Title: Associate Curator of Vertebrate Zoology

Classification: Full time, Exempt

Department: Vertebrate Zoology

Reports To: Head of Vertebrate Zoology

Wage Band: Curator

Pay range:  $67,725 to $70,350*

Mission: The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world.

Position Summary: Primary responsibilities are developing and curating the Museum’s diverse vertebrate collections, which consist of bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish specimens, and their archives.  Along with setting objectives for their future development, additional duties include assisting in directing collection personnel, and overseeing the conservation, cataloging imaging of specimens. The Associate Curator assists with and conducts regional field and collection-based research, provides relevant expertise in developing exhibits, and engages in educational activities which promote public and scholarly access to these collections. A focus on field work, collecting, and curation of terrestrial mammals is desired.

Specific Responsibilities:

Curatorial Duties

• Assists in directing the vertebrate collection programs, including the acquisition, preparation, and cataloguing of specimens.
• Recruits and supervises collections volunteers.
• Ensures that specimens are properly prepared, preserved, handled and stored according to current conservation practices.
• Ensures that adequate and up-to-date records are maintained for all collection-related transactions including development, revision and maintenance of computerized cataloguing and loan tracking systems; tracking all objects through accession, cataloguing, loan and de-accession.
• Ensures that specimens collected or otherwise acquired were obtained in accordance with professional standards and applicable laws including obtaining required permits and filing appropriate reports when necessary.
• Manage vertebrate collections held under cooperative agreements with National Park Service and other agencies.
• Arranges loans and exchanges of specimens.
• Provides information on vertebrate collections and collection management policies and procedures to researchers, students, or other investigators.
• Assists in preparing and revising collection policies and procedures manual in consultation with other curators in the Collections and Research Division.
• Researches and recommends updated curatorial procedures and storage methods.
• Solicits, reviews and selects specimens and other materials donated to the Museum.

Services

• Answers questions relating to any area of vertebrate zoology; identifies specimens; provides information in the care and handling of the collections; provides reference information to staff, professional organizations/institutions, students, scholars and the general public; responds to inquiries by phone, mail, email or in person.
• Organizes and participates in open houses and other special museum events.
• Participates in the docent training program.
• Organizes, hosts and coordinates meetings and symposia sponsored by the Museum.
• Serves as naturalist on museum-sponsored field trips and assists in the preparation of relevant information regarding these field trips.
• Develops exhibits relating to vertebrate ecology and conservation in conjunction with exhibits and education staff; including exhibit concept, content, design, label writing and editing, specimen preparation, supervision of specimen model construction and assistance with installation.

Administration

• Provides data for department reports and annual reports.
• Prepares and administers grant and contract proposals as needed.
• Helps formulate department and museum policies and procedures, including short and long-range goals.
• Maintains and develops cooperative agreements and strategic partnerships.
• Is able to assume responsibilities for departmental operations as needed.

Personnel

• Recruits, selects, schedules, trains and supervises assistants, students, and volunteers.
• Ensures that personnel records and time records for the above listed personnel are properly maintained.
• Provides assistance to other collections curators.

Professional Involvement

• Conducts original research appropriate to the objectives of the Museum and publishes the findings in scientific and/or popular formats. Such activities may include laboratory research, field work, literature review, manuscript preparation, illustration preparation, lecturing, attending and presenting papers at scientific meetings.
• Publishes findings in reference journals, museum publications, and popular publications.
• Attends professional meetings to present papers on own research, and to obtain new information on current research activities of other institutions and individuals.
• Participates in workshop, courses, lectures, seminars, and field trips to broaden background and abilities to carry out department and museum duties listed above.
• Consults or collaborates with other specialists on research in ecology, conservation biology or museum science.
• Serves as an officer in appropriate societies, academic, or other professional organizations.
• Hosts visiting researchers when appropriate.
• Contribute to a positive guest experience by greeting and addressing any questions when encountering guests as they navigate through the Museum and Sea Center.
• Supports the Museum’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for fellow staff, guests and the community.

Essential Requirements:

• Ph.D. in biology, ecology, or other natural sciences or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with vertebrate collections, knowledge of local vertebrate fauna desired.
• Experience in museum specimen preparation techniques and collections management.
• Experience in original scientific research and subsequent distribution of information through publications.
• Experience in the supervision and training of volunteers or related experience.
• A focus on field work, collecting, and curation of terrestrial mammals is desired.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including an ability to interact with the general public.
• Strong working knowledge of computer software, including database management.

Work Environment:

• On-site, with occasional fieldwork, only (No remote work).
• General office environment with occasional work throughout the museum’s facilities (exhibit halls, conference rooms and galleries) with occasional research work outdoors.
• Frequent work on computers (repetitive movement – typing).
• Standard scientific research laboratory environment with occasional use of or exposure to the following: preparation agents including ethanol and alcohol, animal pathogens.
• Frequent sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs and bending with occasional lifting of moderate loads (50-75 lbs.), hiking and climbing.
• Occasional strenuous field work in remote settings in the region to collect specimens for the collection.

The incumbent must be able to perform each requirement of the position as outlined in the job description. Essential Requirements are representative and are essential for satisfactory job performance. The Work Environment characteristics are representative of those that may be encountered while on the job. The Museum will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

*The pay range above represents the lowest possible rate for the position and the highest possible rate. Factors that may be used to determine where newly hired employees will be placed in the pay range include the employee specific skills and qualifications, relevant years of experience and comparison to other employees already in this role. Most often, a newly hired employee will be placed below the midpoint of the range.