Burke Museum – Paleontology & Geology Collections Manager

The University of Washington Burke Museum invites applications for the full-time position of collections manager of paleontology and geology. The Burke Museum, located on the university campus in Seattle, is a repository for research collections and has substantial exhibit and K-16 outreach programs. Fossil collections at the Burke Museum are actively growing and include over three million specimens distributed in several subdisciplines: vertebrate paleontology, paleobotany (including pollen and phytoliths), invertebrate paleontology, and micropaleontology. A smaller collection of minerals and meteorites is also part of the divisional holdings. Currently, the fossil collections are managed by four half-time faculty curators, one full-time fossil lab manager, and one collections manager. The volume of the collection exceeds proportionally the number of individuals tasked with managing both the specimens and the accompanying digital resources.

This position must support diverse paleontogy collections, to include vertebrate paleontology, invertebrate paleontology, paleobotany,micropaleontology, and geology, on and off-site. Each collection must be managed appropriately, and each set of data is housed in a different database file. There is much work to be done to bring all of the collections under the appropriate level of care and organization, as the use of the collections for research is determined by their accessibility both digitally and tangibly.

Basic Functions:
The successful candidate will assist the curators in day-to-day collections operations. Specific responsibilities include:

• Management and Maintenance of Collections: 75%
• Growth of the Collections: 10%
• Public Outreach: 15%

Required Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Paleobiology or related field
• Four to five years related work experience
• Proficient experience with computer databases and online access of natural history collections

Desired Qualifications:

• PhD in Paleobiology or related field
• Experience with GPS mapping and GIS technology
• Experience with MySQL or related relational database systems
• Experience writing funded grant proposals

Conditions of Employment:

• Work in a lab that is visible to the public; work weekends as scheduled

Application Process: The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.

Here is the link: UW Hires UW Req # 164053 Paleontology & Geology Collections Manager