Auto req ID
34999BR
Business Title
Biodiversity Informatics Manager
School/Unit
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Sub-Unit
------------
Location
USA - MA - Cambridge
Job Function
Research
Time Status
Full-time
Schedule
Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week
Department
Harvard University Herbaria
Salary Grade
059
Union
00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Duties & Responsibilities
The Harvard University Herbaria (HUH), with more than five million specimens, comprise the world’s largest University herbarium. Research at HUH in evolution, biodiversity, and conservation revolves around the scientific collections and libraries. In recent years, several ambitious projects to digitize the entire HUH holdings have been initiated. At present, 10% of the collections are digitized.
The Biodiversity Informatics Manager at HUH will provide leadership, management, and stewardship of the informatics collections and initiatives. The successful candidate will be responsible for addressing the needs of the academic and scientific community engaged with HUH collections, and the natural history collections more broadly. To meet these needs, the candidate will work with the HUH Director and staff, including a three member biodiversity informatics team, to set priorities and develop plans and initiatives. This may additionally involve interacting with FAS Science Division Research Computing to develop and implement technical solutions.
The Biodiversity Informatics Manager will oversee the development, maintenance, and enhancement of the databases that document the collections and support HUH activities, including library related goals. The candidate will supervise and manage HUH’s digitization activities and oversee the management and sharing of the resulting digital assets. With database and informatics support from Research Computing, the successful candidate will initiate, develop, implement, and manage scientific and academic applications and informatics projects and initiatives to ensure access to and sharing of biodiversity data with the world. Tasks include, but are not limited to: collecting, organizing, and analyzing natural history specimens, spatial modeling, and databasing. The candidate will work with the Director and HUH staff to develop grant proposals for the funding of informatics projects by external agencies, including the National Science Foundation. The person in this position will also act as a liaison to organizations and projects internally, nationally and internationally, including the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture, in which acquisition and delivery of biodiversity information is central.
Basic Qualifications
Masters Degree in botany or a related discipline and five or more years experience in planning, development, and implementation of biodiversity informatics projects. Fluency in at least one programming language is a requirement. Previous experience with highly technical and collaborative projects, including digitization of biological collections and digital media access to collections via databases, digital tools, and websites. Familiarity with at least some of the following: UNIX, HTML, XML, CSS, PHP, SQL, MySQL, ArcGIS, Mac OS X, Windows 7/8, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, WordPress.
Additional Qualifications
Proven ability to lead, manage, and engage a broad constituency is required. Demonstrated knowledge of museum collections and biodiversity informatics preferred. Superior communications skills required. Must be able to work with people with varying degrees of IT expertise.
Additional Information
When applying for this position please submit your resume and cover letter in our preferred format as one combined document (resume followed by cover letter).
All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.
Pre-Employment Screening
Criminal
Identity
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.
Please apply to this job on the Harvard Employment website: http://hr.harvard.edu/jobs/
