University of Wisconsin-Madison Herbarium https://herbarium.wisc.edu/
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
- Department: College of Letters and Science/Botany-Gen
- Category: Libraries, Archives, and Museums
- Employment Type: Onsite
- Employment Type: Staff – Full Time
- Application period opens: Jan 19, 2024 at 11:55am CST
- Apply by: Feb 15 2024 at 11:55pm CST
- Job Number: 292171-AS
Job Summary:
The Wisconsin State Herbarium (WIS) within the Department of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks applicants for a permanent Collections Manager. With a collection of >1.3 million specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, and microfungi, WIS ranks among the largest and most active herbaria in the world. The Herbarium has a strong web-based presence on several international thematic collections portals and oversees the collaborative Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin. The Collections Manager works closely with a tenured faculty Director, a full-time Research Curator, and dozens of volunteers, affiliates, and student hourly employees to manage these natural history museum collections and associated metadata in order to enhance teaching, research, and general interest in botany. This position is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Herbarium and plays a critical role in implementing museum preservation practices and collection policies and helps to oversee collection documentation and reporting.
Responsibilities:
Manages museum or research collections and associated documentation and data to enhance teaching, research, and general interest. Implements museum preservation practices and collection policies and oversees collection documentation and reporting.
- 25% Oversees collections management database or retrieval system, develops standards, oversees data entry, and provides digital access to the collections. Often serves as database administrator, accessions and catalog collections
- 15% Oversees physical storage and access to the collection
- 15% Manages incoming and outgoing (international, domestic and in-house) loans and associated documentation
- 5% Completes and submits permit reports, renewal requests, customs forms, insurance, and related paperwork
- 15% Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of student workers and volunteers
- 5% Serves as main point of contact and maintains relationships with donors, collectors, and colleagues
- 5% Contributes directly to the administration of various external data portals and the collaborative Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin
- 5% Facilitates routine digitization of the Herbarium’s collections including those directly associated with grant-funded projects
- 10% May conduct collection-related research in a manner that supports the general mission of the Herbarium and present collection-related research or projects at professional conferences
Tasks:
- Manages the day-to-day operations within the physical collections including specimen preparation, processing, storage and preservation
- Oversees digitization of the Herbarium’s collections including databasing, imaging, georeferencing, and quality control procedures
- Manages, maintains, and edits the Herbarium’s in-house databases (currently Symbiota-based)
- Maintains an active specimen transaction program, including incoming and outgoing loans, exchanges, and gifts
- Keeps CITES, APHIS, and other permits up-to-date and keeps abreast of regulations regarding the acquisition and transfer of specimens
- Implements and improves upon protocols and workflows
- Stays abreast of changes in botanical nomenclature and keeps the nomenclature of the Herbarium database and physical collection current
- Facilitates the acquisition of specimen donations and voucher collections by developing relationships with state and local agencies, donors or via fieldwork
- Coordinates the accession of ‘orphaned’ and purchased herbaria into the Herbarium’s permanent collection
- Keeps records of collection usage and growth and prepares regular reports of collection status and activities
- Recruits, trains, and supervises student hourly employees and volunteers
- Oversees students and researchers visiting the Herbarium and utilizing its collections
- Responds to appropriate information inquiries and data requests from the public
- Participates in Herbarium service and outreach activities, including museum tours, volunteer workdays, and public expositions
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
Education:
Required
Bachelor’s Degree
Botany or related field. MS/PhD preferred.
Qualifications:
Required:
– Track record in the care and management of herbarium collections, including preparing, cataloging and accessioning specimens, processing loans, monitoring and improving data quality, implementing museum preservation practices, utilizing digitization protocols and applicable software, and managing natural history collections databases
– Working knowledge of the flora of North America’s Upper Midwest
– Strong background in plant taxonomy and systematics and at least a fundamental understanding of algal, fungal, and lichen classification.
Preferred:
– Experience in collection management or a curatorial or related position
– Experience using and maintaining Symbiota-based databases and web-portals, including the ability to design or customize such databases and web-portals or work with IT personnel to do so
– Experience supervising undergraduate students and/or working with volunteers
Work Type:
Full Time: 100%
It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.
