of specimens for the UTEP-BC by
facilitating donations and by occasional fieldwork and expeditions at the
direction of the curatorial staff.

3. Museum operational service (30%)

·         Process all specimen loans, exchanges, and gifts; incorporate
received specimens into the collection; maintain appropriate records of
such activities.

·         Collaborate with curators to plan and implement divisional goals,
priorities, and programs.

·         Collaborate with other museum collections managers to achieve
high quality collections care and economy of scale in all
collections-related activities. Work proactively to place specimens from
the UTEP-BC collection into the hands of qualified researchers for study.

·         Assist and supervise users of the collections.

·         Respond to inquiries from scientists, governmental and consulting
agencies, the public, and other users.

·         Participate in the museum’s public programming by providing
information and specimens and assisting in exhibit design; assist in museum
public functions.

·         Conduct tours for visiting scholars, students, and the public.

4. Supervision (10%)

·         Hire, train, and supervise undergraduate assistants.

·         Train and supervise volunteers working in the collection.

5. Professional development (5%)

·         Work closely with the curators to ensure consistency of practice.

·         Participate in collection management training and development
through professional societies.

·         Undertake research in area of expertise when not in conflict with
collection management duties.

·         Participate in professional scientific societies.

6. Other duties as appropriate. (5%)



*Required qualifications*:

·         A Master's degree or Ph.D. from an accredited university in
museum studies, systematics, botany or invertebrate/vertebrate zoology or
bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 2 years experience working with museum
collections in a position with similar responsibilities.

·         Familiarity with biodiversity informatics, *including the
database Arctos,* web-based applications, and distributed networks.

·         Demonstrable knowledge of care and management of natural history
collections, with a special emphasis on preventative conservation,
collection-storage environments, and techniques pertaining uniquely to
fluid-preserved, skeletal, and dry skin collections.



*Preferred ualifications*:

·         Expertise in one or more taxa that constitute divisional
strengths and programmatic priorities.

·         Working knowledge of the taxonomy and identification of plants,
invertebrates, or vertebrates from the southwestern United States and
northern Mexico.

·         International field experience with knowledge of numerous
techniques for the collection of botanical, invertebrate, or vertebrate
specimens.

·         Experience handling cryogenically stored tissue samples.



*HOW TO APPLY: *

The following application materials should be sent in one PDF file via
email to: Cinthia Acuna, UTEP Human Resources, ccacuna at utep.edu



1. Cover Letter

2. Collections Experience Statement (1–2 pages), including any experience
with Arctos

3. Academic CV

4. The names and contact information for 3 references



*For full consideration, applications should be received by December 4,
2015*
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