Manager Collections Care: Natural History

Manager, Collections Care:
Natural History

Canada's largest and most comprehensive museum, ROM is home to a world-class collection of artworks, cultural objects and natural history specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. As the country's preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new discoveries, ROM plays a vital role in advancing our understanding of the artistic, cultural and natural world. ROM is seeking a leader and strong communicator to oversee a team who cares for the natural history specimens in ROM's collection.

POSITION SUMMARY:


The Manager of Collections Care (MCC) manages a team of Collections Technicians (CT) and Collections Specialists (CS) who are responsible for the preservation, documentation, storage, organization, laboratory operation, analysis, and maintenance of collections in the Department of Natural History at ROM. Co-reporting to a Co-Chief Curator and to the Chief, Collections Care, the Manager of Collections Care helps determine and direct collections care priorities, practices, and standards, and assists with institutional strategic planning related to these areas. The MCC works in close partnership with colleagues across the Museum to implement institutional priorities and current best practices related to a diverse range of museum specimens. This position leads a flexible and forward-looking team who are responsible for a wide array of natural history specimens (Biodiversity, Earth & Space, and Fossils).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage Collections Technicians' and Collections Specialists' work on collections activities such as accessions, deaccessions, exhibitions, loans, specimen preparation and preservation, sampling, repatriations, storage, re-housing, access, documentation, and data management
• Conceive and assign collection care projects to individuals or teams, to strategically advance projects
• Mentor and direct CTs and CSs with empathy and clear communication; develop and implement performance metrics and goals
• Contribute to institutional planning and assessment of future collections storage needs
• Oversee the development of comprehensive policies related to the work of Collections Technicians and Collections Specialists in preparation, preservation, sampling, access, storage standards and practices, laboratory practice, and related work in consultation with all stakeholders
• Estimate and manage collections-related budgets in consultation with others
• Oversee the organization and maintenance of collections spaces, laboratories, and workroom areas, in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario
• Lead staff to understand ROM's collection as an overarching whole, addressing each specialty's unique collection area in balance with storage, data standards and needs of the broader institution
• Build and leverage relationships and projects in close collaboration with multiple stakeholders across disciplines and professional departments, including external partners
• In collaboration with the Manager of Information Systems and curators, set priorities for data management activities
• Assist in the management and maintenance of offsite storage facilities
• Manage a team of Collections Technicians and Collections Specialist who:
  
• Prepare and preserve cultural objects and/or natural history specimens; inventory, store, re-house, and move collections
• Document and catalogue collections in TMS; maintain records including location, donor credit and loan tracking
• Implement policies and practices related to the care of restricted collections (firearms, human remains, etc.)
• Perform laboratory and collections budgeting and purchasing
• Condition report, inventory, handle, pack, transport, and house cultural objects and specimens; support Canadian Cultural Properties Export Review Board applications
• Support development and installation of exhibitions
• Process acquisitions (including field collections), deaccessions, and loans
• Provide technical and collections support for ROM research projects
• Provide physical access to the collection, and facilitate online global access through museum data aggregators such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
• Collaborate across departments to manage alcohol and frozen tissue collections and their associated data
• Judiciously steward cold storage infrastructure
• Oversee laboratories for specimen identification/characterization and scientific analyses (e.g. X-ray and spectroscopy laboratories, Laboratory for Molecular Systematics, microscopy facilities, etc.) and associated resources and workflows

• Master's degree or higher in Museum Studies, or Sciences; equivalent experience and informal education considered in place of formal education. A certificate or diploma in Collection Management or Business Management is an asset.
• A minimum of 5 years' experience in collection care and management, or a relevant technical field
• Experience managing people and leading collaborative teams
• Demonstrate high emotional intelligence; a record of skilled and empathetic leadership
• Highly collaborative, flexible, and adaptable working style; comfortable in a fluid and changing workplace
• Appetite to learn and embrace change
• Excellent judgement and initiative; organizational, inter-personal and oral and written communication skills
• Current knowledge of latest best practices in collections care
• Current knowledge of collections management systems and data management techniques; familiarity with The Museum System (TMS) a plus
• Skill using standard business software and technology
• Work at multiple sites will be required

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