Technical Assistant III; Educ - Herbarium Collections Manager

Job Summary

The Collections Manager (Technical Assistant III) of the University of Massachusetts Herbarium is responsible for managing and maintaining a herbarium of approximately 275,000 specimens and records, supervising paid student and non-student curatorial assistants, and advising faculty, students, visiting researchers, and the general public using herbarium collections.

Perform day-to-day collections activities according to "best practices" of herbarium and natural history collections associations and societies. Activities include mounting herbarium specimens, filing specimens according to the system adopted by the University of Massachusetts Herbarium (MASS), repairing specimens using museum‑quality techniques, shipping, receiving and accessioning specimens, and maintaining pest control.

Day‑to‑day supervision, training, and design of workflow procedures for herbarium assistants and volunteers; supervise digitization (both data and imaging) and routine herbarium maintenance, including cleaning, specimen mounting and repair, pest control, and foldering and filing specimens.

Develop workflows to improve efficiency, quality, and safe handling of archival materials for herbarium work and collections‑based research grants, including specimen digitization and other special projects as needed.

Maintain the herbarium's Specify database, currently containing 130,000 herbarium records, with a goal of digitizing the remainder of the 250,000 vascular plants collection and the 5,000 non‑vascular plants (bryophytes). Database maintenance includes implementing software updates, data entry, overseeing the quality of herbarium‑assistant data entry, importing data from incoming collections, exporting data to publicly accessible data portals, and quality control of portal data.

Work with Specify Help, Symbiota Help, and UMass Biology Department IT staff to solve database problems or implement improvements.

Use rules developed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) to make curatorial decisions regarding the specimen filing system. Monitor botanical taxonomic and nomenclature literature to maintain knowledge of resources sufficient to inform decisions for updating plant names in the collection.

Act as a resource for faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, regional botanists and the public, including recommendations of methods and protocols for using herbarium collections, plant identification, and assistance with locating or occasionally collecting fresh plant material for research purposes.

Perform outreach by conducting occasional tours or workshops for UMass and other Five College botany, plant science and ecology classes, and conservation organizations as requested. Conduct lectures or demonstrations on working with specimens, including collecting, pressing, handling, mounting and filing specimens, and meeting current standards for vouchering and publishing.

Maintain other collections such as the Macro‑Algae, Fruit and Seed, and Plant Pathology Collections.

Generate and maintain records of annual inventories, gifts and loans, correspondence, and inquiries.

Participate in University of Massachusetts Natural History Collections Committee to inform curators on collections updates, improvements, and contribute to the mission of the Natural History Collections.

Keep track of materials and order supplies; maintain familiarity with archival materials and suppliers, performing quality control of archival supplies.

Keep up to date on herbarium best practices available through published literature, museum and botanical societies and organizations. Maintain policies and protocols for herbarium use and maintenance specific to University of Massachusetts Herbarium (MASS) and update as needed. Develop and maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of plant nomenclature and monitor research developments to keep MASS plant names updated.

Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.

Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.

Attend trainings as needed.

Perform…