Title: Technical Assistant III (Educ - Herbarium Collections Manager)
Executive Area: Academic Affairs
College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences
Department: Biology
Work Location: Amherst
Schedule: Full Time
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Job Summary
The Collections Manager (Technical Assistant III) of the University of Massachusetts Herbarium is responsible for managing and maintaining a herbarium of approximately 275,000 specimens and records, supervision of paid student and non-student curatorial assistants, and advising faculty, students, visiting researchers, and the general public using herbarium collections.
Essential Functions
Perform day to day collections activities according to "best practices" of herbarium and natural history collections associations and societies. Activities include mounting herbarium specimens, filing specimens according the system adopted by the University of Massachusetts Herbarium (MASS), repairing specimens using museum-quality techniques, shipping, receiving and accessioning specimens, maintenance and pest control.
Day to day supervision, training, and design of workflow procedures for herbarium assistants and volunteers. Supervise digitization (both data and imaging), and routine herbarium maintenance, including cleaning, specimen mounting and repair, pest control, foldering and filing specimens.
Develop workflows to improve efficiency, quality, and safe handling of archival materials for herbarium work and collections-based research grants. Includes specimen digitization and other special projects as needed.
Maintain the herbarium’s Specify database, currently containing 130,000 herbarium records, with a goal of digitizing the remainder of the 250,000 vascular plants collection and the 5,000 non-vascular plants (bryophytes). Database maintenance includes implementing software updates, data entry, overseeing the quality of herbarium-assistant data entry, importing data from incoming collections, exporting data to publicly accessible data portals, and quality control of portal data.
Work with Specify Help, Symbiota Help, and UMass Biology Department IT staff to solve database problems or implement improvements.
Use rules developed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) to make curatorial decisions regarding the specimen filing system. Monitor botanical taxonomic and nomenclature literature to maintain knowledge of resources sufficient to inform decisions for updating plant names in the collection.
Act as a resource for faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, regional botanists and the public. This includes recommendations of methods and protocols for using herbarium collections, plant identification, and assistance with locating or occasionally collecting fresh plant material for research purposes.
Perform outreach by conducting occasional tours or workshops for UMass and other Five College botany, plant science and ecology classes, and conservation organizations as requested. Conduct lectures or demonstrations on working with specimens, including collecting, pressing, handling, mounting and filing specimens, and meeting current standards for vouchering and publishing.
Maintain other collections such as the Macro-Algae, Fruit and Seed, and Plant Pathology Collections.
Generate and maintain records of annual inventories, gifts and loans, correspondence, and inquiries.
Participate in University of Massachusetts Natural History Collections Committee to inform curators on collections updates, improvements, and contribute to the mission of the Natural History Collections.
Keep track of materials and order supplies. Maintain familiarity with archival materials and suppliers, perform quality control of archival supplies.
Keep up to date on herbarium best practices available through published literature, museum and botanical societies and organizations. Maintain policies and protocols for herbarium use and maintenance specific to University of Massachusetts Herbarium (MASS) and update as needed. Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of plant nomenclature and monitor research developments to keep MASS plant names updated.
Other Functions
Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.
Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
Attend trainings as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.
Minimum Qualifications
High school diploma and five (5) years of herbarium or natural history collections experience or an Associate's degree or higher in a botany-related field such as plant taxonomy, biology, ecology or conservation, and three (3) year of herbarium or natural history collections experience.
Supervisory skills and experience.
Understanding of and experience with plant systematics, nomenclature, plant taxonomy, related literature and resources, and botanical terms.
Familiarity with herbarium collections "best practices" for handling, storing, filing and protecting historical and recently archived collections as established by natural history collections associations and societies.
Knowledge and experience with Northeastern flora or exhibit the ability to become proficient with the regional flora.
Natural history collections database experience.
Understanding of, and ability to work with, Symbiota DarwinCore and other biological data standards for compatibility with world-wide herbarium data.
Working knowledge of office-productivity software.
Written and oral communication skills.
Ability to prepare written reports and instructions.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or higher in a botany-related field (e.g., plant taxonomy, biology, ecology, conservation) and at least one (1) year of herbarium or natural history collections experience.
Prior experience with natural history collections.
Botanical field experience strongly preferred.
Additional Details
In addition to supervising students, this position may also supervise volunteers, host herbarium research associates, and supervise non-student employees.
At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. These values and goals are reflected in the College of Natural Sciences’ Inclusive Excellence framework and in the UMass Amherst’s For the Common Good: 2024–2034 Strategic Plan.
This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in indoor and/or outdoor environments, and requires frequent lifting, bending, tool use or equipment use. May involve work in confined spaces or at heights.
Work Schedule and Work Arrangement
M-F; 8:30am - 5:00pm
Salary Information
Pay Grade: USA/MTA Grade 15
Special Instructions for Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.
This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.
