Job Details

Herbarium Manager - Biology

Position Number: 6483585
Location: Orem, UT
Position Type: Science - Biology

Herbarium Manager - Biology

Salary: $62,542.00 - $73,579.00 Annually
Job Type: FT Exempt Salaried Staff
Job Number: FY2604765
Closing: 10/15/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
Location: 800 W University Parkway, Orem
Division: VP Academic Affairs

Position Announcement

The Department of Biology invites applications for a full-time Herbarium Manager position to begin as soon as September 2025. We seek an exceptional candidate with expertise in plant systematics, taxonomy, or a related field, and a strong interest in managing and developing herbarium collections.

The successful candidate will serve as Manager of the Utah Valley University Herbarium (UVSC), overseeing the maintenance, expansion, and digitization of the collection, its integration with SeiNET and other herbaria consortia, and integrating it into teaching and research. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to undergraduate mentorship, collaborative scholarship, collection of specimens, and proper maintenance of the herbarium collection and database.

UVU is committed to preparing all students for success in an increasingly complex, diverse, and globalized society. We value and promote collegial relationships and mutual respect among students, faculty, staff, and the community. We acknowledge and seek to address the needs of populations who are underserved, as well as students with varying levels of academic preparation. As such, we encourage applicants from all backgrounds who are eager to help construct and maintain a welcoming culture within biology education and research, and who act with resolute commitment to eliminate barriers to college access, success, and completion. UVU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer.

Utah Valley University is the largest public university in the state of Utah, with over 40,000 undergraduate students, and one of a few in the US offering a dual-mission model that combines the rigor and richness of a first-rate teaching university with the openness and vocational programs of a community college. As an open-enrollment institution, UVU serves a varied population that includes many working, non-traditional (24+ years old), and first-generation students. The university community comprises people from different cultural and religious backgrounds and is actively involved in interfaith and intercultural activities. UVU provides an abundance of resources for both teaching and scholarly activities, such as certifications and workshops through our Office of Teaching and Learning, and a plethora of internal funding opportunities at the University, College, and Departmental levels. Additionally, UVU offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, an excellent retirement program in addition to base salary, and free parking and public transportation passes.

UVU is located in Orem, Utah, at the foot of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. We are centrally located along public transportation, which spans from Provo to Ogden, including Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City has a bustling food and arts scene, an international airport, and access to multiple professional sports teams. Along the entire Wasatch Front, you are always within 30 minutes of hiking, skiing, and other outdoor recreational activities, along with a variety of family-friendly entertainment options, including Red Butte Botanical Gardens, Hogle Zoo, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, and the nature discovery museums and gardens at Thanksgiving Point. Additionally, UVU is within four hours of six national parks and has the highest concentration of dark sky parks anywhere in the world.

Summary of Responsibilities

Prepares and maintains accurate records, reports, and documentation related to specimen loans, acquisitions, inventory, and herbarium activities. Implements and maintains herbarium curation protocols and procedures, including specimen preparation, labeling, mounting, databasing, and storage.
Secures and maintains plant collection permits in collaboration with relevant agencies under faculty or departmental direction.
Maintains the Virtual Herbarium database and web page. Enters plant specimen collection data into the computer database.
Assists with grant writing and reporting to support herbarium operations and student employment under the direction of faculty or the department chair.
Coordinates the maintenance and organization of the herbarium collection, ensuring its preservation and accessibility for instructional and research use.
Assists faculty in integrating the herbarium into instruction and research activities by preparing materials, maintaining specimen availability, and supporting course-related needs.
Supervises, trains, and schedules student employees and volunteers involved in herbarium curation and collection management tasks.
Maintains herbarium budget records and assists with purchasing and tracking supplies, materials, and equipment necessary for herbarium operations. Maintains herbarium facilities and equipment in conjunction with the Biology Department, arranging for repairs and ensuring cleanliness and safety standards. Orders and inventories supplies, equipment, and materials necessary for herbarium functions.

Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications

Graduation from an accredited institution with a master's degree in a related discipline plus one year of staff level experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience related to the Summary of Duties totaling seven years.

Preferred Qualifications
Ph.D. in Botany or closely related field. Museum curation. Writing grants, protocols, strategic plan, MOU. Familiarity with the plants of Utah, the collection, organization and maintenance of plant collections and computer databases. M.Sc. will be considered if other qualifications are met.

Documents Needed to Apply
Required:

Curriculum Vitae
Cover Letter
Herbarium Vision Statement - A statement that includes a plan for running a herbarium incorporating undergraduates and addressing the feasibility of that vision at a primarily undergraduate institution. In addition, the statement should address how a mentor creates a welcoming and engaging environment for both students and the community.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Knowledge

Knowledge of high-quality museum curation techniques, museum management, writing grant documents regarding legal connections with outside entities, MOU, strategic plan writing, digital curation of computer databases, plant species identification, plant specimen collection, stabilization, storage, and cataloging.
Current knowledge of plant systematics and herbarium direction and management.
Familiarity with the plants of the Intermountain West, the collection, organization, and maintenance of plant collections, and computer databases.
Experience and/or training in vascular plant identification, collections, and herbarium management to include standard operating procedures for processing of specimens from drying to mounting, preserving specimens, pest control, processing of loans and gifts, etc.
Demonstrable knowledge of the theory and practice of botany and research methods in the field of natural history collections.
Experience in managing databases and accessing herbaria networks, such as SEINet.
A record of effective verbal and written communication, and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.

Skills

Skills in museum curation, writing museum protocol, grant writing, museum management, digital database curation, plant species identification, plant specimen collection, curation, storage, and accessioning high-resolution photography, plant species identification, plant specimen collection, stabilization, storage, and cataloging.

Abilities

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, work with multiple collaborators and students, and coordinate with state and national private and government organizations involved in the identification and management of plant species.
Strong ability to make connections with other institutions to widen the UVSC academic platform.
The ability, desire, and skills to mentor undergraduates in student research and/or museum curation experiences.

EEO Statement:

UVU employment decisions are made on the basis of an applicant's qualifications and ability to perform the job without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 and over), disability, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or other bases protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/uvu/jobs/5047593/herbarium-manager-biology

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