The Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is seeking a full-time Collection Manager to be responsible for the daily curatorial operations and management of the museum’s invertebrate paleontology collection. With nearly one million specimens from every major invertebrate Fossil Group, the invertebrate paleontology collection is among the most scientifically important in North America. It contains nearly 3,000 primary type specimens and 7,000 figured specimens. Much of the collection comprises Paleozoic-age specimens from the southern mid-continent, with significant material from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic of Alaska. For more information about the museum, visit the museum website at: samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.

The Collection Manager: supports the development and maintenance of the collection, database, and associated metadata, and supports research and exhibition programs; maintains the Invertebrate Paleontology Collection website, including the online database and image library; ensures proper permits and documentation for field collections, accessions, loans, and exchange of museum specimens; assists the invertebrate paleontology curators, faculty, scholars, and students in accessing and obtaining specimens for their research; assists in organizing and preparing presentations and programs highlighting collection materials and research activities; and trains and supervises students, interns and volunteers, and helps visiting researchers make use of the collection.

• Maintains the museum’s Invertebrate Paleontology computerized database and website.
• Manages daily curatorial needs of the collection and its records, documentation, and images while incorporating appropriate practices, standards, philosophy, theory and ethics of collection stewardship. Daily curatorial needs include identifying, preparing, cataloging, digitizing, housing and/or conserving museum collections and associated metadata for new and existing collections.
• Responds to verbal and written requests regarding loans, accessions, and donations. Processes accessions and handles incoming and outgoing specimen loans, including providing documentation and securing permissions and permits.
• Assists and supports the research program of the curators of Invertebrate Paleontology, including (but not limited to) specimen preparation, photographic work, field work, preparing grant proposals, and conducting collection-focused research.
• Assists curators of Invertebrate Paleontology in training and supervising students, volunteers, and interns.
• Assists curators of Invertebrate Paleontology in public programs and educational and outreach activities, including the development of outreach materials, exhibitions (temporary and permanent), and direct participation in public outreach events as directed.
• Meets with research visitors to the collection, gives tours to the public, and gives presentations or informal classes.
• Performs various duties as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position, including (but not limited to) lab safety, inventory and ordering supplies, and responding to inquiries from the general public.
• Participates in scholarly activity outside the university that promote the SNOMNH Invertebrate Paleontology collections, as exemplified by attending professional meetings and/or engaging in professional development activities.

Review of applications will begin on February 20,2023 and continue until the position is filled. Applicants are requested to submit the following documents:

• A current resume or CV
• A cover letter describing your interests in the position and relevant skills, experience, and qualifications, not to exceed 3 pages
• Contact information for three references.

Questions and information requests should be addressed to Dr. Lena Cole, University of Oklahoma, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave, Norman, OK 73072 or [email protected].