Collections Manager, Echinoderms Part Time Temporary

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County was the first museum in L.A. to open its doors 109 years ago and is poised for an exciting new era as it plans for the future. Having recently completed a new strategic framework, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County—including NHMLA at Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits and museum in mid-Wilshire, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall—is looking forward to new building projects and campaigns, exhibitions, community outreach, and innovative audience engagement. 

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County values and endeavors to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within its organization and communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, gender, a person with disability, a veteran, and/or a part of the LGBTQAI community are welcome and encouraged to apply. 

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is seeking a Collections Manager for our Echinoderms department.  The Collections Manager works closely with the Associate Vice President of Collections managing the Echinoderms collection under the supervision of the department’s Curator at the Natural History Museum. It is an exciting time as we embark on new journeys of becoming a museum of, for, and with L.A.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to: 

• Collection Processing: As a high priority, processes the return of material currently on loan to NHM from the Smithsonian.  Secondarily, processes other incoming and outgoing objects and/or materials including loans and acquisitions. 

• Collection Care and Improvement: Cares for the collection on a day-­to­-day basis, including organizing, storing, securing and conserving objects. Oversees or accomplishes the replenishment of alcohol in the fluid collection.  Implements the department’s pest monitoring and management protocols.  

• Collection Documentation: Prints and distributes labels for material previously catalogued.  May catalog existing uncatalogued material from previous field trips, as time and data availability allow.  As time allows, may plan and implement additional documentation improvements in the collection and the EMu database. 

• Collections Data Management: Works with the Manager, Database and Reports to prepare Echinoderm digital data for online availability.  

• Supervision: Trains, supervises, and manages students and volunteers participating in high-priority collections projects.

• Project Coordination: Coordinates with the DigIn team to ensure access to the Echinoderm collection for high-priority projects by both groups. Provides information on existing digitized, catalogued, and uncatalogued specimens to the DigIn project team in support of planning for additional digitization of the collection.

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This position has the following requirements:    

• Master’s degree with specialization in an applicable field and at least two years of technical experience in the collection, organization, care and/or conservation of similar specimens/collections; or a bachelor’s degree in an applicable field and 5 years collection experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Working knowledge of echinoderm taxonomy and the use and organization of marine invertebrate collections.

• Working knowledge of international, federal, and state regulations governing the collection.

• Experience with database software typically used in natural history or historical collections; working knowledge of common principles of informatics and external data repositories common in these fields.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is especially interested in candidates whose background and experience have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to engagement and inclusion at culturally diverse audiences in museums and in sciences.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience and commitment working with a diverse community. Hourly range for this position is $31.97 based on experience plus excellent benefits. This is a Part-time temporary, non-exempt position. 

A cover letter, current resume, and list of 3-4 references are required for all applicants. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Interested candidates please visit www.nhmlac.org/careers-our-museums  and click the link of the position for which you are interested or go directly to the online application.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.