Curatorial Assistant

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Curatorial Assistant conducts curatorial tasks in the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants, inventories plants in the living collections, and supports other plant records and curatorial initiatives under the supervision of the Manager of Plant Records.

• Herbarium of Cultivated Plants - The Curatorial Assistant supports in the care and maintains specimens (over 120,000) in the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants and Dried Emerging Leaves Collection of the Arnold Arboretum, located in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. This includes all duties associated with adding to the collection: gathering and mounting new vouchers; label preparation; databasing, barcoding, and digitization; and insertion. They scout for and repair damaged specimens; maintain organization and order of all specimens, including all sorting/refilling tasks; maintain a pest-free environment by using hygienic practices, monitor for pest infestations, and maintain rotational freezing and silica refresh schedules of specimens. They assist visitors and scholars in their use of the collection, which includes digitization and loans of specimens. They transport and/or ship specimens and supplies to and from the Harvard University Herbaria (HUH) in Cambridge, Massachusetts as needed.
• Living Collections Inventory - The Curatorial Assistant assists with the annual inventory of plants in permanent collections and Dana Greenhouse and nursery. They assist in the production of accurate plant inventories of all plants through frequent and thorough review, and maintenance of records in the institutional plant collections database, BG-BASE. In addition to plant inventories, they aid in the production/maintenance of records and display labels, and at peak times of demand, may assist with accessioning and other related tasks.
• Other Duties as Assigned - The Curatorial Assistant performs other duties, including data entry, records review/audits, and conducts special curatorial projects related to the Arnold Arboretum’s living collections and plant records archives. They serve as a key informational resource to other staff, visiting scholars, students, and the public.

This is a 100% on-site position, 35 hours/week, with a Monday-through-Friday schedule.

Working Conditions:

• Must be able to conduct work outdoors in a variety of weather scenarios and plant collections.
• Must not be squeamish around insects.
• Must be able to drive an Arboretum vehicle from site to site when necessary.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to bend, reach, stoop, kneel, and lift up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to walk and stand for up to three hours at a time in indoor and outdoor conditions.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications (the minimum threshold a candidate must meet in order to be considered for this role).

• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in a related field.
• The ability to drive Arboretum vehicles in the landscape.
• Must be able to conduct inventories of outdoor/indoor plant collections and collect herbarium vouchers during all months of the year.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree with course work in botany, horticulture, or a related field preferred.
• Work experience in plant records/curation at a public garden, as well as an herbarium, preferred.
• The preferred candidate is self-motivated, communicates effectively, can multitask, works independently as well as collaboratively, and applies critical thinking and curiosity to solve problems.

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background screenings: Identity and RMV Check for valid drivers license.
• Other Information: This position will have a 3-month orientation and review period.