Primary duties will include improving the long-term care and accessibility of the Osteology collection by physically cleaning and rehousing specimens in new boxes, updating specimen database records with current taxonomic nomenclature, printing new specimen labels, and reorganizing the collection based on those taxonomic updates. The incumbent is expected to participate in various outreach activities featuring collections care and maintenance. This includes working with the museum’s exhibits, education, and marketing and communications teams.

This is a temporary benefits eligible position expected to run from December 1, 2025 – December 1, 2026.

QUALFICIATIONS: 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• To meet performance expectations, a bachelor’s degree in a natural science field is required.
• Additionally, candidates should have at least one to two years of work experience in collection care and maintenance, including familiarity with natural history collection standards and best principles, experience applying best practices and principles to specimen handling, especially osteological material, and specimen preparation including dermestid husbandry.
•  A proven track record of direct care and/or improvement of natural history collections will be an essential factor in the evaluation process.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, to supervise volunteers and/or student workers while managing iterative tasks over extended periods of time.
• Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, and collection management databases.
• Capability to capture high-quality digital images of specimens and perform reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with supervisors, students, volunteers, other staff and the public.
• Ability to identify and prioritize the physical care needs within an osteology collection, collaborate with collection manager and the conservation team to develop and apply the best standards for the collections care and maintenance.
• Effective communication skills are essential for this position, as it involves coordinating activities among staff, volunteers, and students, directly reporting to the supervisor, and engaging in public outreach activities.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Work is primarily sedentary in nature and involves repetitive tasks.
• The employee will be required to use hands to handle specimens and operate tools or controls and use arms to reach.
• Drawers and shelving that need to be accessed will be located at a high level, often requiring the use of a step stool or ladder.
• The employee is occasionally required to climb (stairs, ladders, stepstools) or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee performs duties mostly in the collection area, dermestid area, and public galleries. The noise level and smells in the work environment will vary accordingly.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The physical work environment includes exposure to physical hazards that require personal protective equipment.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Candidates will be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

The principal responsibility and essential function of this position is to provide critical assistance to the Amphibians and Reptiles collection manager in maintaining the osteology collection.

• Rehouse, maintain and organize the Herpetological Osteology collection.
• Update the collection database records under the guidance of the collection manager.
• Monitor storage conditions, including but not limited to temperature and humidity levels, pest infestation, and cleanliness.
• Maintain the dermestid beetle colony so that it remains functional for skeleton cleaning.
• Assist the collection manager with training of students and volunteers.
• Supervise trained students and volunteers.
• Under the guidance of the collection manager, participate in public outreach activities.
• Collaboration with collection manager and conservator team must be undertaken to discuss, propose, and develop strategies and procedures related to collection care and maintenance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Please see the Carnegie Museums careers site for a full list of requirements.

This Full Time Temporary position is eligible for the Carnegie Museums’ many benefits.