The Field Museum has an immediate opening for a Paleobotany Collections Manager. This full-time, permanent position reports to the Head of Geological Collections in the Gantz Family Collections Center. The incumbent will be responsible for the management and development of one of the largest fossil plant collections in North America.
This is a collection position. The Museum encourages applicants with a proven dedication to collections management. While there will be the opportunity to conduct collections-informed research, the incumbent will be evaluated on their ability to build, care for, and ensure accessibility to the great wealth of specimens in the collection. To accomplish this, we are seeking a highly responsible, detail-oriented individual with the necessary management and curatorial skills to oversee a major collection. The position will involve such traditional duties as loan processing, data-basing, cataloging, and acquiring new collections. Field work may be involved. The incumbent must be capable of independent work, but also desirous of collaboration with other Museum groups, including but not limited to the Integrative Research Center, Keller Science Action Center, Exhibits Department, the Learning Center, and other Collections areas.
We are seeking an individual with post-graduate experience in paleobotany and a demonstrable history of working in fossil plant collections. Previous experience managing such collections is preferred. Knowledge of a taphonomically- and temporally-wide range of paleobotanical and palynological materials is essential. Candidates should have experience with relational database systems for cataloging, and understand the value of collections data to scientific research. The position will also require the supervision of volunteers, interns and visitors as well as speaking persuasively on behalf of the collections while conducting tours and giving presentations for development and educational purposes. Collections Managers are expected to become an active member of the Museum community, taking on committee duties, participating in regular forums and discussion groups, and engaging with the general public during scheduled Museum events.
Corporate, foundation, and private funding sources are critical for the improvement and development of our collections, and the successful candidate should have proven success at fund-raising or be able to demonstrate a strong submission record, especially being able to demonstrate innovative cross-disciplinary, collaborative or educational approaches to grant writing. In addition to obtaining funding for collections improvement, the Collections Manager will be expected to raise awareness of the collection among the general public and promote its use by the scientific community.
The fossil plant collection includes over 200,000 specimens, peels, slides, bulk samples and residues, of which half are catalogued. It contains more than 14,000 published specimens. Three recently accessioned collections from Michigan State University, Penn State University, and Ohio University have added significantly to the scope and balance of our plant fossil holdings. Strengths include the Paleozoic collection; compression/adpression and anatomically-preserved specimens, Mississippian compression fossils from North America, Pennsylvanian coal balls and associated peels and slides, and siderite nodules from Mazon Creek form the core of the Paleozoic collection. Cretaceous and Paleogene angiosperms include mesofossils from North America, and fossil plants from the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. In addition, there are more than 100,000 palynological slides covering Precambian to Recent.
To apply go to https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about/careers
Deadline for applications is October 27, 2017.
For more information contact Rusty Russell, Director of Collections rrussell@fieldmuseum.org