National Shell Museum Curator

Summary of Opportunity The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium seeks qualified applicants for the position of Curator to oversee management of its scientific collection of shells and mollusks, contribute to the development of educational exhibits and programs, engage with the Museum’s constituencies and the malacological community, and demonstrate a commitment to building knowledge through research. This is an exciting opportunity for the next Curator to influence the fields of natural history and malacology, and how they are communicated to the public. The scientific collection is fully catalogued, digitized, and publicly accessible, supported by grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Science Foundation. The Museum has also recently completed a full re-installation of all permanent exhibits. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of mollusks, collection management experience, enthusiasm for communicating natural history and science to the public, a record of research and publication, and a collaborative and collegial working style. Reporting to the Executive Director, this is a full-time position with a comprehensive benefits package and a salary range of $80,000 – $110,000, depending on depth and relevance of experience. Primary Responsibility Areas Collection: Oversee management and growth of the scientific collection of shells and specimens and maintain best-practice museum standards. Oversee management of the collection’s cloud-based software (Specify). Nurture relationships with collectors and institutions to create opportunities for collections-based projects and growth of the Museum’s collection. Oversee management of the malacological library. Manage collections support staff and volunteers. Seek grant funding in support of collection care and access. Consult with aquarium staff on the selection and interpretation of marine life in the aquariums. Program and Engagement: In collaboration with the Executive Director and other staff, develop ideas for new exhibits and ensure their scientific accuracy. In collaboration with the Education Department, develop ideas for programs (such as lectures, classes, and community science). Be a public advocate for mollusks, their conservation, the Museum, and the field through presentations, press appearances, and digital media. Play an active role in professional networks and associations to help advance the study and appreciation of mollusks, create opportunities for partnerships, and maintain the Museum as a key presence and contributor to the field. Participate in events and meetings with Museum constituents including the Board of Trustees, donors, Museum Members, institutional partners, shell clubs, and others. Research: • Conduct and support research on mollusks. • Seek grant funding in support of research. • Publish or contribute to peer-reviewed journals and/or general interest media. Qualifications and Requirements Strong knowledge of mollusks, ideally with expertise in mollusks of the western Atlantic. A completed Ph.D. in Zoology, Marine Biology, Geology, Paleontology, Conservation Ecology, or a related field is strongly preferred. However, Ph.D. candidates and applicants with a Master’s in a related field, who also have strong knowledge of the material and collections experience, will be considered. Experience in best-practice stewardship, cataloguing, and imaging of a natural history collection, preferably a mollusk collection, including experience with collections management software. Strong interpersonal skills and enthusiasm to engage with a diversity of individuals including Museum staff, malacologists, shell enthusiasts, Museum constituents, and the public. A record of research and publication. Experience writing research grants is preferred but not required. Experience supervising staff and/or volunteers is preferred but not required. A sense of humor is a plus.

Please submit a letter of interest, resume/CV, and three references by email to Executive Director Sam Ankerson: sankerson@shellmuseum.org.