The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History invites applications to fill the position of Anthropology Collections Manager. 

The Collections Manager works collaboratively with the anthropology Curator(s), other Collections Manager, and collections staff in meeting the goals of the section as they apply to mission of the CU Museum of Natural History—contributing to the knowledge of the natural world and human history through research, teaching, and public education—as well as together serving as the stewards for the collections to in preservation and accessibility for future generations.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.Who We Are

Who We Are

The CU Museum of Natural History fosters exploration and appreciation of the natural environment and human cultures through research, teaching, and community outreach. We provide academic training for graduate students in Museum and Field Studies; build, conserve, and interpret research collections; and offer exhibits and educational programs for the University and the public.

Founded in 1902, the Museum employs more than fifty faculty and staff as curators, collection managers, public program specialists, designers, instructors, and administrators. The Museum maintains collections in all fields of natural history as well as human history. The Museum is divided into sections, which administer specific parts of the collections: Anthropology (Archaeological and Ethnological materials), Botany (Plant collections), Entomology (Insect collections), Paleontology (Fossils and associated materials), and Invertebrate Zoology (Invertebrates other than insects) and Vertebrate Zoology.

The Museum's collection has grown from a handful of objects to nearly five million. The CU Museum of Natural History has the largest natural history collection in the Rocky Mountain region. The museum was first accredited in 2003 and received re-accreditation from the American Association of Museums in 2019, an achievement earned by less than 5% of museums in the U.S.

More information about the Museum is available at https://www.colorado.edu/cumuseum/research-collections/anthropology

The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History’s Anthropology Section has outstanding Southwest and Plains archaeological collections. Our strengths are in Southwestern material culture research and publication, NAGPRA implementation, collaborative research with Native North American communities, and advances in contemporary archaeological and museological theory.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Curation and Collections Administration

Collections Curation and Care

• Manages daily curatorial needs of the collections, including object preparation and processing, identification, cataloging, housing, and conservation in collaboration with the other Collections Manager and Curators.
• Processes collections transactions (accession, loans, and deaccessions), ensuring compliance with local, state, federal, and international laws.
• Processes collections use requests and facilitates research access (e.g. research visits, destructive sampling, image rights).
• Maintains accurate collection inventories.
• Prepares collection objects and data for exhibition.
• Maintains section library.
• Possesses expert knowledge in the care and management of museum collections as well as discipline-specific knowledge relating to the collections overseen.
• Oversees inventory for Cultural Resources Management, collaborating with state and federal agencies to ensure proper collections care.
• Responds to emergency situations that threaten the collections, e.g., protecting objects, documenting nature and extent of damage, working with facilities management for proper cleanup actions, and facilitating conservation of collections following an emergency when necessary.

Data Management

• Manages repository agreements for Cultural Resources Management collections.
• Maintains object documentation to archival and community data standards.
• Manages digitization projects, digital asset archiving, and digital asset metadata preservation in collaboration with other Collections Manager and Archivist.

Policy Development

• Assists with developing, updating, and implementation of section policies and procedures in collaboration with the other Collections manager and section Curators.
• Develops project-specific protocols and workflows for section staff.

Planning

• Assesses short- and long-term goals and collaborates on strategic planning for the collections in coordination with other section staff.
• Assists with oversight of section budgets and developing short and long-term fiscal plans for the section in collaboration with the other Collections Manager.
• Solicits external funds for the improvement of collections through grant writing in collaboration with section faculty and staff.
• Performs grant administration, including management of grant budgets and writing and submission of interim and final reports for grant-funded projects.
• Prepares annual reports as necessary.
• Inventories and orders supplies and equipment for the section.

Supervision

• Trains and supervises Museum and Field Studies graduate students and collections assistants.
• Supervises undergraduate work-study, hourly students, and volunteers.
• Supervises visiting researchers using collections.
• Works with Teaching Assistants utilizing collections for lab-based courses to ensure proper care and object handling by students.

Service

• Hosts visitors and conducts tours of the collections as appropriate.
• Responds to information inquiries.
• Provides object identifications for the general public.
• Serves as a liaison with university courses, K-12 schools, and other groups.
• Assists Public Section with label copy and object preparation as necessary.
• Serves on Museum and University committees.
• May participate in scholarly activity outside the University and by attending professional meetings and serving on boards and/or committees.
• May review manuscripts in the individual’s area of expertise.
• May participate in grant review committees.

Education

• Serves as professional mentor for Museum and Field Studies and cognate graduate students.
• Gives guest lectures, demonstrations, and tours to classes, students, and community members.
• Gives public talks and/or outreach presentations.
• May teach and/or assist Curators with classes including museum practica and independent study hours. Teaching responsibilities must be approved by the Museum Director and the Curators and duties must not conflict with the collections management obligations of the Section.

What You Should Know

• The duties of this position require knowledge of the legal aspects of NAGPRA and sensitivity to cultural items.  The successful candidate should have experience with cultural care practices and the handling of sensitive materials and human remains.
• This is a two-year, full-time position.
• All University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to align with the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement. New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

What We Can Offer

This position will be full-time with benefits and limited to two years, with a possibility for renewal depending on funding. The hiring range is $50,000-$55,000.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be dynamic. Be proactive. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Master’s degree, preferably in Museum Studies or a related field.
• Two years of relevant, professional experience working in museum collections management, preferably in an Anthropology collection.

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated knowledge of professional museum practices including registration methods, inventory, safe object handling, packing and shipping, insurance, mount-making, security measures, and object numbering techniques.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated skill using collection management databases, Microsoft Office Suite; experience working with Re:discovery Proficio database software is strongly desired.
• Demonstrated skill in object photography, working with photographic digital files, and maintaining metadata.
• Supervisory experience, particularly of student employees or interns.
• Ability to work efficiently and accurately, and to be responsive to an often challenging environment; ability to work effectively on many projects simultaneously.
• Must have excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Special Instructions

Please apply online at the following link: https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=44570

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

During the application process you will need to enter contact information for a reference. We will request a letter of recommendation and additional materials, if needed, as the search progresses. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and remain open until 1/8/2023.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu

Please apply online at the following link: https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=44570