Project Manager, Collections Rescue

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County was the first museum in L.A. to open its doors 111 years ago and is poised for an exciting new era as it plans for the future. Having recently completed a new strategic framework, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County—including NHMLA at Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits and museum in mid-Wilshire, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall—is looking forward to new building projects and campaigns, exhibitions, community outreach, and innovative audience engagement. 

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County values and endeavors to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within its organization and communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, gender, a person with disability, a veteran, and/or a part of the LGBTQAI+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply. 

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is seeking a Project  Manager, Collections Rescue for our Research & Collections department. The Project Manager, Collections Rescue works closely with the Curator of Herpetology at the Natural History Museum. It is an exciting time as we embark on new journeys of becoming a museum of, for, and with L.A.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to: 

•  Coordinate with NHMLAC-Research and Collections staff and with various universities, museums, researchers, and private individuals to locate, assess, triage, and secure natural history specimens at risk of damage or loss. 

• Manage and mentor additional Collections Rescue personnel including volunteers, federal work-study students, and at least two full-time assistant collections managers. 

• Work with the Assistant Collections Managers-Collections Rescue and collections staff across NHMLAC-Research and Collections Division to determine the best course of action to secure specimens.

• Coordinate with Museum Registrars and collections staff across NHMLAC-Research and Collections Division to document the legal transfer of specimens from donor to Museum. Maintain working knowledge of regulations relevant to the transfer of natural history specimens. 

• Plan and oversee the transfer, re­housing, and when appropriate, the integration of specimens into an NHMLAC collection. 

• Work cooperatively with other collection management and conservation staff to achieve the highest level of collection care and productivity across organizational units and maintain a collegial work environment that is respectful and collaborative.

• Organize and provide documentation for rescued specimens, including  inventorying, cataloging, entering/updating database records, enhancing documentation through digitization, and researching specimen and/or material information.  Initiate, plan, implement, oversee, and track progress on projects independently and/or as directed by the curator or the organization.

This position has the following requirements:    

• Master’s degree in biology, museum studies, or a related field and at least one year of technical experience in the collection, organization, care and/or conservation of natural history specimens/collections with a demonstrated history of project management; or a bachelor’s degree in an applicable field and 3 years collections and/or project management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Working knowledge of the utility of natural history specimens for diverse research and conservation purposes, and the organization and management of natural history collections.

• Project management: Demonstrated excellence in coordinating projects that involve multiple parties.  Working knowledge of project management and project documentation tools and techniques.

• Communication: Demonstrated excellence in oral and written commun