Curator, Invertebrate Zoology

Job Information

Job Title: Curator, Invertebrate Zoology 

Job Requisition ID: 32748

Ministry: Culture

Location: Edmonton

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: March 24, 2023

Classification: Scientific 2

About Us

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy.aspx.

The Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) is the largest museum in western Canada and one of the top museums in Canada. Located in the Arts District in downtown Edmonton, we collect, preserve, research, interpret, and exhibit objects and specimens related to the heritage of Alberta's people and natural environment.

For more information about the Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) please visit our website at: https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/.

Role

The Royal Alberta Museum is seeking a dynamic and well-qualified individual to take on the role of Curator of Invertebrate Zoology. The Invertebrate Zoology collection comprises about 755,400 specimens, with about 400,000 being pinned insects, 350,000 specimens in alcohol or on slides, and around 5,400 other specimens, mainly marine shells. The pinned collection has strengths in Hymenoptera, as well as Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. The slide collection includes primarily chironomid larvae, terrestrial mites and mammalian/avian ectoparasites. The fluid collection includes a broad range of freshwater invertebrates and molluscs. The focus of the collection is Alberta, though it also includes specimens from other areas of North America and beyond. The Live Animals displays, and reserve collections, include more than 200 species of invertebrates, both native to North America and exotics, as well as 12 fish and 3 reptile species.

You should have deep knowledge and taxonomic expertise in at least one field of invertebrate zoology and knowledge of invertebrate systematics. You will supervise a team of five, with two direct reports. 

As a Curator, your primary focus is scientific research and associated collections development, considering the interests of stakeholders and the public. However, you provide expertise for other program areas within the museum, interact with the public, and oversee the Live Animals team. You are expected to use your taxonomic expertise to solve problems related to the identification and curation of invertebrate specimens. As such, you should have expertise in at least one group, but you are expected to handle questions and issues ranging across the spectrum of invertebrate zoology. This requires you to have excellent research skills, a strong publication record, and a wide professional network within invertebrate zoology.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

1. Increasing knowledge of the biodiversity of invertebrates in Alberta within a regional context through independent scientific research
2. Building and maintaining a collection of invertebrate specimens of historical, educational, and scientific value as it pertains to the biodiversity of Alberta within a regional context
3. Communicating knowledge to inform and educate Albertans about invertebrates and biodiversity
4. Identifying opportunities to further the museum's goals and strategic direction as they pertain to invertebrate biodiversity
5. Supervising staff to ensure delivery of program products and services, to promote staff satisfaction, and to maintain a safe working environment.
6. Overseeing the Live Animals team to ensure that live animals displays are well maintained, engaging and meet appropriate animal care standards.

Qualifications

Ph.D. in bioscience or zoology, specifically in an invertebrate zoology area.  Equivalency: Master’s degree in a related area.  Post-secondary education in museum studies or museology is an asset.  A minimum of 3 years experience in a natural history museum or similar institution.

Additional requirements

• Capacity to do fieldwork for research and collection purposes
• Demonstrated written productivity, including publications in peer-reviewed literature
• Experience in collecting, preparing, and mounting or storing invertebrate zoology specimens
• Experience supervising a team of 2 or more employees
• Class 5 Driver’s License

Assets:  

• Training in outreach and science communication

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

The link below will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf

• Build Collaborative Environments: Collaborates across functional areas and proactively addresses conflict
• Agility: Identifies and manages required change and the associated risks
• Develop Networks: Works on maintaining close relations with all stakeholders
• Develop Self and Others: Plans according to career goals and regular development
• Creative Problem Solving: Focuses on continuous improvement and increasing breadth of insight

Salary

$2,838.45 to $3,720.80 bi-weekly.  ($74,083 - $97,112/ year)

Notes

• This is a permanent full-time position
• Hours of work are 36.25 hours weekly. Days of work are Monday to Friday. Occasional weekend and evening work may be required
• Candidate must be eligible to work in Canada. A current work visa is required
• In order to accurately reflect your related experience/education, in your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience
• For employment: Please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. Example: Receptionist, Jan 2018 - June 2021, Part-time (three 8 hr shifts/week)
• For any Post-Secondary Education: Please specify your major and length of program, the educational institution, and the year you graduated. Examples: Bachelor of Science, major in Zoology, University of Alberta, 2009
• Your cover letter and resume will be used as a screening tool to assess your written communication
• Presentations may be used as part of the interview process
• Final candidate will be required to undergo a security screening
• Individuals who applied to the previous posting for this position need not re-apply

What the GoA has to offer to prospective e employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Pension plans:
  • Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) – https://www.pspp.ca
• Leadership and mentorship programs
• Professional learning and development
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca 

How To Apply

Click on the “Apply Now” button.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/navigating-online-jobs-application.aspx to learn more about creating a candidate profile and other tips for the Government of Alberta’s online application system.

If you are not currently an employee with the Government of Alberta, the first step in applying for a job is creating your candidate profile within our online application system, click here to access the main log in page where you are able to ‘Create an account’, reset your password (‘Forgot your password’) or ‘Sign In’ should you already have an account.

Existing employees should access the Career tile in 1GX to submit their application in order to be recognized as an internal applicant.

Once you have created your candidate profile, visit the Alberta Public Service job site to apply for jobs at https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-jobs.aspx.

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.

Resources for applicants:
https://www.alberta.ca/apply-for-jobs-with-the-alberta-public-service.aspx  
https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-hiring-process.aspx  
https://alis.alberta.ca/look-for-work/

It is recommended that applicants who have obtained educational credentials from outside of Canada and have not had them previously assessed, obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) https://www.alberta.ca/iqas-overview.aspx. Applicants are encouraged to include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or a copy of the role profile, and/or require a disability related accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Saren Frias, TAS Administrator at Saren.Frias@gov.ab.ca.

If this competition is closed as per the closing date noted above, please continue to check http://www.jobs.alberta.ca for a listing of current career opportunities with the Government of Alberta.