Geoscience Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary:
The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is seeking a Data Management Specialist to support fossil collections in the Department of Paleobiology. This role involves collaborating with staff to enhance collections discoverability through data management and digitization initiatives.
Responsibilities:
• Participates in digitization projects for natural history collections by coordinating with stakeholders and team collaborators and contributing to project planning, workflow development, evaluation, and implementation and by performing data capture, transcription, data processing, and data migration activities, ensuring accuracy and consistency of provided information or information derived from primary sources such as object labels, field books, ledgers, publications, and research data.
• Applies established methodologies to capture and transform collections data into structured digital formats and assists in evaluating and improving digitization workflows, tools, and techniques, including text extraction, data parsing, and automated capture processes.
• Assists with the management, migration, and integration of data and digital assets into institutional systems of record (e.g. EMu, the NMNH collections information system, and DAMS, the Smithsonian Digital Asset Management System), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and consistency of records and assists with data mobilization and access initiatives.
• Supports data enhancement efforts, including georeferencing, alignment with external authority sources, integration and use of identifiers, implementation of data standards, and application of controlled vocabularies.
• Participates in tracking, documenting, and reporting project activities and outcomes, including specimen organization and movement in collections, ensuring accurate recordkeeping and accountability.
• Supports staff in developing data-oriented projects by advising on workflows, tools, and best practices, including equipment setup, digitization and data management activities, and proper use of NMNH data systems.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university and/or 3-5 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working in data-oriented roles in natural history collections.
• Experience in collections information management and digitization sufficient to support the capture, organization, enhancement, and dissemination of natural history collections data.
• Experience with digitization workflows, including transcription of primary source materials (e.g., specimen labels, field notes, and archival documentation), data parsing, and transformation of unstructured information into standardized digital formats.
• Experience with data enhancement techniques such as georeferencing, validation of taxonomic and stratigraphic concepts, application of identifiers, alignment with primary data standards (e.g. Darwin Core), and application of FAIR data principles.
• Knowledge of natural history collections practices and museum standards, particularly related to paleobiology, biodiversity, and geoscience materials.
• Knowledge of principles and practices related to museum collections documentation, metadata creation and management, and the use of collections information systems and digital asset management systems (e.g., EMu, DAMS) to store, manage, and retrieve data and associated digital files.
• Knowledge of institutional and international data standards and best practices, including controlled vocabularies, authority data sources, and structured data frameworks used in biodiversity and geoscience informatics.
• Experience with data quality management techniques, including validation, normalization, and reconciliation of inconsistent or incomplete data.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with team members, stakeholders, and external partners in support of project goals.
• Knowledge of training and oral communication techniques, sufficient to provide technical guidance and training to staff, interns, and volunteers on data management procedures, systems use, and standards compliance.
Company:
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute leads the Smithsonian's global efforts to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Founded in 1889, the company is headquartered in Washington, DC, US, , with a team of 201-500 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.