IMPORTANT: This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders. Other applicants need not apply.
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON, Inc.) is a nonprofit science corporation dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact continental scale ecology. Currently in construction is the NEON project - an observatory comprising more than 60 environmental and biological monitoring locations distributed throughout twenty domains across the United States, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. We anticipate the need to archive and share a sizable collection of samples and specimens acquired through NEON’s extensive field activities.
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
Summary:
The AD for Scientific Research Collections will be responsible for planning, implementing and overseeing the archiving of biological, physical and chemical samples, tissues, and specimens collected as part of the field-based research of the NEON Observatory. This person will actively collaborate with NEON scientists to determine, document and establish archiving requirements and spearhead outsourcing of archiving to existing facilities. This person will actively network with museums, collection and archive facilities and related science institutions for the purpose of establishing long-term relationships for archiving NEON Observatory collections, and will pursue appropriate contracting arrangements to support collections requirements.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Responsible for establishing policies, procedures and facility requirements for NEON Observatory archives; document the breadth and scope of NEON samples to be archived
• Responsible for researching and overseeing the bid process for external sites to store and manage NEON collections
• Establish agreements with archive institutions to curate, manage, loan and provide access to NEON samples
• Work with the collection community via technical working groups and related means to explore options for managing a shared collection and associated data and information
• With input from a technical working group define, develop, recommend, and implement best practices, policies and procedures related to archiving proposed ecological collections
• Define cataloguing criteria for NEON collections with input from existing institutions and technical working group
• Work with NEON Cyber-Infrastructure and Data Product groups to establish an appropriate tracking system for all samples
• Provide professional expertise to NEON scientists on issues related to archiving and curation
• Work with the NEON Education and Public Engagement Department to help keep the ecological community informed on the process and substance of NEON archived collections
• Explore and develop opportunities for collaborative research with the museum community and others to advance understanding of continental-scale ecology
• Other duties as assigned
Education, Licensing and Certification:
• MS/PhD in a biological or related science
Required Experience:
• 7-10 or more years managing, developing and/or curating scientific research collections
• Knowledge of standard curation criteria and related information (e.g. typical associated collections metadata; loan practices; deaccessioning)
• Experience working with government and nongovernment agencies and universities
• Experience developing and maintaining professional networks to promote and facilitate scientific collaborations
• Ability to work as a member of an interdisciplinary science team and in a business-like manner
• Ability to interact well with and coordinate the work of others
• Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills
• Familiarity with databases, particularly the platforms used by many collections in the US, biodiversity data standards, and geo-referencing
Preferred Experience:
• 5 or more years supervisory experience managing interdisciplinary teams
• Demonstrated experience and skill negotiating contracts or partnership agreements
• History of active research and scientific engagement with the natural history collections community
• Experience with ecological inventory and monitoring programs
• Experience working with government agencies in the context of ecological research
• History of good communication experience among multiple partners (e.g., academic, government, private)
Additional Skills and Abilities: :
• High degree of problem solving and accountability
• Experience working in a collaborative scientific enterprise
• Open to undertaking responsibilities beyond those associated with individually assigned projects
• Ability to work independently and as part of an active science team
• Self-starter who can create new opportunities, use novel methods, analyses and approaches
This position also serves as deputy for the Director of Biology.
