Geoscience Speciman Collections Curator and Manager – Stanford Libraries, CA

Redwood City, CA, United States

Geoscience Speciman Collections Curator and Manager – Stanford Libraries, CA Position: Geoscience Specimen Collections Curator and Manager, Stanford Libraries

Stanford Libraries in conjunction with the School of (Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences) invites applications for the full-time permanent position of Collections Curator and Manager for the School’s mineral, rock, and fossil collection. The Collections Curator and Manager will report to the Associate University Librarian for Sciences and Engineering. The School holds a large collection of at least 250,000 objects that require professional curation and management. These objects include rock and mineral specimens, samples, artifacts, and associated items such as field notebooks, maps, and reports. This partially curated collection will be housed in a yet to be built permanent physical space with dedicated staff to oversee accessioning, processing, management, and access to the collections in order to further research and teaching within the School and the broader scientific community. We seek an experienced and dynamic expert manager who will build the repository from the ground up into an actively curated collection.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the creation, oversight, procedures, maintenance, and management of the mineral, rock, and fossils specimen collection under the terms, conditions, and directions of the Stanford Libraries’ AUL for Sciences and Engineering with the guidance of a committee of professors from the School. The Curator/Manager will be expected to provide leadership, vision, and strategic thinking in order to create a dynamic resource that will integrate the collections and their management into the research and academic programs at Stanford and the wider community. The successful candidate will be expected to provide expertise in setting up the database, create processes and procedures to accession the materials, work with the Faculty Committee on circulation and loan policies, and provide leadership on the creation of the physical space for long-term storage of the collection. The Curator/Manager will hire and manage 3 assistants in term-funded positions to help with the collection inventory, accessioning and photography of the collections.

Core Duties include but are not limited to:

Manage all aspects of storage, maintenance, use, security, and preventive conservation of the collection.

Develop, implement, and manage policies, procedures, and documentation associated with the acquisition, care, display, and loan of the collections.

Develop and monitor access protocols for research and teaching use of the specimens by faculty, students, and other interested parties.

Facilitate access and track use of collections for purposes of research, education, loan, and exhibit.

Develop and maintain the specimen database.

Act as the primary liaison with the School of Earth faculty and develop a cooperative and productive relationship between the Libraries and the School of Earth ensuring successful management of the collections.

Hire, train, and supervise staff to inventory, process, photograph, and maintain the collections.

Document, facilitate, and monitor loan requests.

Conceive, research, develop, and collaborate with colleagues to organize and mount displays of varying scope and curate items for classroom use.

Prepare collections-related reports including an annual report.

Monitor and manage the stewardship needs of the collections in adherence to the university’s stewardship standards.

Collaborate with the Metadata Department and the Preservation Department on an as needed basis.

Respond to external requests for information about the specimens and field donation requests in collaboration with the Faculty Committee and Office of Development for the School.

Follow all University and museum ethics rules and protocols.

Other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

Advanced degree in an earth sciences field with two years’ work experience in museum collections’ management, care, and documentation or over five years extensive experience in a managerial position of a natural history collection.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrated experience and background in physical and digital collection management including building or maintaining databases for objects.

Proven experience working with specimen collections and understanding the standards of practice in their management.

Familiarity with general museum collection protocols and library procedures.

Ability to handle delicate specimens and ancillary materials with damage or loss of data.

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and efficiently, with competing deadlines.

Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office and Google Suites, and database management applications (preferably with regards to collection management software such as Gallery Systems).

Demonstrated management and project management skills. Must demonstrate the ability to be both an effective manager and team member who can work in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Demonstrated ability to build effective long-term relationships both internally and externally and the ability to clearly articulate and carry out the Collection’s goals.

Sound knowledge of collections best practices, ethics, and standards.

Physical Requirements*:

Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, seated work and use light/ fine grasping.

Occasionally stand, walk, and write by hand, lift, carry, push pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.

* – Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.

Working Conditions:

May work extended or non-standard hours, weekends and holidays based on business needs.

Occasional local and overnight travel may be required.

May work in areas with exposure to dust, paint, chemicals and other toxins.

Work Standards:

Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.

Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.

Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu .

Librarian 3

#J-18808-Ljbffr