About the position

The museum is looking for a diligent and engaged new staff member, to complete important technical tasks in the palaeontological collections. These collections include 1.7 million fossils and sedimentary rocks. The historical collections go back to the early 1800s.

A revitalising of the collection started in 2004, has resulted in the Museum having the largest collections from Mesozoic of Svalbard in the world, with a focus on marine reptiles.

Work tasks

The tasks will include preparation and conservation of invertebrate and vertebrate fossils, particularly from Svalbard and the Oslo Region. Tasks will also involve routine collection work, maintenance of the collections, data registration, conservation, loans ect. The area of responsibility will be in the prep labs at Økern, the Natural History Museum’s (NHM) collection and laboratory facility for geology and paleontology. The work will be completed in close collaboration with NHM curators and researchers. The position is in the section for conservation and research technics (SKF), which has the responsibility for technical support of laboratory and collection work.

We can offer modern labs for preparation technics such as sand blasting, chemical conservation and preparation, airscribes, rock saws and polish facilities for acetate-peels.

The museum is revitalising the exhibits in Tøyen and will in 2022 open the new geological and paleontological exhibits in Brøgger’s House. The new employee will contribute to installing the exhibits and maintain the objects on display. This is large and difficult task, which will take up a significant amount of time the next couple of years.

Work tasks:

• Conservation and preparation of material in the museum’s paleontological collections
• Digitising and photographing collection specimens
• Leadership skills, training students and some outreach
• Preventative measures and assessment of collection conditions
• Build and document best practice manuals
• Contribute to the development, productive and maintenance of the museum exhibits

It is expected that the candidate will keep updated on techniques, material knowledge, procedures and relay this knowledge. The work with the collections will include manual and routine labour as will some heavy lifting.

If needed, the employee can be allocated to additional tasks related to the NHM collections.

Qualification requirements

Required:

• Education in conservation of natural history collections, at minimum, bachelor-level. Work experience related to the position can compensate for the education requirement
• Documented relevant work experience in macro fossil conservation and preparation
• Good communication skills both written and oral in English and Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language)
• Applicants who do not master a Scandinavian language at the time of appointment are given a deadline of two years to learn Norwegian

Desirable qualifications:

• Documented field experience from palaeontological or archaeological excavations
• Work experience from a museum or natural history collection
• Knowledge of material chemistry
• Knowledge of health, safety and environment (HSE) work in labs

Personal skills

• Likes to work with others to reach a common goal
• Can work well independently
• Can collaborate with people from other subjects
• Has good communication skills
• Is structured and systematic
• Takes initiative and is solution orientated

We offer

• salary NOK 482 200 – 535 200 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as Principal Engineer (position code 1085). For particularly qualified applicants the code SKO 1087 Head Engineer and higher salary can be considered.
• An exciting and friendly work environment with a lot of autonomy over your own work day
• Flexible work hours and employee benefits at the University of Oslo

How to apply

The application must include:

• application letter with information about your motivation for the position, description of background and interests
• CV with information about education and work experience, with a focus on relevant experience
• copies of diplomas and certificates
• list of reference persons: 2 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our recruiting system.

Formal regulations

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength.

The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. We also want to have employees with diverse expertise, combinations of subjects, life experience and perspectives. We will make adjustments for employees who require this.

If there are qualified applicants with special needs, gaps in their CVs or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant in each of these groups to an interview.

Contact information

• Section leader: Jon Lønnve, Telephone numer: +47 47805076 , email: jon.lonnve@nhm.uio.no
• Scientific questions: Prof. Jørn H. Hurum: j.h.hurum@nhm.uio.no

Questions about the recruitment process should be directed to HR advisor Thomas Brånå: thomas.brana@nhm.uio.no.

Apply for position