Botany Collections Specialist - Herbarium & Digitization

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

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.