Please visit Curatorial Assistant III in Botany for complete job posting and application instructions.
The Botanical Collections of the California Academy of Sciences contain more than 2.3 million specimens, including the largest collection of California vascular plants, historical collections from the Galapagos Islands, Mexico, and Europe and a rapidly growing collection of bryophytes. These collections are heavily used by researchers from around the world. The collections staff process dozens of loan and image requests each year in addition to hosting scores of visiting researchers and students.
Reporting to the Collections Manager of Botany, and working under minimal supervision, the Curatorial Assistant III performs various duties related to collections acquisition, care and organization. In addition to ongoing departmental activities, the Curatorial Assistant III may undertake independent curatorial projects related to the maintenance of the collections. Assigned responsibilities range from average to difficult in nature and require advanced knowledge of plant taxonomy and herbarium curation.
We are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are intrinsic to Academy culture and operations, from recruitment and retention to science and advocacy. Explore Our Commitment to Racial Equity to learn about our intentional engagement of traditionally excluded groups in an effort to spark interest in or foster pathways to scientific careers.
POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Processes specimens, including sorting, cataloging, and preparing labels from field notebooks or digital sources, and integrating existing or incoming material
- Performs routine curatorial duties such as processing incoming and outgoing loans and other shipments
- Assists in overseeing departmental digitization activities; must become familiar with specimen database, operating digital camera equipment, scanners and image processing software
- Trains new staff, interns and volunteers in the processing, preparation and maintenance of collections and digitization activities
- Assists Collections Manager in maintaining the quality of information in the database; includes verifying and updating information input by others and uploading data from other database platforms
- Assists visitors, students or scientists in the use of the collections; leads departmental tours and occasional public demonstrations
- Contribute to the building of exchange material by participating in or contributing to field collection efforts
- May be asked to participate in or present talks at professional scientific meetings
- May be asked to serve on Academy-wide committees, or as a liaison for the Collections Manager on standing committees
- May assist in the preparation of grant proposals
- May be asked to do library or archival research to answer inquiries or in the performance of routine curation of collections
- May be asked to provide taxonomic identifications consistent with education and training or experience appropriate to this position
- Follow all Academy safety regulations
- Other duties as assigned
EXPERIENCE and/or EDUCATION:
Knowledge of literature and curatorial procedures in botanical collections, college coursework that includes systematic botany and other botany courses OR an equivalent combination of education and experience; Master’s degree is desirable
Minimum of 2 years experience with herbarium collections
Experience organizing and participating in collecting expeditions is desirable
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills
- Ability to work both independently, as part of a team, and as a team leader
- Thorough understanding of routine collection management tasks and the ability to train and supervise Curatorial
- Assistants, Volunteers and Students
- Specific knowledge of systematic botany and the literature relevant to the field
- Ability to learn new computer software (for example, Specify or other database platforms, image processing software, etc.); familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel and Google Apps; knowledge of image capture and post processing software is desirable
- Ability to read and translate Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, or other non-English language desirable
- Willingness to collaborate by bringing new ideas, creating inventive solutions and designing efficiencies to transform manual or detailed processes
- Familiarity with the California/western North American flora is desirable
- Passion for equity and inclusion in the workplace
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical expectations described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the position’s responsibilities either with or without reasonable accommodation if needed due to a disability. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. Must be able to lift 30 lbs. Must be able to climb ladders and reach above shoulder level for twenty percent (20%) of the day. Must be able to perform repetitive motions 50% of the time.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Review of applications will begin December 1, 2021. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Please upload a resume and complete the brief online application.
The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).
The California Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to ensure that all employees and applicants receive equal consideration and treatment, regardless of race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), religion, marital or domestic partner status, age, place of birth, national origin or ancestry, physical, mental or medical disability, height or weight, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship, military service status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance