Collections Curator - Biodiversity Informatics

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Museum, Level C

Job Title

Collections Curator - Biodiversity Informatics

Department

Administrative Leadership | Operations | Beaty Biodiversity Museum | Faculty of Science

Compensation Range

$6,747.50 - $9,701.42 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

April 14, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

May 31, 2027

This is a part-time position at 0.50FTE (17.5 hours/week). Note that compensation will be prorated accordingly.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

The Beaty Biodiversity Museum, part of UBC's Beaty Biodiversity Centre, houses over 2.1 million natural history specimens, presents educational programs and exhibits and includes a teaching lab, auditorium, and a museum store. The Beaty Biodiversity Museum is divided into several major collections - Spencer Entomological Collection, Cowan Tetrapod Collection, Fossil Collection, Fish Collection, Marine Invertebrate Collection and the Herbarium, which has several collections within itself.

The collections and their associated data are a major resource for researchers, students, and the general public. Individual collection curators oversee the curation of data within their own collections. However, many aspects of informatics are handled at a Museum-wide level (e.g. data dissemination and back up, digitization, database and data storage infrastructure and best practices).

Working directly with the Museum Director, this position is responsible for the museum-wide strategic direction of biodiversity informatics, e.g. data collection, storage, dissemination and research. The Collections Curator, Biodiversity Informatics will also work with the 6 collections curators to facilitate best practice in data collection, storage, handling and dissemination of data from individual collections.

Organizational Status
Reports to the Museum Director for all scientific/data matters and to the Senior Operations Manager for general operational matters, finance and human resources. Consults and collaborates with museum staff, relevant faculty collections directors, and other campus and external partners and clients. Manages staff, technical contractors, interns, temporary employees, student workers and volunteers, directly or indirectly.

Work Performed

This position is responsible for all museum-wide aspects of scientific information and data relating to the collections: data acquisition, storage, preservation and use of data on the collections. Data curation specific to particular collections is the responsibility of the curator of that collection, but this position will work with individual collections as needed to promote best practices, i.e. developing, managing, implementing, executing and evaluating procedures and projects for high quality biodiversity informatics within the Museum. Specific duties include:

• Setting up and managing core digitization facilities within the Museum
• Maintaining the web portal for public delivery of data
• Managing, securing, and enhancing the integrity and accuracy of the digital collection information systems, including the collection management system, and other electronic records.
• Facilitating data pushes to national and international data repositories (e.g. Canadensys, GBIF)
• Maintaining the central database system for collections, including the integration with other services where necessary.
• Understand and ensure compliance with applicable policies and legislation for information systems in British Columbia and the University of British Columbia.
• Managing data storage and preservation, including local servers and cloud services, and maintaining an appropriate back-up strategy for specimen data and images.
• Recruiting and supervising staff, volunteers, student assistants and temporary employees within the digital collection and biodiversity informatics; ensuring appropriate training, orientation, evaluation and discipline.
• Developing and preparing short monthly and annual reports and project reports for the digital collection.
• Working with the Senior Operations Manager to develop and manage the budget for data curation, managing the biodiversity informatics annual operational budget - tracking revenues and expenses and ordering supplies - and assisting the Senior Operations Manager in managing awards, endowments, grants, and special project budgets.
• Representing the Museum at meetings with UBC IT, University Departments, and external consortiums and working groups.
• Participating in the Beaty Biodiversity Museum's Strategic and Operational Planning process
• Liaising with instructors, consultants, internal departments and external organizations (including IT companies).
• Supporting acquisition of funds for biodiversity informatics within the Museum, including fundraising efforts, grant proposals and leading revenue generating special projects for external agencies.
• Developing and presenting data-based informatics tutorials, workshops, labs, tours, and programs in collaboration with instructors and museum staff.
• Collaborating with and assisting museum staff in designing exhibits and developing and implementing programs that use Museum data.
• Ensuring the acquisition and renewal of any appropriate certificates, licenses and permits for software and websites.
• Conducts and supports research in biodiversity informatics including publishing of scientific articles if warranted, adhering to the Museum's mission and as directed by the Museum Director.
• Other related duties.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
​Errors could result in permanent loss or degradation of valuable associated information and other data on natural history specimens. Errors could cause loss of research potential, cybersecurity incidents, or inconveniences in academic programs; any of which could have an adverse effect on the reputation of the museum and UBC.
 

Supervision Received
This position works under minimal supervision from the Museum Director and Senior Operations Manager and exercises a large degree of independence and discretion in day-to-day decision-making within the professional and policy guidelines. Work is reviewed in terms of professional standards and achievement of goals and adherence to the museum strategic plan.

Supervision Given
Manages staff, temporary employees, student workers, interns, contractors and volunteers

Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing code through git.
• Experience with any coding language (such as R or Python) that allows for the manipulation of data at scale.
• Basic understanding of Linux, including how to access a server remotely and perform commands.
• Practical experience with biological collection
• Knowledge of collections management, policies and procedures
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work with limited direction.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise tact, discretion and diplomacy.
• Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Ability to develop and monitor budgets.
• Ability to prepare effective grant applications.
• Demonstrated ability to train, supervise and motivate staff, students, and interns.
• Demonstrated strength in project management including the ability to identify, obtain, and effectively manage organizational resources e.g., people, materials, assets, budgets
• Ability to deal effectively with a diversity of people.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to exercise tact, discretion and diplomacy.