Curator of Mineralogy-Petrology

Job Purpose 

To develop, care for, and engage audiences with the Mineralogy and Petrology (Min/Pet) collections of The Hunterian. The postholder undertakes and promotes research, teaching and learning initiatives and knowledge co-production with stakeholders on these collections, and promotes their use in academic, community and public engagement in line with the stated objectives of The Hunterian as outlined in the 2021-25 Strategic Plan.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

1. To work with Collections Management and Curatorial colleagues to ensure that the collections are efficiently managed, documented and interpreted for their long-term well-being.

2. To work collaboratively with Audience Engagement, Collections Management and Curatorial teams to facilitate physical, digital and intellectual access to the collections for HE and other groups, and to encourage engagement with the collections by the widest possible learning audiences, including through exhibition, digital media and other means. This will include contributions to ongoing digitisation programmes in relation to content management systems, and the creation of suitable administrative, descriptive and interpretative content to enable this access.

3. To advise and be involved in the development of the collections in accordance with The Hunterian’s strategic development objectives for academic and public engagement, including applying for funding as appropriate.

4. To acquire and keep current a broad and deep subject-related knowledge and provide, as appropriate, expert advice to UoG and related organisations on matters pertaining to the collections, and to participate in national and international activities related to the collections.

5. To facilitate and partner in innovative cross-collections research in the Hunterian collections and to participate actively in international scholarship relating to these collections, including publication in peer-reviewed journals and other media.

6. To develop and sustain forms of engagement with university, local and other stakeholder communities, where possible exploring the relationship between the collections and strategic priorities including colonialism and sustainability.

7. To be the Hunterian lead in laboratory practices relating to microscopy, photomicroscopy and identification, analytical and preparatory techniques (e.g. sectioning, XRD, SEM, pXRF), and their safe management and use in relation to museum collections.

8. To engage with Schools in the University, in particular Geographical and Earth Sciences (GES), maintaining existing teaching and research relationships; initiating and leading on new partnerships across disciplines in order to develop and deliver innovative and multi-disciplinary collections-based teaching and research programmes.

9. To work across the Hunterian to develop new strategies for the future conservation, display and interpretation of the Min/Pet collections; to work collaboratively on public engagement and knowledge exchange programmes, using the collections in innovative ways with colleagues/ researchers/ communities as required.

10. To support The Hunterian’s development of new museum practice including EDI and  decolonial approaches to museum practice and collections work, as part of the Collections & Curatorial team.

Knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience   

Knowledge/qualifications 

Essential: 

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professionally accreditation with relevant formal training) and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s), or ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or related role(s).

A2 Demonstrable knowledge of Min/Pet and related earth sciences.

A3 Fundamental understanding of museum practices and collections work.

A4 Awareness of decolonising approaches to museum practice and collections work.

Desirable: 

B1 Postgraduate qualification in Min/Pet or similar.

B2 An appropriate level of knowledge of current research methods.

Skills 

Essential: 

C1 Expertise in and detailed operational knowledge of preparation, curation and management of a wide range of Min/Pet collections and specimens, to provide hands-on care and maintenance of the collections.

C2 Ability to develop and deliver innovative scholarship and research.

C4 Excellent organisational skills together with time and project management skills, including meeting deadlines and targets.

C5 Ability to work independently and/or collaboratively as part of a team.

C6 Good level of IT competence to maintain collection records.

C7 Excellent oral, interpersonal and written communication skills.

C8 Ability to organise and work with a wide range of stakeholder groups in developing and co-producing information on the collections.

C9 Ability to handle collections safely in line with Health & Safety and standard collections management procedures, assessing risk and making decisions accordingly.

Experience 

Essential: 

E1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles.

E2 Experience of museum database standards.

E3 Collections-based research experience with demonstrable outputs.

E4 Demonstrable experience of working with Min/Pet collections in a museum or similar context.

E6 Experience of working as part of a project team, for both physical and online outputs.

E7 Evidence of working innovatively and collaboratively with colleagues in other disciplines, including in teaching, mentoring or supervisory roles.

Desirable: 

F1 Demonstrable experience of devising and delivering object-based exhibitions and displays.

F2 Demonstrable Higher Education teaching experience both in subject and across disciplines.

F3 Demonstrable experience in supervising staff or volunteers.

F4 Familiarity with principles and practice of EDI in the heritage sector.

Terms and Conditions 

Salary will be Grade 7, £39,347 – £44,263 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and open-ended.

Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension – pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/ , benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/  and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/  for more information.