The posting
Position: Assistant Collections Manager, Botany
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Department: GANTZ Family Collections Center
Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.
Join our team and enjoy a benefits package that truly supports your well-being and lifestyle:
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, vision plans, and even pet insurance.
- Financial Security: Life and disability benefits plus a 403(b) savings plan to help you plan for the future.
- Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure you have time to recharge and spend with loved ones.
- Exclusive Perks: Enjoy great employee discounts and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.
We're dedicated to enhancing your life both at work and beyond!
The Field Museum of Natural History has an opening in the Gantz Family Collections Center for an Assistant Collection Manager (Botany & Mycology, with a focus on Seed Plants). The Field Museum's Searle Herbarium is the fifth largest in the Western Hemisphere and houses 2.5 million accessioned flowering plant specimens, including nearly 40,000 types. Representation is worldwide, but particularly strong in tropical Central and South America. The Central American material is overall one of the world's finest single collections with special strengths in Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. The South American collections are important with special strengths in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. A good representation in North American taxa is found, especially for Missouri and Illinois. In addition the Field Museum curates an extensive collection of approximately 2,000 dried fruits, large seeds, bark and other plant parts that generally are not accommodated on herbarium specimens. The gymnosperm collection consists of approximately 12,000 collections, 1,000 cones and 41 types.
The Assistant Collection Manager reports to the Collections Manager(s), or a Collections Head, and is expected to assist with day-to-day aspects of collections care, curation, and operations and is assigned to specific projects as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversee the collection during short-term absence of Collections Manager(s)
- Maintain clean, safe, and organized collections storage, work, and lab areas
- Assist with managing, developing, and evaluating digitization efforts, including transcription of catalog and label data, imaging specimens and items, georeferencing, and collections inventory
- Actively participate in museum-wide collections database working group
- Support accurate, timely, and detailed record-keeping related to collections using the Museum’s collections management system and help ensure collections data and metadata are discoverable
- Work with and digitize specialized and complex collections data
- Assist with processing accessions and acquisitions as well as deaccessions
- Assist with management of day-to-day physical and operational aspects of lab(s) and collection, including but not limited to engaging with Facilities and Protection Services
- Understand and implement best practices and community standards for physical and digital collections care and curation
- Track and report metrics of collections use and growth
- Work with Collections Manager(s) to facilitate an active domestic and international loan program and on-site use of the collection by researchers, exhibitions, and visiting communities
- Participate in the Museum’s Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM)
- Assist with collections reorganization efforts and other priority projects in Collections as needed
- Help train, mentor, and work with interns, volunteers, and technicians
- Support the Museum’s public and education programming and promote the mission of the Museum and its fundraising goals
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree and minimum three years’ herbarium collections experience (or equivalent) (Master’s degree in scientific area related to collection preferred)
- Familiarity with botanical collections and research
- Working knowledge of basic taxonomic or identification principles and collections management
- Proficiency with preparing, housing, accessioning, and cataloging of materials
- Ability to work with a variety of preservation chemicals associated with herbaria
- Strong organizational skills necessary to keep collections accessible
- Attention to detail
- Demonstrated proficiency with collections databasing is required
- Familiarity with imaging systems is preferred
- Proficient knowledge of and experience with international and domestic regulations for acquisition and shipment of specimens and requirements for packing loans
- Knowledge of basic word-processing and spreadsheet software required
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required
- Ability to read cursive handwriting desired
- Ability to work well with others and independently
- Capacity for problem solving
Supervision Received:
General supervision from Collection Manager(s) and Head of Collection
Supervision Exercised:
The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.
Work Hours:
35 hours/weekly
Hybrid Eligibility:
Not eligible
Union Representation:
This position is represented by Field Museum Workers’ United, AFSCME Council 31, AFL-CIO.
Pay Range: $28.50/Hourly
PLEASE READ: *When you apply for multiple positions, please make sure to delete your previous resume and cover letter and upload the latest version of your resume and cover letter that is relevant to the job you are applying for, every time you apply. This will help our hiring managers access the correct documents. Please note that removing the resume and cover letter will not delete any previously submitted resumes and cover letters.
The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.
At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at [email protected].
