Senior Collections Manager

Overview The Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) invites applications for a Science Museum Collection Manager 2 for the Division of Genomic Resources (DGR), a full-time, 12-month staff position at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The ideal candidate will bring a natural history museum background, the technical expertise to manage a cryo-collection, and will welcome opportunities for mentoring, outreach, and collections growth at a research-intensive (Carnegie R1) academic institution. Founded in 1979, DGR is one of the oldest and largest natural history museum frozen tissue collections in the world. Its approximately 700,000 cryovials constitute a frozen time capsule of Earth’s biological heritage—a continuously growing archive of vouchered genetic material drawn from across the Tree of Life. Mammal tissues account for roughly 90% of the collection, with exceptional holdings from western North America, Beringia and East Asia, and Latin America, alongside significant representation of birds, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Comprehensive knowledge of best practices in natural history collections management, encompassing the full lifecycle of holistic specimens — from permitting, field acquisition, and preparation through cataloging, preservation, and long‑term archival stewardship; demonstrated experience managing and linking associated specimen materials across physically or institutionally distributed collections. Familiarity with molecular biology and genomic methods, including DNA/RNA extraction, preservation, and quality assessment, and awareness of the growing range of scientific applications of frozen biological collections (e.g., pathogen surveillance, environmental contaminant research, conservation genomics, isotopic ecology). Proficiency in Arctos ( or a clear commitment to developing it; ability to manage and link specimen parts via object tracking across multiple collections and institutions within this system; willingness to engage with the broader Arctos community and contribute to its ongoing development. Ability to work collaboratively with Collection Managers across all MSB divisions and to coordinate effectively with university facilities management, contractors, and institutional administration on behalf of the collections. Aptitude for identifying and cultivating new collection development opportunities, including partnerships with research programs, long‑term ecological monitoring networks, conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, and other institutions. Experience with biodiversity data aggregators (e.g., iDigBio, GBIF, VertNet) and familiarity with data standards for specimen and tissue records. Ability to develop and implement emergency response protocols for personnel and collection safety; strong organizational, interpersonal, and supervisory skills, including the ability to train and direct student and staff workers and communicate effectively with a diverse range of constituencies. Skill in budget preparation, fiscal management, and grant administration, including tracking facility maintenance expenditures and preparing grant reports. Duties and Responsibilities Manages all aspects of DGR collections care by following and implementing accepted museum and biorepository standards for permitting, acquiring, processing, and cataloging incoming material and associated documentation, data entry, database management, maintenance of systematic order, and routine conservation; develops strategies to upgrade the physical condition of the collection and increase efficiency. Manages the full tissue loan workflow — from subsample selection through preparation, documentation, packaging, and domestic and international shipment; ensures all transactions are accurately recorded in Arctos and that applicable institutional, legal, and biosafety requirements are met for each shipment; tracks the scientific outcomes of loaned material, including monitoring resulting publications and linking loaned samples to associated papers and GenBank accessions in Arctos. Maintains and actively manages DGR specimen and sample records in Arctos, the MSB’s shared collections management system; ensures that tissue samples and other genomic materials are accurately linked to holistic voucher specimens held in other MSB divisions; collaborates with Collection Managers across MSB divisions to resolve data discrepancies, support cross‑collection queries, and advance shared informatics goals. In collaboration with the Curator, proactively identifies and pursues new opportunities to grow the DGR collection, including partnerships with field researchers, long‑term ecological research programs, conservation organizations, government agencies, and other institutions seeking to archive frozen biological material. Fosters and supports the expanding scientific use of the DGR collection across research disciplines, including but not limited to biodiversity systematics, pathogen surveillance and discovery, environmental contaminant research, conservation genomics, and host‑parasite dynamics; serves as a knowledgeable point of contact for researchers exploring new applications of the collection. Serves as the primary facilities steward for the DGR cryogenic infrastructure, including day‑to‑day operational oversight of liquid nitrogen (LN2) storage systems, ultra‑low temperature freezers, chilled water systems, and associated mechanical infrastructure; monitors system performance and responds promptly to equipment malfunctions or emergencies (including after hours); coordinates with UNM Facilities Management, contractors, and MSB administration to ensure proper maintenance and repair. Develops, documents, and regularly reviews emergency response protocols for the cryogenic facility, including procedures for power outages, system failures, fire suppression concerns, and loss of building utilities; ensures that MSB staff, university administration, and relevant contacts are informed of protocols and emergency communication pathways. Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of database applications and participates in long‑term planning for divisional and museum‑wide data management protocols; manages and contributes to the publication of DGR data to national and international biodiversity aggregators. Establishes work priorities and directs staffing to accomplish DGR goals; recruits, trains, and supervises graduate and undergraduate curatorial assistants, volunteers, and technicians as part of their professional development. Maintains professional relationships with the scientific and museum professional community, representing the DGR collections at relevant conferences and through participation in professional societies and working groups. In collaboration with the curator, develops and manages the annual budget, purchases materials and supplies, and manages contracts and grants; maintains records on collection use and growth, and co‑writes the divisional annual report. Conducts public outreach and participates in educational events; works with state, federal, and international agencies and the New Mexico community on issues related to biodiversity research and conservation. Engages in research‑related activities such as editing publications, organizing workshops, supporting collections‑based research, and co‑authoring scholarly publications and reports. Conditions of Employment Possession of a valid New Mexico driver’s license is a requirement for this job. Specialty licensure/certification may be required, as specified by the department. Successful candidate may be subject to a criminal background check prior to starting work. Minimum Qualifications Master’s degree; at least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis. Preferred Qualifications Graduate degree (Ph.D.) in biology, museum studies, or a related field. Experience curating holistic specimens from field acquisition through long‑term archiving; familiarity with preservation protocols (e.g., RNAlater, ethanol, cryogenic methods) and the informatics challenges of linking specimen parts across physically separate collections; field experience collecting and preparing specimens across diverse taxonomic groups. Demonstrated experience building and managing a biodiverse biorepository or frozen tissue collection, including hands‑on oversight of cryogenic storage systems (LN2 dewars, ultra‑low temperature freezers, chilled water infrastructure); interest in cryopreservation innovations and routine maintenance through collaboration with industry and technical staff to sustain and grow the collection. Direct experience with Arctos for collections data management, including specimen and part records across multiple collections; bioinformatics skills relevant to managing genomic data associated with voucher specimens (e.g., sequence archiving, NCBI/GenBank submission, metadata standards); interest in contributing to the broader Arctos community and development. Working knowledge of vertebrate taxonomy and the field of molecular systematics. Experience or demonstrated interest in non‑traditional applications of natural history collections (e.g., pathogen surveillance, environmental contaminant monitoring, conservation genomics); demonstrated ability to cultivate new collection partnerships with research programs, long‑term monitoring networks, or other institutions. Pay Pay Monthly: $4,277.87-$5,144.53 Benefits Benefits Eligible This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for more information. ERB Statement ERB Statement As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid. Background Check Required Yes For Best Consideration Date 7/31/2026 The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre‑employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit Refer to for a definition of Regular Staff. #J-18808-Ljbffr