Collections Management Advisor (Natural Sciences)

This regular continuing position offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: www.hrs.ualberta.ca.

The University of Alberta is seeking a dynamic professional for the position of Collections Management Advisor (Natural Sciences), University of Alberta Museums. The University of Alberta located in Edmonton, Alberta, is one of the largest collecting institutions in Canada with more than 17 million objects and specimens in disciplines ranging from art to zoology. There are 29 academic museum collections that comprise the University of Alberta Museums which are integral to the University’s teaching, research, discovery learning and access programs. Museums and Collections Services (MACS) leads the development and implementation of a campus-wide operational, administrative (policy) and exhibition/program delivery framework for the University of Alberta Museums.

Reporting to the Assistant Director (Collections Management) and working collaboratively with the Collections Management Team, the Collections Management Advisor (Natural Sciences) is responsible for providing collections management advice, support, and training to the Curators and Collections Staff of the specimen-based teaching and research collections within the University’s Natural and Earth Science collections.

Duties

• Leads the review, evaluation, and implementation of information and collections management plans, strategies, procedures, and workflows in accordance with University policies and museum standards
• Responsible for advising, supporting and training the University’s Curators and Collections Staff on the development of museum collections management practices and procedures
• Manages the daily operation of the Collections Management System (MIMSY XG) for museum collections in the natural sciences, providing training, hosting user group meetings, responding to queries, resolving issues and liaising with other units as necessary
• Ensures that registration tasks for new acquisitions are completed and meet the requirements as described within the University’s Museums and Collections Policy
• Leads the review and evaluation of data information needs with Curators and Collections Staff and ensures the configuring of the Collections Management System to meet these needs
• Leads the review and evaluation of data terminology and taxonomic systems, and development of data standardization in accordance with museum standards and best practices within the scientific community
• Leads the conceptualization, design, and creation of innovative applications and digital tools to assist in the interpretation and analysis of specimen and spatial data
• Leads the review and maintenance of current collections search interfaces and Natural Sciences collections portal and performs fixes and/or enhancements
• Researches, recommends and manages digitization projects to enhance collections information
• Manages and performs all tasks related to data sharing initiatives and data requests, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Qualifications

• Minimum Master’s degree (MSc.) in a related natural science field, bioinformatics or related discipline
• Minimum five years of experience managing and operating a museum collections management system, preferably MIMSY XG or Emu, and creating reports (e.g. Crystal Reports)
• Minimum five years of experience with museum registration practices, particularly in the management of natural and earth science collections
• Demonstrated knowledge of natural science collections and how they are used in teaching and research initiatives in a university context
• Knowledge of university museum policies and procedures relating to the management of academic museum teaching and research collections
• Demonstrated experience with Oracle or other RDBMS (e.g., MySQL), SQL and PL/SQL
• Demonstrated experience with data sharing standards and protocols (e.g., Darwin Core), data publishing tools, web development tools, web services and Google APIs
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience using programming languages (e.g., Perl, Bash)
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; fluency in English is required
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Ability to guide others in their work on projects
• Demonstrated ability to articulate clear goals and expectations for project-related work
• Core competencies including: achievement orientation, analytical thinking, conceptual thinking, flexibility, organizational awareness, planning and initiative, self-confidence, self-development, sense of urgency, and team leadership and team cooperation

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, CV and a list of 3 professional references.

Contact Information

University of Alberta Museums
Ring House #1, University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6G 2E1

To assist the University in complying with mandatory reporting requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (R203(3) (e)), please include the first digit of your Canadian Social Insurance Number in your application. If you do not have a Canadian Social Insurance Number, please indicate this in your application.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.  If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered.