Assistant Collections Manager, Botany

Botanical Society of America; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Coverage

403(b) savings plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Employee discounts

Complimentary general admission

Job summary

The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, IL seeks an Assistant Collections Manager for Botany & Mycology with a focus on seed plants. The role supports herbarium curation, digitization, and international loan programs in a world-class collection.

We offer comprehensive benefits, a non-exempt schedule of 35 hours per week, and a pathway to contribute to research and public education through strong documentation and exhibits support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and minimum three years’ herbarium collections experience (Master’s degree preferred).
• Familiarity with botanical collections and research.
• Knowledge of taxonomic or identification principles and collections management.
• Proficiency with preparing, housing, accessioning, and cataloging materials.
• Ability to work with preservation chemicals in herbaria.
• Strong organizational skills to keep collections accessible.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in records.
• Proficiency with collections databasing is required.
• Imaging systems familiarity is preferred.
• Knowledge of international and domestic regulations for acquisition/shipment and packing loans.
• Word processing and spreadsheet software literacy.
• Excellent oral and written English communication.
• Ability to read cursive handwriting is desired.
• Ability to work well with others and independently.
• Capacity for problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the collection during short-term absence of Collections Manager(s).
• Maintain clean, safe, and organized storage, work, and lab areas.
• Assist with digitization efforts, including transcription, imaging, georeferencing, and inventory.
• Participate in museum-wide collections database working group.
• Ensure proper record-keeping and data discoverability in the collections management system.
• Work with collections data and support loan programs and on-site use by researchers.
• Help train and mentor interns, volunteers, and technicians.
• Support public and education programming and fundraising goals.

Skills

Herbarium experience

Botanical research

Taxonomic principles

Collection management

Chemicals handling

Organization

Attention to detail

Database management

Imaging systems

Loans regulations

Word processing

Spreadsheets

English communication

Cursive handwriting

Teamwork and independence

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Herbarium experience (3+ yrs)

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Imaging systems

Collections database system

Job description

Field Museum of Natural History - Chicago, IL, United States of America

Position Type: Permanent Position

Application Review Begins: Monday, November 02, 2026

Application Deadline: Sunday, January 31, 2027

Institution: Field Museum of Natural History

Department/Division: Botanical Collections

Field (e.g., systematics): Herbarium

City: Chicago, IL, United States of America

General Information

• Position: Assistant Collections Manager, Botany
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
• Department: GANTZ Family Collections Center
• Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.
• Join our team and enjoy a benefits package that truly supports your well-being and lifestyle:

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, vision plans, and even pet insurance.
• Financial Security: Life and disability benefits plus a 403(b) savings plan to help you plan for the future.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure you have time to recharge and spend with loved ones.
• Exclusive Perks: Enjoy great employee discounts and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.
• We're dedicated to enhancing your life both at work and beyond!

Collections Overview

The Field Museum of Natural History has an opening in the Gantz Family Collections Center for an Assistant Collection Manager (Botany & Mycology, with a focus on Seed Plants). The Field Museum's Searle Herbarium is the fifth largest in the Western Hemisphere and houses 2.5 million accessioned flowering plant specimens, including nearly 40,000 types. Representation is worldwide, but particularly strong in tropical Central and South America. The Central American material is overall one of the world's finest single collections with special strengths in Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. The South American collections are important with special strengths in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. A good representation in North American taxa is found, especially for Missouri and Illinois. In addition the Field Museum curates an extensive collection of approximately 2,000 dried fruits, large seeds, bark and other plant parts that generally are not accommodated on herbarium specimens. The gymnosperm collection consists of approximately 12,000 collections, 1,000 cones and 41 types.

Supervision & Work Details

• Supervision Received: General supervision from Collection Manager(s) and Head of Collection
• Supervision Exercised: The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.
• Work Hours: 35 hours/weekly
• Hybrid Eligibility: Not eligible
• Union Representation: This position is represented by Field Museum Workers’ United, AFSCME Council 31, AFL-CIO.
• Pay Range: $28.50/Hourly

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and minimum three years’ herbarium collections experience (or equivalent) (Master’s degree in scientific area related to collection preferred)
• Familiarity with botanical collections and research
• Working knowledge of basic taxonomic or identification principles and collections management
• Proficiency with preparing, housing, accessioning, and cataloging of materials
• Ability to work with a variety of preservation chemicals associated with herbaria
• Strong organizational skills necessary to keep collections accessible
• Attention to detail
• Demonstrated proficiency with collections databasing is required
• Familiarity with imaging systems is preferred
• Proficient knowledge of and experience with international and domestic regulations for acquisition and shipment of specimens and requirements for packing loans
• Knowledge of basic word-processing and spreadsheet software required
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required
• Ability to read cursive handwriting desired
• Ability to work well with others and independently
• Capacity for problem solving

Responsibilities

• Oversee the collection during short-term absence of Collections Manager(s)
• Maintain clean, safe, and organized collections storage, work, and lab areas
• Assist with managing, developing, and evaluating digitization efforts, including transcription of catalog and label data, imaging specimens and items, georeferencing, and collections inventory
• Actively participate in museum-wide collections database working group
• Support accurate, timely, and detailed record-keeping related to collections using the Museum’s collections management system and help ensure collections data and metadata are discoverable
• Work with and digitize specialized and complex collections data
• Assist with processing accessions and acquisitions as well as deaccessions
• Assist with management of day-to-day physical and operational aspects of lab(s) and collection, including but not limited to engaging with Facilities and Protection Services
• Understand and implement best practices and community standards for physical and digital collections care and curation
• Track and report metrics of collections use and growth
• Work with Collections Manager(s) to facilitate an active domestic and international loan program and on-site use of the collection by researchers, exhibitions, and visiting communities
• Participate in the Museum’s Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM)
• Assist with collections reorganization efforts and other priority projects in Collections as needed
• Help train, mentor, and work with interns, volunteers, and technicians
• Support the Museum’s public and education programming and promote the mission of the Museum and its fundraising goals

Compensation

Pay Range: $28.50/Hourly

Compensation Range: Pay Range: $28.50/Hourly