Colleagues:

 

Here is an opportunity for someone who is interested in managing a unique collection of specimens, many of them sampled from deeper waters with our research submersibles.  While the majority of the collections are animals, there are about 7,000 macroalgal specimens catalogued (and may more waiting), so I thought I would send this out to the phycological realm for consideration.

 

And feel free to distribute to you non-algal colleagues, too!

 

Thanks

Dennis

 

 

Florida Atlantic University

Harbor Branch Oceanographic

Ft. Pierce, FL

 

Research Collections Manager: REQ04453

 

Position Summary:

 

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is seeking a Research Collections Manager.

The Research Collections Manager is responsible for the development, management, and care of specimen-based collections at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, including, but not limited to, the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Museum (HBOM) and the Marine Biotechnology Reference Collection (MBRC). Responsible for ensuring the proper storage, care and preservation of biological and geological samples held by HBOI. Primary responsibilities are management and oversight of daily operations, curation, and research activities of the HBOM and MBRC.

 

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Works with HBOI collection curators to help set collections policy, goals, and guidelines.
• Assigns accession numbers, compiles accession records, classifies, and physically numbers museum specimens.  This will initially involve bar-code labelling the MBRC collections.
• Performs data entry, including annotation of videos related to specimen collections.
• Manages and assures accuracy, security, and retrievability of collection databases.
• Conducts regular inventories of collections and performs reconciliation with databases. This will initially involve review and revision of specimen-based collection databases, including the HBOM and MBRC, and involve manual comparison of field notes and other documentation with existing databases.
• Performs routine curation of specimens.
• Manages, orders supplies for, and upgrades storage, maintenance, care, and preventive conservation of collections.
• Works with the collection curators regarding possible deaccessions and manages documentation and disposal according to collections policy.
• Manages collection-related budget in consultation with supervisor.
• Assists with development of proposals for collections use, management and care.
• Oversees development, maintenance, security, and upgrades of collections database.
• Provides limited access to collections in response to requests for loans, research, and specimen information, consistent with HBOI collections policies.
• Retrieves and prepares specimens for research, education, outreach, and other museum needs.
• Handles arrangements, condition reporting, packing, shipping, and insurance for both incoming and outgoing loans and assures that sample shipments are in compliance with hazardous materials and CITES requirements.
•  Trains and oversees part-time and volunteer personnel in clerical work, collection duties, and collections care.
• Assists faculty, students, staff, and collaborators with questions on identification of specimens.
• Responds to collection-related inquiries, surveys, etc., from museums, researchers, and students.
• Tracks publication citations of collections and provides data as requested.
• Presents information on collection-related topics as needed.
• Evaluates current practices, stays current with professional standards, and develops new practices in collections management and care in order to develop multiple access systems, meet the needs of a diverse audience, make use of changing technology, address legal issues of collections, and plan for changing needs of staff and the public.
• Ensures research and facility compliance with all institutional and occupational requirements.
• Develops reports for the collection curators, HBOI, Division of Research or others as needed.
• Oversees issues of intellectual property and rights which pertain to collections.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

 

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in biology or a related field from an accredited institution; or a Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field from an accredited institution and at least two years of applicable experience in a museum, including work with collections required.
• Prior experience working in a biological specimen museum preferred.
• Working knowledge of principles, and practices of collections management, care, documentation, and classifications required.
• Experience with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and general office equipment required.
• Skilled in use of Microsoft Office Access database and WoRMS required.
• Working knowledge of collections conservation required.
• Ability to work in a team-oriented environment and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with volunteers, assistants, supervisor, and the public required.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing required.
• Skilled in use of ArcGIS preferred.
• Ability to travel between office location and on-site collections locations required.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

 

To Apply

To be considered, you must apply on the FAU Career site, https://fau.edu/jobs/apply/ .

 

Special Instructions to Applicant:

Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment.

Successful completion of a background check, which may include a motor vehicle check, credit check, fingerprinting or additional screening, is required for the selected candidate prior to the start date.

FAU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veterans’ status or any other characteristic protected by law. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation, please call 561-297-6057, TTY/TDD 711.