Please visit Collections Manager of Invertebrate Paleontology for complete job posting and application instructions.
The Natural History Museum of LA County (NHMLAC) seeks a Collections Manager of Invertebrate Paleontology (IP). NHMLAC’s IP collection consists of approximately 450,000 lots and about 6-7 million fossil specimens that span the Phanerozoic, but with strengths in Cretaceous and Cenozoic marine invertebrates (particularly mollusks) of western North America. NHMLAC was the first museum in L.A. to open its doors 109 years ago and is poised for an exciting new era as it plans for the future. Having recently completed a new strategic framework, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County—including NHM at Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits and museum in mid-Wilshire, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall—is looking forward to new collections and research initiatives, building projects and campaigns, exhibitions, community outreach, and innovative audience engagement.
The Collections Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the IP collection, including processing loans and acquisitions, maintaining and improving database records, conserving and organizing specimens, managing physical improvements and digitization projects, facilitating the use of the collection by researchers, and supporting the needs of other NHMLAC department. The Collections Manager will also train and supervise volunteers, students, and other personnel; this position is directly supervised by the Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology. The primary work location for this position is the IP collection facility in Carson, CA, but some time will be spent at the main NHMLAC building in Exposition Park.
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County values and endeavors to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within its organization and communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, a woman, a person with a disability, a veteran, and/or a part of the LGBTQAI+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply. We are 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. It is an exciting time as we embark on new journeys of becoming a museum of, for, and with L.A.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Cares for the Invertebrate Paleontology collection on a day-to-day basis, including organizing and conserving specimens, preparing and processing loans and acquisitions, and facilitating collection visits. Proposes, develops, and implements plans for collection growth and improvement.
- Provides documentation for the collection, including cataloging, entering/updating database records, inventorying, and enhancing documentation through digitization. Responds to requests for information about the collection and shares collection records through external repositories.
- Participates in education and other public program activities of the Museum including but not limited to collection tours, supporting exhibitions, and participation in public museum events. Handles inquiries from the public and researchers.
- Stays current with trends and techniques in collections management, collection-based research, conservation, digitization, biodiversity informatics, government regulations, and documentation relevant to the management of the IP collection. May lead or participate in ongoing or original research related to the collection.
- Trains, supervises, and manages collections personnel, including interns, students and volunteers.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- 3-5 years experience in the collection, organization, care and/or conservation of natural history specimens/collections; relevant experience may have been gained through work as a student or professional. We expect qualified applicants will have either a substantial history of museum work or a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a related field and some museum work experience, but we encourage applicants in their cover letters to explain how their particular combination of education and experience qualifies them for the position.
- Working knowledge of invertebrate taxonomy, geology, and the organization and management of invertebrate paleontology collections.
- Experience with database software and common principles of biodiversity informatics.
- Experience writing reports, grants, professional correspondence, and/or procedure manuals.
- Experience effectively presenting information to and responding to questions from individuals or groups of managers, scientists, and the general public.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, access and inclusion work.
- Experience supervising a large and diverse team of staff, volunteers, and students.
- Working knowledge of external data repositories such as GBIF, iDigBio, and MorphoSource.
- Experience with typical methods used for field collection and processing of invertebrate fossils.
OTHER INFORMATION
Annual salary for this position is $62,500. This is a full-time, regular, exempt position with excellent benefits.
The primary location for this job is at NHMLA’s Invertebrate Paleontology Collections & Research facility in Carson, CA. Travel to the central NHM location in Exposition Park in Los Angeles will sometimes be required. Some offsite travel will be required.
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.
Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Submit a current resume, 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.
The NHMLAC established a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for staff effective August 10, 2021. NHMLAC is requiring that all staff receive the vaccine for COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Exemptions for documented medical reasons or a sincerely held religious belief may be requested.