Collections Assistant – Geology

Published: October 15, 2024    Collections Assistant, Jobs

Closing: October 25, 2024

Denver Museum of Nature and Science https://www.dmns.org/

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science seeks a Collections Assistant in the Department of Integrative Collections to help support the Earth Sciences collections. This position assists collections management duties primarily for the Geology collections (Rocks, Minerals, Meteorites, and Micromounts), and additionally curation and cataloguing of the Invertebrate Paleontology collections. This position assists with loans, visiting researchers, documentation, and other Earth Sciences collections duties as assigned.  

This position’s priority project will be to support all work in the DMNS Geology collections in preparation for a new exhibit.  This work may include recording and updating geological specimen data, imaging, database work, assisting accessions and loans, and specimen rehousing. This position will secondarily support the Invertebrate Paleontology Collections by cataloging, rehousing, inventorying, integrating and organizing fossil specimens, with associated database and locality data updates. The assistant may support other Earth Sciences collections projects as needed and assigned. The assistant will work closely with collections managers and the Curator of Geology. As part of an outwardly focused and collaborative museum team, this position will also support outreach and research activities on an as-needed basis.  The assistant will work alongside, train, and supervise a volunteer corp.

DMNS is especially interested in candidates whose background and experience have prepared them to contribute to our commitments to co-create a museum-wide DEAI strategy and to find ways for culturally diverse communities to engage with the Museum in meaningful ways. 

Job Class: Full Time
Hiring Range: $24.00
Work Schedule: 5 days/week, 8 hours/day onsite
Direct Reports: oversees the work of interns and volunteers

Essential Duties

  • Assists with professional collections management for Earth Sciences collections. 
  • Assists with the documentation, registration, and storage of collections. 
  • Implements training, monitoring, and daily supervision of interns and volunteers. 
  • Facilitates researcher visits as assigned.
  • Careful and safe handling of specimens with appropriate adherence to collections management best practices, especially while moving, rehousing, labeling, and inventorying specimens.
  • Update and maintain database records in EMu (our CMS) collections management system, such as catalog and locality data records, locations, and other related collections metadata including associated multimedia files. 
  • Generating new database records in EMu utilizing Excel spreadsheets.
  • Implements and ensures adherence to all safety protocols in collections. 
  • Supports and delivers as appropriate or required internal and external outreach and service programs. 
  • Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree in earth sciences or geosciences.
  • 6 months of collections experience required.
  • 6 months of relational database experience required.
  • Basic to intermediate proficiency in Excel.
  • Occasional local and out-of-state travel is required.
  • Infrequent evening and weekend shifts as needed required. (Special events, cross-departmental endeavors, etc.)

Ideal Candidate Will Be/Have

  • Master’s degree in Earth Sciences, Collections Management, or related field. 
  • Experience working with minerals and invertebrate fossils. 
  • Experience with housing specimens in archival materials. 
  • Experience moving and reorganizing museum specimens. 
  • Supervisory experience with interns and volunteers. 
  • Collections management database experience, including data imports and large dataset proofing and cleanup. 
  • Experience documenting workflows and instructions for projects. 
  • Proven record of being a highly motivated, proactive team player with excellent communication skills.

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume by 6:00 p.m. MT on Friday, October 25th. Applications will not be accepted after this time. DMNS reserves the right to close the position prior to this date. Applications may only be accepted electronically via the Museum’s website.

DMNS Core Values

  • We love science.
  • We are curious, creative, and playful.
  • We cultivate relationships with each other, diverse communities, the environment, and for our future.
  • We think critically and act with empathy.

Perks of Working at DMNS

Click HERE (www.dmns.org/about/careers/employee-benefits/) to learn more about the benefits package offered to DMNS staff.

Dayforce Wallet: Get your pay as soon as you earn it, at no cost to you. Request up to 50% of your net earnings without waiting for the standard pay day, through the Dayforce Wallet mobile app.

Due to the high volume of people who apply, we are not able to respond to specific inquiries regarding your application status.

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is an equal opportunity employer. The Museum is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff committed to serving the needs of all our visitors, and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Apply here: https://jobs.jobvite.com/dmns/job/obaAufw9/apply