Job Openings at National Museum Bloemfontein

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Entomology, Zoology, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of experience managing invertebrate collections (both dry and wet).
• Minimum of 1 year of experience with Specify software.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding of invertebrate taxonomy.
• High computer literacy (e.g., MS Word, Access, Excel).
• Excellent problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as a team leader.
• Strong social and communication skills, with experience supervising volunteers and students.

KPA: Curation and collection management

• Collection management: Oversee the care, organization, and curation of approximately 500,000 specimens, ensuring global standards are met.
• Processing of new material: Process new invertebrate specimens for incorporation into the collections.This may include sorting, counting and pinning.
• Co-ordination of curatorial/collection management activities: Coordinate pest management, specimen repairs, facility troubleshooting, and routine maintenance.
• Identification of specimens: Identify specimens using diagnostic keys, comparative materials, or consultation with experts.
• Auditing of collections: Assist with the auditing of collections; provide information.
• Managing Standard operating procedures (SOPs): Develop, update, and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for collection management.
• Supervision Supervise volunteers, interns, and students working on collection related tasks.
• Loan preparation: Prepare specimens for loans and manage the associated documentation and postal processes.
• Other collection-related activities: perform or assist researchers as requested.
• Collection databases: Maintain and update the collection database using Specify software, including transferring field data and digitizing specimen records.
• Backup of database: Perform monthly backups of the electronic database.
• Literature database: Manage the Acarology literature database using MS Access
• Research planning: Identify projects through literature review and expert discussions.
• Fieldwork and data collection: Plan and participate in field activities and laboratory work.
• Data analysis: Use appropriate tools and methods to analyze findings.
• Dissemination: Publish research in scientific journals and/or scientific popular magazines.
• Social media and website: Develop content for the museum’s social media and website, highlighting invertebrate-related activities and achievements.

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Duties and responsibilities:

• Conduct research on the collection, such as diversity informatics and systematics of southern African plant taxa.
• Co-ordinate, with Collections Manager, the curation and care of the collection, including pest management, loans, specimen repairs, facility troubleshooting, and routine maintenance.
• Liaise with the international and national scientific community, responding to requests for information, hosting visitors, and facilitating use of specimens for research and education.
• Maintain and develop databases (including Brahms) and online portals for specimen images and data (including digitisation of collections).
• Assist in planning and policy development for the collection.
• Plan and conduct field work to expand the collection.
• Supervise Collections Manager, assistants, volunteers, interns and students working on collections care.
• Participate in public education, museum programs, and serve on committees.
• Provide information for displays and exhibitions at the museum.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• PhD degree in Botany.
• Code B motor vehicle driver’s license.
• A minimum of three years’ experience in an accredited herbarium.
• Full competency using Brahms database software in a herbarium.
• At least four first-authored publications on plant systematics in accredited scientific journals.
• At least five years of experience in plant systematics research (laboratory work and analysis of data).
• A thorough understanding of plant taxonomy.
• Ability to independently plan and conduct field work.

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Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science. Preference will be given to interns who have studied entomology.
• Knowledge of database systems and experience with collections will be an advantage.
• High levels of accuracy and strong attention to detail.
• Computer literacy including proficiency in Word, Excel and Access
• Good planning and organisational skills;
• Good interpersonal relations;
• The ability to work under pressure.

Key Responsibilities:

• Capture label data from insect specimens into Excel
• Verifying existing database records
• Assist departmental staff as required