The Cable Natural History Museum’s naturalist/curator position requires curiosity, active engagement with projects, professionalism, independent initiative, effective communication skills with children and adults, and a desire to work with animals. The primary roles of the naturalist/curator are to educate the public about the environment and natural history of Northwestern Wisconsin; foster a commitment to the protection of the natural environment; care for the museum’s education raptors, herps and other living collections; manage the Museum’s collections including accessioning and cataloging, maintaining a computer database, storage, maintenance and environmental control and monitoring; and facilitate the growth and long-term care of live and mounted collections. The naturalist/curator will also coordinate the Junior Naturalist program.

Responsibilities include animal care, teaching, public speaking, writing, giving scientific and ecological demonstrations, and handling public relations and administrative tasks. The naturalist/curator will work in a variety of environments, including the museum, local school classrooms, and outdoors on nature trails, rivers, lakes and various locations within the Chequamegon National Forest. This position requires the ability to physically engage students and Museum visitors in indoor and outdoor activities throughout all seasons of the year.

Responsibilities:
– Facilitate care of Museum collections, including monitoring environmental controls, specimen quality, preservation methods, and cataloging.
– Facilitate care of the Museum’s education raptors, including maintaining current permits, feeding, and training both animals and volunteer caregivers and educators.
– Facilitate care and educational use of the Museum’s living reptile, amphibian and insect collections.
– Interpret the Museum’s collections and exhibits (indoors and out) to Museum visitors.
– Coordinate the Junior Naturalist day camp program. It is held Tuesdays and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon for six weeks in the summer.
– Supervise summer naturalist interns as they lead the Junior Naturalist program.
– Plan and carry out educational programs and create auxiliary materials related to the museum’s collections and educational goals for groups of all ages.
– Implement citizen science research projects (Christmas Bird Count, Annual Crane Count, etc.)
– Provide information about museum programs and topics of regional environmental interest.
– Answer visitors’ questions related to the environment and natural history.
– Welcome, greet and interact with museum visitors.
– Plan, schedule and teach in the MuseumMobile Program designed for outreach to area schools.
– Co-plan the museum calendar of events.
– Implement docent training to enhance the experience of museum visitors.
– Care for the museum’s outdoor classroom. Recruit and train volunteers to carry out maintenance.
– Contribute to the Museum Newsletter, write articles and serve as photographer when needed.
– Monitor collections-related sections of the museum’s website, including responding to questions submitted to the site.
– Monitor and maintain, with the help of interns and volunteers, the Forest Lodge Nature Trail. Maintain a partnership with the U.S. Forest System as it relates to this trail.
– Assist in creating and maintaining area trail maps and Museum brochures and coordinating with Museum partners to ensure communication materials (websites, brochures, etc.) are linked.
– Uphold the Best Standards and Practices for Museum Education.
– Participate in opportunities for growth in the field of environmental education and natural history museum evolving trends.
– Write natural history essays for the Northwoods Natural History Page and Visitor Guide.

Successful candidate will possess:

– Animal care and training skills.
– Strong organizational skills.
– Supervisory experience.
– Desire to be active and engaged in the community.
– Enthusiasm for meeting new people and welcoming visitors.
– Ability to work despite interruptions.
– Commitment to meeting deadlines.
– Experience teaching groups of children, and proficiency in behavior management.
– Up-to-date computer skills.

This position has the following professional requirements:

– Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences or outdoor education; master’s degree preferred.
– 2 to 5 years teaching in formal or informal environments.
– Familiarity with the dynamics of a formal education setting.
– Experience working with raptors (certification as raptor educator a plus).
– Natural History Collections curator experience and skills or the willingness to learn them.

Salary and Benefits:

The Cable Natural History Museum offers salary commensurate with experience and responsibilities of this position. Health stipend and a Simple IRA Plan are also offered. Temporary housing for the successful candidate and his/her family is available in a museum-owned property, the Jackson Burke House, for the first eight weeks of employment. Long-term housing may be available through rental agreement. We welcome the candidate to view our website at cablemuseum.org and to check out our wonderful community and natural surroundings at www.cable4fun.com.

Application Process:

Send or email a complete resume, a letter describing why you believe you have the skills and experience to be a successful, effective museum naturalist/curator, a one-page natural history writing sample, and three references with phone numbers and address to:

Deb Malesevich-Nelson
Museum Director
Cable Natural History Museum
P. O. Box 416
Cable, WI 54821
deb @ cablemuseum.org

Application deadline: Jan. 31, 2015

The museum will notify you by email when your application has been received. Position decisions will be communicated when filled. Successful candidate will begin active employment as soon as possible.