The Royal
Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada’s pre-eminent international museum and houses important
collections in World Cultures and Natural History (www.rom.on.ca). The ROM is currently
developing a new permanent palaeontology gallery to open in conjunction with
its centenary celebrations in 2013. Highlighting the ROM’s superb fossil
collections, along with new and ground-breaking research, the landmark exhibits
of the gallery of Early Life will convey the rich, complex and immensely long
story of evolving life on our dynamic planet. Covering more than 3.5 billion
years of evolution, the Gallery of Early Life will complete the temporal and conceptual
integration of all Level 2 Natural History exhibits, leading from the Teck
Suite of Galleries: Earth’s Treasures, and connect directly to the James and
Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs, the Reed Gallery of the Age
of Mammals, and ultimately to the Schad Gallery of Biodiversity: Life in
Crisis.
The ROM is
pleased to invite applications for the position of Contract Assistant Curator –
Content Coordinator, to assist with the development of the new Gallery of Early
Life. This is a full-time position with an initial one year contractural term,
beginning April 1, 2013, with possible extension. The successful applicant will
join the Invertebrate Palaeontology section of the ROM’s Department of History.
She/he will assist the ROM curatorial team of invertebrate and vertebrate
palaeontologists in the development and coordination of content for the new gallery.
Working closely with the Lead Curator of the project and with an Interpretive
Planner, the successful applicant will help research and develop the story
lines of the exhibit, verify scientific accuracy of content, and compile and
edit text and audio-visual elements. A major component of the gallery project
will involve linking with multimedia companies to develop new immersive digital
resources (interactive stations, augmented reality, etc.
The
successful applicant will function as liaison between the Project Manager, the
Curatorial Team, interpretive planning, exhibit design, and translation
services. She/he will also assist with the development and implementation of
gallery programming, working with ROM Education and Programs. Qualifications:
Applicants must hold a minimum of a Master’s degree in Biology or Geology at the
time of appointment and be familiar with a range of Palaeozoic ecosystems. A
strong background in one or more of palaeobiology, biogeographic theory and
methodology, palaeobotany, and earth-climate systems is a requisite. A history
of research and peer-reviewed publication on aspects of Palaeozoic
palaeoecology is preferred.
Candidates
with prior experience in gallery development will be given priority.
Proficiency in spoken and written French is desirable. Strong organizational
and interpersonal skills and the ability to work under tight deadlines in a
stressful environment is required. 2 - Salary: Salary and years in rank are
commensurate with experience, as stipulated in the Collective Agreement between
the ROM and ROM Curatorial Association ($58903 - $72,317 per annum). Applications
for the position will be accepted until March 7, 2013. All qualified candidates
are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be
given priority. Applicants should provide a letter of interest detailing their
research interests and projects, a curriculum vitae, two published/scholarly
writing samples, and should arrange to have up to three confidential letters of
recommendation sent on their behalf. Forward all to: Royal Ontario Museum,
Human Resources Department 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2C6 Fax
# 416-586-5827 or E-mail:humanresources@rom.on.ca
