Collections Assistant (Earth Collections)

University-of-Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension

38 days annual leave

Childcare services

Family leave schemes

Discounted bus travel

Job summary

The University of Oxford's Museum of Natural History invites applications for a Collections Assistant (Earth Collections). Based in Oxford, you will care for geology collections, catalogue and digitise specimens, and support research visits and loans.

This full-time role (36.5 hours/week) also involves imaging and helping with exhibitions and public engagement. A Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required due to access to museum collections.

Qualifications

• Experience in collections-focused museum work.
• Excellent geological knowledge and ability to identify geological materials.
• Understanding of taxonomy, stratigraphy, and rock/mineral classification.
• Strong IT skills and experience with collections management systems.
• Knowledge of geological imaging techniques.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Catalogue geological specimens and literature.
• Digitise collections records and images.
• Support imaging of rocks, minerals and fossils.
• Facilitate research visits and loans to researchers and institutions.
• Coordinate volunteers to assist with collection tasks.
• Contribute to exhibitions, displays and public engagement activities.

Job description

Collections Assistant (Earth Collections)

Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW

About the role

You will join Oxford University Museum of Natural History, home to internationally important scientific collections supporting research, teaching and public engagement.

You will support the care, documentation and development of geological collections, including rocks, minerals and fossils. Your responsibilities will include cataloguing, digitisation, collections imaging, facilitating research visits and loans, and coordinating volunteers. You will also contribute to exhibitions, displays and public engagement activities.

This is a full-time post, working 36.5 hours per week.

Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check due to access to Museum collections.

About You

You will have experience of collections-focused museum work, excellent geological knowledge and the ability to identify geological materials.

You will understand taxonomy, stratigraphy, and rock and mineral classification.

Strong IT skills, experience using collections management systems and knowledge of geological imaging techniques are essential.

You will also demonstrate effective teamwork within a multidisciplinary environment.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days of annual leave
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible. If you require the job description or any other materials in an alternative format, or if you would like to request any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact the recruitment team at [e-mail] .