Finishing Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Skulls Unlimited International, Inc. is the world's leading supplier of ethically sourced osteological specimens. Since 1986, we have provided real and replica skulls, skeletons, and osteological materials to educational, medical, research, and museum communities around the world.

We are looking for a detail-oriented, hands-on Finishing Technician to join our Processing Division . This position performs the final steps of our production process, including gluing, tooling, staining, quality control, and specimen repair. The right person will be comfortable working in a processing environment that includes deceased animal specimens, chemicals, strong odors, and wet work areas. The role also requires excellent attention to detail, manual dexterity, and the ability to follow established procedures with minimal supervision.

About the Role

This position handles the final stage of our skull cleaning production process, preparing finished specimens for display and shipment. Duties may include sorting incoming skulls, identifying specimens ready for finishing, gluing teeth and delicate bones, tooling and dusting, staining, specimen repair, final quality control, and customer write-ups.

Work is performed according to standard procedures as prescribed in the finishing tech guide, with daily priorities set by the Skull Processing Operations Manager. This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

This is a great fit for someone who is precise, patient, and interested in hands-on work involving animal anatomy, specimen preparation, or taxidermy-style processes.

Key Responsibilities :

Inventory Management

• Sort incoming skulls.
• Identify specimens ready to be finished and report any specimens that need further cleaning based on set guidelines.
• Identify specimens that do not conform with standard practices and notify the supervisor.

Finishing

• Perform final steps on specimens to ensure they are ready for display.
• Glue teeth, premaxes, and nasal bones.
• Tool any remaining tissue and dust skulls.
• Stain specimens if applicable.
• Repair damage to skulls using a variety of materials.
• Perform quality control on finished specimens prior to shipment.

General Duties

• Communicate with the supervisor to identify daily production finishing duties.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area.
• Conduct customer write-ups and verify all information is correctly entered as necessary.
• Assist with other aspects of shop production as time and duties permit.
• Follow safety and quality procedures to protect employees and specimen quality.
• Help maintain the cleanliness of shared and common areas used by all staff.

Work Environment

This is a hands-on production role in a processing shop. Employees are frequently exposed to chemicals, foul odors, wet or slippery floors, and deceased animals. Candidates must be comfortable working in this type of environment before applying.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and move throughout the work area during the workday.
• Ability to perform repetitive fine hand motions and detailed work using small tools and materials.
• Ability to lift and/or move specimens and materials weighing up to 75 pounds, with reasonable accommodations.
• Ability to communicate and exchange information with coworkers and supervisors.
• Ability to safely handle chemicals, biological material, and finishing and repair materials in accordance with safety procedures.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Strong attention to detail and thoroughness.
• Ability to follow standard work procedures without constant supervision.
• Good time management skills.
• Ability to work safely, efficiently, and professionally.
• Ability to work well with a team.
• Comfort working with deceased animal specimens and processing-related odors/conditions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous production, processing, taxidermy, or similar hands-on experience.
• Basic knowledge of animal anatomy.
• Experience with detailed handwork such as model building, restoration, or repair work.
• Experience with specimen finishing or quality control.

Position Type and Hours

This is a full-time position. Hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 40 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. No regular travel is required for this position.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is precise, patient, and detail-driven, with the steady hands and focus that finishing work requires. This person should be able to work well with a team, stay organized, follow established procedures closely, and remain comfortable in a physically demanding and often messy production environment.

Why Join Skulls Unlimited?

Skulls Unlimited is a one-of-a-kind company with a mission rooted in education, science, and ethical specimen preparation. Our team works hard, learns continuously, and takes pride in producing high-quality osteological specimens used by educators, researchers, museums, and collectors around the world.

Apply Today

If you are comfortable with hands-on animal specimen work, detailed finishing tasks, and a physically demanding production environment, we encourage you to apply.

Skulls Unlimited: Established 1986
The backbone of our business, Skulls Unlimited offers real and replica skulls and skeletons to customers worldwide. We serve educational institutions, museums, and collectors, ensuring each specimen meets the highest quality standards.

Company Description

Skulls Unlimited: Established 1986\r\nThe backbone of our business, Skulls Unlimited offers real and replica skulls and skeletons to customers worldwide. We serve educational institutions, museums, and collectors, ensuring each specimen meets the highest quality standards.