Assistant Collections Manager

Assistant Collections Manager

Salary

$46,206.00 - $78,540.00 Annually

Location

Richland County, SC

Job Type

FTE - Full-Time

Job Number

194379

Agency

State Museum Commission

Division

Collections

Opening Date

10/21/2026

Closing Date

11/1/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Agency Specific Application Procedures:

All Applicants Must Apply Online

Class Code:

CE20

Position Number:

61166571

Normal Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday (8:30 - 5:00)

Pay Grade

GEN08

Hiring Range - Min.

$46,000.00

Hiring Range - Max.

$52,000.00

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer

Veteran Preference Statement

South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.

• Description
• Benefits

Job Responsibilities

Are you looking to be part of an innovative team of professionals dedicated to telling South Carolinas diverse stories? As the storytellers of South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) strives to share the rich natural and cultural diversity of the state through its permanent collections, programs, and exhibitions. The SCSM is the largest museum in South Carolina, stewarding over 1.1 million objects and specimens and welcoming 5 million+ visitors over its 37-year history. The museum has embarked on a renovation of 150,000 square feet of its exhibition, programmatic and collection storage spaces occupying four floors of a historic 1890s textile mill on the National Register of Historic Places. Come be a part of our team "reimagining" what the South Carolina State Museum can be for our next generation of visitors, students, and scholars.

The South Carolina State Museum seeks a detail-oriented individual to help manage the physical care of the Natural History collections which tell the fossil and biological stories of South Carolina. Reporting to the Collections Manager, the Assistant Collections Manager for Natural History will work to implement the care of the collection as defined by the Collections Manager. This includes assisting with inventory of the collection, rehousing of specimens, and basic specimen prep. This position will assist the Curator of Natural History with periodic field collection of specimens and will assist with answering inquiries into the Natural History collection. They will assist the Registration staff with the processing of new Natural History acquisitions into the database and collection and will add records to the database on existing collections as needed.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Assist with physical inventory of collection, entry of data into the CMS, and support planning for the re-organization of the collection.
• Assist staff with identifying and accessing collections for exhibition, loan, photography, or research purposes.
• Answer research inquiries regarding the Natural History collection.
• Locate specimens and assist Collections Manager with packing specimens for loan requests.
• Assist with storage improvements to the Natural History collection, including rehousing of existing specimens and incoming acquisitions to better align the collection with industry standards.
• Participate in routine monitoring of collections storage to help maintain a safe environment and ensure appropriate relative humidity and temperature levels. Assist Collections Manager with integrated pest management procedures as needed.
• Create catalog records for new and existing specimens. Label acquisitions and place new specimens into storage.
• Assist Collections Management with creating standardized procedures for processing the Natural History Collection.
• Assist staff with digitization of collection through either 3D scanning or photography.
• Assist with basic prep of specimens as requested by the Curator of Natural History, including the creation of consolidates and creating support cradles for storage and transport.
• Assist with offsite field collections of specimens as requested by the Curator of Natural History.
• Participate in monthly departmental cleaning of the museum.
• Assist with object transportation and exhibition installs.
• Participate in all Foundation and Museum donor tours, fundraising, and outreach as necessary.
• Works cross-disciplinarily in a team atmosphere to achieve the museum's strategic goals.
• All other duties as assigned.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• Bachelors degree from an accredited institution with a focus on vertebrate zoology, skeletal anatomy, or paleontology
• 2-3 years of experience working with standard collections management practices, including object handling
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills; proficient with word processing, spreadsheets (i.e., Excel)
• Experience with collections management software (EMu preferred)
• Proficiency in museum best practices (i.e., collections database management);
• Demonstrated working knowledge in one or more areas of paleontological or biological sciences
• Able to manage and meet deadlines with a strong attention to detail and ability to edit and proofread text without use of spellcheck
• Experience with specimen preparation
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment

Work Environment and Essential Functions

• Have a valid drivers license and be willing to drive vans and box trucks.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and climb on ladders, lifts, and scaffolding with cleaning equipment
• Ability to handle collections safely and securely, including manual dexterity and ability to operate pallet jacks and other low-impact equipment for moving objects and manual dexterity to handle small & fragile specimen
• Ability to bend, stoop, lift fossils in outdoor natural environments
• Comfortable working in tight, dusty, and dirty spaces, and with potentially hazardous materials such as taxidermy and chemicals using provided PPE and training
• Comfortable communicating with lenders, donors, and the public about the functions of collections management, as well as working on specimen prep in a public lab setting

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree in museum studies, vertebrate zoology, skeletal anatomy, or paleontology;
• Experience working in biodiversity collections management, preferably paleontology;
• Intermediate experience with fossil identification and description

Benefits for State Employees

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits

State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits

State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.

Employer State of South Carolina

Agency State Museum Commission Address 301 Gervais Street

Columbia, South Carolina, 29202

Phone 803-898-4939

The language used in this document does not create an employment contract between the employee and the agency. This document does not create any contractual rights or entitlements. The agency reserves the right to revise the content of this document, in whole or in part. No promises or assurances, whether written or oral, which are contrary to or inconsistent with the terms of this paragraph create any contract of employment.