Appointment Type, Duration:
Ongoing/Renewable
Salary:
Minimum $39,400 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The typical starting salary for this position is $45,000-$56,300, depending on qualifications and experience. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.
Additional Information:
The Department of Botany, within the College of Letters and Science, provides an exciting research, teaching, and service environment with broad expertise ranging from the cell, organism, and species levels to the dynamics of plant communities and ecosystems. WIS is the official herbarium of the State of Wisconsin, and is part of a campus-wide Natural History Museums Council. The Herbarium works closely with colleagues in the Anthropology, Geology, Entomology, and Zoology Museums. The mission of the Wisconsin State Herbarium is to document and increase knowledge about the world’s flora, broadly defined to include both plants and plant-like organisms. Since 1849 this has done by serving as a repository for preserved collections of teaching and research voucher specimens. Our collections are diverse and global, but our holdings of parasitic microfungi, Arctic lichens, and Neotropical angiosperms are exceptionally fine. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is ranked among the top research universities in the nation and Madison is the state capital with a large base for educational research and government activities as well as university-industry interactions. The progressive and vibrant City of Madison, with its outstanding intellectual, cultural and year-round recreational activities, consistently ranks as having among the highest quality of life in the country.
The College of Letters & Science is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which all of us – students, staff, and faculty – can thrive. Ours is a community in which we all are welcome. Most importantly, we strive to build a community in which all of us feel a great sense of belonging. There is no excellence without diversity in all its forms; diverse teams are more creative and successful than homogeneous ones. We are better when we are diverse and when we acknowledge, celebrate and honor our diversity. In acknowledging and honoring our diversity, we also assume a responsibility to support and stand up for each other.
How to Apply:
https://jobs.wisc.edu/jobs/herbarium-collections-manager-madison-wisconsin-united-states Please click on the “Apply Now” button to start the application process.
For questions on the position, contact: Julie Olson at jkolson2@wisc.edu
To apply for this position you will need to upload a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three professional references, including your current supervisor. References will not be contacted without advance notice. A combination of virtual and in-person interviews of finalists is expected to take place in early March.
Your cover letter should address your qualifications as they pertain to the qualifications listed above.
Contact:
Kenneth Cameron
kmcameron@wisc.edu
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Official Title:
Collections Manager II(LM017)
Department(s):
A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/BOTANY/BOTANY
Employment Class:
Academic Staff-Renewable
Job Number:
292171-AS
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
Herbarium Collections Manager
Job Summary:
The Wisconsin State Herbarium (WIS) within the Department of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks applicants for a permanent Collections Manager. With a collection of >1.3 million specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, and microfungi, WIS ranks among the largest and most active herbaria in the world. The Herbarium has a strong web-based presence on several international thematic collections portals and oversees the collaborative Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin. The Collections Manager works closely with a tenured faculty Director, a full-time Research Curator, and dozens of volunteers, affiliates, and student hourly employees to manage these natural history museum collections and associated metadata in order to enhance teaching, research, and general interest in botany. This position is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Herbarium and plays a critical role in implementing museum preservation practices and collection policies and helps to oversee collection documentation and reporting.
Responsibilities:
Manages museum or research collections and associated documentation and data to enhance teaching, research, and general interest. Implements museum preservation practices and collection policies and oversees collection documentation and reporting.
