Exhibition Assistant (Part-Time)

American Museum of Natural History; New York (NY); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

The American Museum of Natural History in New York is seeking a part-time Exhibition Assistant to support the Exhibition team with live animal care and habitat maintenance in the Insectarium and Vivarium, including back-of-house spaces and temporary exhibits.

You will interact with the public in the Butterfly Vivarium, answer questions, ensure USDA containment, and help with recordkeeping, feedings, and routine tasks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science or related area; biology/life science courses preferred.
• One year experience working closely with live animals.
• Experience in customer service or informal education.

Responsibilities

• Feed, clean, and monitor live animals (frogs, lizards, butterflies, beetles, arthropods).
• Maintain animal habitats in Insectarium, Vivarium, and temporary exhibits.
• Ensure husbandry needs: monitor food, temperature, humidity, lighting; inform senior staff of issues.
• Unpack and process pupae shipments.
• Assist visitors in the Vivarium and ensure USDA containment of butterflies.
• Check in volunteers and assist with recordkeeping/data entry.

Skills

Live animals experience

Flexible schedule

Customer service

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science

Biology/life science courses

Job description

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, and has as its mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.

The Exhibition department is seeking a part-time Exhibition Assistant to support the current team with all aspects of live animal care and habitat maintenance. This includes the live collections in the Insectarium, Vivarium, all back-of-house spaces, and temporary exhibits, as required. The Assistant also works closely with the public in the Butterfly Vivarium, answering visitor questions and ensuring containment of USDA -regulated species.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Feed, clean, and monitor live animals, including (but not limited to) frogs, lizards, butterflies, beetles, and other arthropods.
• Maintain all animal habitats in back-of-house and public areas of the Insectarium, Vivarium, and temporary exhibits.
• Ensure all husbandry needs are met, monitoring food supply, temperature, humidity, and lighting. Inform senior staff of issues.
• Unpack and process pupae shipments.
• Work in the Vivarium answering visitor questions and ensuring USDA containment of butterflies.
• Check in volunteers to their shifts.
• Clean workspaces in the USDA containment rooms.
• Perform recordkeeping/data entry on all species and monitor colony populations.

The expected salary for the Exhibition Assistant is $20/hour. This position is overtime-eligible.

Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization, and depth and scope of experience.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science or another related area, or currently enrolled in college – biology/life science courses preferred.
• One year experience working closely with live animals.
• Experience working in customer service or informal education.
• Ability to work 2 or 3 days a week, including one weekend day and holidays, and occasional evenings as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• 18 months experience working with live arthropods in a museum, zoo, or similar institution.
• Experience working with USDA -permitted species.
• Experience breeding and raising insects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for prolonged periods.
• Must be able to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to move about the Museum campus.
• Positioning/change of positioning: Must be able to frequently position oneself/body to accomplish job duties.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending physical structures.
• Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and up to 20 pounds of force frequently. May include any of the following:
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position.

Must be able to comfortably work in a hot/humid environment.

Category Part-Time/Term

Total Number of Scheduled Hours Per Pay Period 40

Union Status Union

FLSA Non-Exempt

Expected Salary Minimum $20/hour

Expected Salary Maximum $20/hour

EEO Statement

The American Museum of Natural History is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate with respect to employment, or admission or access to Museum facilities, programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, gender (including sexual harassment), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy and lactation accommodations, alienage or citizenship status, current or former participation in the uniformed services, status as a veteran, caregiver, pre-employment marijuana testing, sexual and reproductive health decisions, salary history, national or ethnic origin, height, weight, or on account of any other basis prohibited by applicable City, State, or Federal law. Additional protections are afforded in employment based on arrest or conviction record, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, unemployment status, and credit history, in each case to the extent provided by law.