Curatorial Assistant Job Boston – Harvard Arboretum

Artinfoland; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is seeking a Curatorial Assistant II focused on herbarium and living plant collections. The role combines scientific documentation, fieldwork, and curatorial maintenance in a research-driven setting.

Responsibilities include managing herbarium specimens (120,000+), data entry in BG-BASE, barcode systems, and assisting visiting researchers. This on-site, full-time position requires attention to detail and the ability to work in outdoor and laboratory

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of relevant experience in botanical, museum, or collection-based work.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in botany, horticulture, or a related scientific field.
• U.S. work eligibility required (no visa sponsorship available).
• Ability to conduct outdoor fieldwork in all weather conditions.
• Valid driver’s license required for institutional vehicle use.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and expand herbarium collections (over 120,000 specimens).
• Prepare, mount, and label plant vouchers.
• Data entry, databasing, and digitization of specimens.
• Barcode integration and archival documentation.
• Pest monitoring and specimen preservation protocols.
• Repairing and restoring damaged botanical materials.
• Managing specimen loans and assisting visiting researchers.
• Conduct systematic inventories of living plant collections.
• Update records in BG-BASE plant database systems.
• Support accessioning and plant documentation workflows.
• Produce and maintain plant display labels and records.
• Assist greenhouse and nursery inventory operations.
• Assist staff, scholars, and students with collection access.
• Field-based plant documentation and environmental surveying.

Skills

Attention to detail

Scientific rigor

Strong organizational abilities

Multitasking

Physical stamina

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred in botany, horticulture, or related scientific field

Tools

BG-BASE database

Job description

Curatorial Assistant Job Boston – Harvard Arboretum

Harvard University is one of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions, operating a vast ecosystem of museums, research centers, libraries, and administrative units. Its Central Administration (CADM) supports the operational, academic, and infrastructural needs of the university’s schools and affiliated institutions through large-scale coordination, technical expertise, and public-facing services.

Within this structure, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University functions as both a public landscape and a scientific research center. Established in 1872 and designed in collaboration with Frederick Law Olmsted, it is the oldest public arboretum in North America and a globally recognized site for botanical research, living plant collections, and herbarium-based scientific documentation.

The Arboretum integrates public education, landscape conservation, and academic research, maintaining one of the world’s most significant living and archival plant collections. It is also deeply embedded in Harvard’s broader mission of scientific advancement, environmental stewardship, and interdisciplinary knowledge production.

Title & Description

Curatorial Assistant II – Herbarium & Living Collections

This is a full-time job opportunity within the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, focused on curatorial work in botanical collections, herbarium management, and living plant inventories.

The position supports the stewardship, documentation, and preservation of one of the world’s most important botanical collections, including both dried herbarium specimens and living plant records. The Curatorial Assistant operates within a research-driven environment that combines curatorial, scientific classification, fieldwork, and data management.

The role is designed for individuals interested in botanical science, museum collections, plant taxonomy, and archival research within a leading academic institution. It offers hands‑on engagement with plant documentation systems, specimen preservation, and field-based inventory work across outdoor and controlled environments.

The Role Overview

• Contract Type: Full-time, non-exempt employment
• Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday
• Work Format: Fully on-site
• Salary Grade: 051 (Harvard University scale)
• Reporting Structure: Under the supervision of the Manager of Plant Records
• Work Environment: Outdoor + laboratory + herbarium collections

This is a technical museum and research support role combining scientific documentation, field operations, and curatorial maintenance.

Position & Tasks

The Curatorial Assistant II is responsible for maintaining and supporting both herbarium and living plant collections through scientific and operational workflows:

• Maintaining and expanding herbarium collections (over 120,000 specimens)
• Preparing, mounting, and labeling plant vouchers
• Data entry, databasing, and digitization of specimens
• Barcode integration and archival documentation
• Pest monitoring and specimen preservation protocols
• Repairing and restoring damaged botanical materials
• Managing specimen loans and assisting visiting researchers

Living Collections Inventory

• Conducting systematic inventories of living plant collections
• Updating records in BG-BASE plant database systems
• Supporting accessioning and plant documentation workflows
• Producing and maintaining plant display labels and records
• Assisting with greenhouse and nursery inventory operations
• Assisting staff, scholars, and students with collection access
• Field-based plant documentation and environmental surveying

This role requires strong attention to detail, scientific rigor, and physical engagement with outdoor and laboratory environments.

Categories

• Curatorial
• Research
• Botany / Environmental Science
• Archival Science
• Visual Arts (Applied Scientific Collections)
• Minimum 1 year of relevant experience in botanical, museum, or collection-based work
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in botany, horticulture, or a related scientific field
• Ability to conduct outdoor fieldwork in all weather conditions
• Comfort working with insects and biological materials
• Ability to perform physical tasks (lifting up to 25 lbs, extended walking/standing)
• Valid driver’s license (required for institutional vehicle use)
• Strong organizational, analytical, and multitasking abilities
• U.S. work eligibility required (no visa sponsorship available)
• Full-time salary based on Harvard University Grade 051 scale
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance from day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Paid leave, including parental leave
• Professional development and tuition assistance programs
• Access to world-leading scientific and academic collections
• Long-term institutional experience within a globally recognized research university
• Stable weekday schedule and structured work environment

Application Fee

None

Application Requirements

• Academic background (preferred in botany/horticulture/science fields)
• Relevant work experience documentation
• Professional references (as requested)
• Additional materials during the hiring process if required
• Review Period: 3-month orientation and evaluation phase

Location

This role is highly field- and collections-intensive, combining scientific curation with physical labor in both indoor and outdoor environments. Candidates must be prepared for seasonal variability, field inventory work, and technical herbarium maintenance tasks.

The position is part of a structured academic system and includes a probationary review period. It is not a remote or hybrid role and requires full on-site presence.

The Arboretum operates as both a public landscape and a scientific archive, meaning the Curatorial Assistant plays a dual role in public-facing institutional stewardship and behind-the-scenes research infrastructure.