- 25% Oversees collections management database or retrieval system, develops standards, oversees data entry, and provides digital access to the collections. Often serves as database administrator, accessions and catalog collections
- 15% Oversees physical storage and access to the collection
- 15% Manages incoming and outgoing (international, domestic and in-house) loans and associated documentation
- 5% Completes and submits permit reports, renewal requests, customs forms, insurance, and related paperwork
- 15% Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of student workers and volunteers
- 5% Serves as main point of contact and maintains relationships with donors, collectors, and colleagues
- 5% Contributes directly to the administration of various external data portals and the collaborative Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin
- 5% Facilitates routine digitization of the Herbarium’s collections including those directly associated with grant-funded projects
- 10% May conduct collection-related research in a manner that supports the general mission of the Herbarium and present collection-related research or projects at professional conferences
Tasks:
- Manages the day-to-day operations within the physical collections including specimen preparation, processing, storage and preservation
- Oversees digitization of the Herbarium’s collections including databasing, imaging, georeferencing, and quality control procedures
- Manages, maintains, and edits the Herbarium’s in-house databases (currently Symbiota-based)
- Maintains an active specimen transaction program, including incoming and outgoing loans, exchanges, and gifts
- Keeps CITES, APHIS, and other permits up-to-date and keeps abreast of regulations regarding the acquisition and transfer of specimens
- Implements and improves upon protocols and workflows
- Stays abreast of changes in botanical nomenclature and keeps the nomenclature of the Herbarium database and physical collection current
- Facilitates the acquisition of specimen donations and voucher collections by developing relationships with state and local agencies, donors or via fieldwork
- Coordinates the accession of ‘orphaned’ and purchased herbaria into the Herbarium’s permanent collection
- Keeps records of collection usage and growth and prepares regular reports of collection status and activities
- Recruits, trains, and supervises student hourly employees and volunteers
- Oversees students and researchers visiting the Herbarium and utilizing its collections
- Responds to appropriate information inquiries and data requests from the public
- Participates in Herbarium service and outreach activities, including museum tours, volunteer workdays, and public expositions
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
Education:
Required
Bachelor’s Degree
Botany or related field. MS/PhD preferred.
Qualifications:
Required:
– Track record in the care and management of herbarium collections, including preparing, cataloging and accessioning specimens, processing loans, monitoring and improving data quality, implementing museum preservation practices, utilizing digitization protocols and applicable software, and managing natural history collections databases
– Working knowledge of the flora of North America’s Upper Midwest
– Strong background in plant taxonomy and systematics and at least a fundamental understanding of algal, fungal, and lichen classification.
Preferred:
– Experience in collection management or a curatorial or related position
– Experience using and maintaining Symbiota-based databases and web-portals, including the ability to design or customize such databases and web-portals or work with IT personnel to do so
– Experience supervising undergraduate students and/or working with volunteers
Work Type:
Full Time: 100%
It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.
Appointment Type, Duration:
Ongoing/Renewable
Salary:
Minimum $39,400 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The typical starting salary for this position is $45,000-$56,300, depending on qualifications and experience. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.
Additional Information:
The Department of Botany, within the College of Letters and Science, provides an exciting research, teaching, and service environment with broad expertise ranging from the cell, organism, and species levels to the dynamics of plant communities and ecosystems. WIS is the official herbarium of the State of Wisconsin, and is part of a campus-wide Natural History Museums Council. The Herbarium works closely with colleagues in the Anthropology, Geology, Entomology, and Zoology Museums. The mission of the Wisconsin State Herbarium is to document and increase knowledge about the world’s flora, broadly defined to include both plants and plant-like organisms. Since 1849 this has done by serving as a repository for preserved collections of teaching and research voucher specimens. Our collections are diverse and global, but our holdings of parasitic microfungi, Arctic lichens, and Neotropical angiosperms are exceptionally fine. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is ranked among the top research universities in the nation and Madison is the state capital with a large base for educational research and government activities as well as university-industry interactions. The progressive and vibrant City of Madison, with its outstanding intellectual, cultural and year-round recreational activities, consistently ranks as having among the highest quality of life in the country.
The College of Letters & Science is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which all of us – students, staff, and faculty – can thrive. Ours is a community in which we all are welcome. Most importantly, we strive to build a community in which all of us feel a great sense of belonging. There is no excellence without diversity in all its forms; diverse teams are more creative and successful than homogeneous ones. We are better when we are diverse and when we acknowledge, celebrate and honor our diversity. In acknowledging and honoring our diversity, we also assume a responsibility to support and stand up for each other.
How to Apply:
Please click on the “Apply Now” button to start the application process.
For questions on the position, contact: Julie Olson at jkolson2@wisc.edu
To apply for this position you will need to upload a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three professional references, including your current supervisor. References will not be contacted without advance notice. A combination of virtual and in-person interviews of finalists is expected to take place in early March.
Your cover letter should address your qualifications as they pertain to the qualifications listed above.
Contact:
Kenneth Cameron
kmcameron@wisc.edu
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Official Title:
Collections Manager II(LM017)
Department(s):
A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/BOTANY/BOTANY
Employment Class:
Academic Staff-Renewable
Job Number:
292171-AS
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.