Natural History Curator - Full-Time - $55,000 - $70,000 Annually

Are you looking to be part of an innovative team of professionals dedicated to telling the stories of all South Carolinians? As the storytellers of South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) strives to share the rich natural and cultural diversity of the state through its permanent collections, programs, and exhibitions.   The SCSM is the largest museum in South Carolina, stewarding over 1.1 million objects and specimens and welcoming 5 million+ visitors over its 37-year history. The museum has recently embarked on a renovation of 150,000 square feet of its exhibition, programmatic and collection storage spaces occupying four floors of a historic 1890s textile mill on the National Register of Historic Places. Come be a part of our team “reimagining” what the South Carolina State Museum can be for our next generation of visitors, students, and scholars. You will also enjoy the opportunity to live in South Carolina with its mild climate, beautiful beaches, rich history, southern hospitality, and affordable cost of living. 

Job Overview

The South Carolina State Museum seeks a dedicated and creative individual with a working knowledge of South Carolina’s natural history. The SCSM's natural history collection includes paleontological and modern biological material primarily from South Carolina and the surrounding region. This research collection is used regularly by scholars and information associated with this collection is included in publications and exhibitions. A qualified candidate for the State Museum’s natural history curator should have a strong background in paleontology. 

This position will have a unique opportunity to be a part of our museum team that will be “reimagining” the museum’s permanent galleries for the first time since 1988.  Through this major renovation project, we will expand the stories that are told, as well as the timeframe that is represented on the museum floor through our permanent collection. This major renovation project will provide a new and exciting opportunity to explore the diverse range of time periods and habitats that have existed across South Carolina throughout history and today. The Natural History Floor will be a major part of this project, providing a unique opportunity for this candidate to reinterpret and expand the museum’s paleontological focused gallery as well as our regional habitat galleries.

Collections Overview

More than 90% of the SCSM’s natural history collection consists of paleontological (fossil) specimens which focuses largely on vertebrate paleontology. The SCSM’s natural history collections also include extant vertebrate specimens, geological specimens (rocks, minerals, and meteorites), entomology specimens, and malacology specimens (extant and fossil). Candidates should be familiar with, and comfortable developing content associated with this type of material. 

Responsibilities and Duties

Exhibition Development:

• Serves on the development team as we reimagine and reevaluate the permanent galleries that include specimens and reflect the Natural History of South Carolina and the region. This will include exhibition development of the museum’s permanent natural history galleries for the first time in more than 35 years and identifying how the museum’s collection can be better accessed and shared with our guests. 
• Develops content to assist with related exhibitions and public programs for diverse audiences.
•  Ability to develop presentations and interpretive exhibition panels.
• Serves as a member of the exhibitions committee, propose changing exhibitions and assists with the development and management of changing exhibitions. This includes developing concepts and interpretation, writing label copy, and incorporating collections where appropriate. 

Collections Management and Curation:

• Curatorial management of the museum's Natural History collection, including curating, researching, and cataloging the existing collection, acquisition of specimens, exhibition planning and conservation recommendations. The museum is in the early stages of adding the natural history collection to their EMu database, and in digitizing the collection and providing this information through an online portal.
• Physical management of the collection, including collecting, preparing, and conserving fossil specimens using standard paleontological techniques.
• Consults with appropriate state and federal organizations regarding museum planning and collections management while strengthening and building relationships with community leaders, scholars, collectors and organizations from our state.
• Works directly with the Collections Management and Curatorial Affairs Departments and museum staff in a team atmosphere with department-wide projects.

Grant Projects:

• Assists with the leadership of a major digitization grant and reporting as appropriate through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 
• Assists the Collections Management department with the management of grant employees and volunteers associated with the Natural History collection. 

Public Inquiries: 

• Work closely with the SC Institute of Archeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) to review quarterly submissions for the Hobby License Program for paleontological resources as required by the State of South Carolina’s Underwater Antiquities act.
• Responsible for public requests for information related to identifying fossils and other biological specimens.

Other:

• All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a focus on natural history in the areas of paleontology, geology, or biology from the Southeast.
• Minimum three years of experience working within a museum collection or other presenting cultural organization or research institution.
• Experience curating, researching and cataloging Natural History specimens.
• Experience with collections and exhibition development/management. 
• Must possess a clear understanding of proper museum practices including object handling, documentation, and project management.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel statewide and stay overnight
• Must have a valid driver's license and be willing to drive vans.
• Must be able to lift 30-40 pounds.
• Must be able to use ladders and work safely and comfortably at elevated heights.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

Other requirements

• Ability to maintain positive working relationships with a diverse group of people.
• Flexibility and adaptability, including a willingness to take positive action in a changing environment and to effectively analyze situations and problem solve.
• Demonstrated ability to work under deadlines and both work with a high degree of autonomy and participate effectively on a team.
• Excellent time management, organizational, and prioritization skills, with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must be self-motivated, take initiative, and exercise creativity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of paleontological history from the Southeastern United States.
• Master’s or PhD degree preferred.
• Experience using Axiell’s EMu collections management system is a plus.