Specialist Associate, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (One year contract

Job Description

The Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) is Singapore’s only natural history museum located at the National University of Singapore. We are looking for a creative, motivated, independent, and hands-on individual with excellent communication skills to join the Gallery and Facilities team. The role is multidisciplinary and will assist with (1) the maintenance of the museum’s educational ‘Biodiversity’ and ‘Heritage’ Galleries, (2) the museum building and facilities, and (3) provision of basic audio-visual and IT support to the staff.

Responsibilities

Maintenance of the museum gallery including:

1. Maintenance of current exhibits and assist in repairs of physical exhibits to museum standards; experience with a range of tools and materials is desirable.

2. Responsible supervision and coordination of project and maintenance contractors on-site.

3. Assist the Gallery Manager in the creation, curation, development, and delivery of new informative and engaging exhibits, such as temporary exhibitions hosted in the temporary gallery yearly.

4. Aid in the documentation and record-keeping of Collections specimens used for exhibition.

5. Able to design, develop or adjust creative works within the Gallery across a range of media (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator).

6. Assist in ensuring the gallery runs smoothly on some weekends with troubleshooting, and assist front-of-house in the event of any emergencies. Evening and weekend work may be required during installations and openings; to be returned in-lieu.

7. Support the Gallery Team with some procurement, budget, and administrative responsibilities.

8. Assist in facilitating events hosted in the gallery or museum lobby.

Maintenance of the museum building including:

1. Responsible supervision and coordination of contractors on-site for maintenance to satisfactory completion.

2. Assist to perform regular checks on building systems and ensure a safe work environment for staff and visitors.

3. Assist to perform basic troubleshooting on faulty building systems and coordination of repair works.

4. Support the Facilities Team with some procurement, budget, and administrative responsibilities, such as annual Asset Verification exercise.

5. Liaise, coordinate, and engage with both internal and external parties to ensure continued improvement for a modern museum.

6. Adhere to good health and safety practices, policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Assist to provide basic audio-visual and IT support to the staff using museum assets or facilities.

Purpose of Post

The key deliverables will be the support of the gallery maintenance and building maintenance. The museum gallery shares knowledge of natural history with the public and serves as a teaching facility for biology students and for school groups that procure workshops and guided tours with the museum’s Education team.
You will assist with planning and preparing specimens, readying the showcases and prints of exhibit text and graphic displays for the temporary exhibitions hosted in the museum’s temporary gallery, of which there are 1-2 temporary exhibitions per year. You will also assist in maintaining the AV/IT and interactive exhibits that explain scientific concepts to gallery visitors; adjustment and focusing of gallery lighting and replacement of faulty lights.
You will assist with maintenance of the museum building to ensure a safe work environment and support all the staff situated at the building, driving the museum’s mission in research, education, and outreach. Some systems will include the air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation, fire alarm and protection systems, building electrical and plumbing, and so on. You will be trained to monitor the systems and basic troubleshooting; more technical repairs and maintenance will be carried out by specialist contractors appointed by Campus Asset Management (CAM) or by the museum; you will supervise the contractors as they perform their duties on-site.

Qualifications

• GCE ‘O’ level, GCE ‘N’ level, or Diploma holders or equivalent.

• An understanding of the building/museum sector or in visitor/heritage attractions is desirable.

• Good English communication skills in both writing and speaking, adaptable in conversing.

• Must not be afraid of seeing and handling dead animals and preserved specimens.

• Demonstrate ability of having fine hand motor skills for handling specimens without damaging them.

• Willing to perform hands-on tasks and utilize various equipment and tools.

• Able to work in a team and independently.

• Able to coordinate and supervise contractors.

• Open to learning new skills and assist in regular facilities checks.

• Able-bodied to perform building-wide checks, able to climb ladders. Able to lift loads of up to 15kg.

• Must not be afraid of moderate heights (for work carried out above ground level).

• Must be willing to perform fire-response duties, such as being part of the museum’s Company Emergency Response Team (CERT).

• Able to use Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

• Photoshop and Illustrator skills are desirable.

• Must be able to work on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) & Public Holidays on a shift basis; and occasional irregular hours (e.g., special events) as required.

• Has no known allergies to ethanol, mothballs (naphthalene or 1,4-dichlorobenzene), and formaldehyde.

• Willing to attend relevant courses for upskilling and lifelong learning.

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Science

Department: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Employee Referral Eligible:

Job requisition ID: 27558