Manager, Collections Care: Natural History

Old Toronto, ON, Canada

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

QUALIFICATIONS: 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

SALARY AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

START DATE: ASAP

OPEN DATE: February 7, 2024

CLOSE DATE: OPEN UNTIL FILLED

STATUS: Full-time Permanent

EMPLOYEE GROUP:EXEMPT

SALARY:$88, 666 - $104, 313

SCHEDULE: 35 hours weekly

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: six (6) months

LOCATION (hybrid): Toronto, ON

**Applicants must submit a cover letter with their resume stating which position they are interested in.**

Diversity Statement

At ROM, we consider equity, diversity, and inclusion foundational to our institutional success. We seek to foster a workplace that reflects the diversity of the city and province in which we are located and welcome all qualified and experienced candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, age, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Accessibility Statement

ROM is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable accommodations are available under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) to applicants invited to an interview.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that all candidates receiving a verbal job offer will be subject to a background check. This includes a criminal background check and verification of professional references, and, other checks depending on the role.

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Please indicate if any immediate family members, including parents, siblings, children, or spouses, currently work or have previously worked at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). *

If you answered yes to the above, please list their names here.

Based on the definition below, are you an Indigenous person?

"Indigenous peoples" means First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples of Canada.

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"Persons with disabilities" are individuals who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or learning impairment, and who consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment. This includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.

Based on the definition below, are you a member of a visible minority?

"Members of visible minorities" are persons, other than Indigenous peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour, regardless of birthplace.

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Share why you are interested in this opportunity. *

What is your salary expectation?

Do you have over five years of collections care experience? *

Do you over three years experience managing people? *

Do you have experience with a collections content management system? *

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