Digitising Technical Officer - Talent Pool
Join us at the Australian Museum and help us to achieve our Mission to ignite wonder, inspire debate and drive change
About the Project
The Collection Enhancement Project (CEP) is Australian Museum’s digitisation program, aiming to standardise and streamline digitisation activities across the institution. The CEP is managed within two streams - Natural Science collections and Cultural collections - based on the specialised requirements and expertise needed to digitise such varied collection material. The focus within the Natural Science collections is to digitally register specimens to address legacy data issues, capture high resolution images, and barcode the specimens along with the relevant storage facilities. The aim of Natural Sciences CEP is to improve collection management, audit capabilities, and accessibility of the collections.
About the Role
We are building a talent pool of Digitising Technical Officers to provide technical support to the Museum’s Collection Enhancement Project within the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) Natural Science collections. You will be working closely with collection staff, barcoding staff, and the Collection Systems and DigiVol teams to digitise AM’s collections. Digitising Technical Officers may be required to handle fragile specimens and specimens that are stored in hazardous chemicals. They register specimens through data entry in the museum’s database (EMu) and take images of specimens using a camera system.
Successful applicants will be added to this talent pool, which remains valid for 18 months, and will be considered for future vacancies as they become available.
Employment Status:
* Technical Officer 1/2
* Fixed term, engagement period will vary from a few months up to 4 years
* Full time (35 hours per week) / Part time
Click on the following links to begin the journey to find your new career at the AM
* Role Description
* AM Candidate Pack
You will be paid a competitive annual salary of $69,220 - $101,039, plus employer's contribution to superannuation (currently 12 %) and annual leave loading.
About you
We are seeking Technical Officers with demonstrated knowledge and experience in the appropriate handling and digitisation of Natural Sciences collections in a museum setting.
Knowledge & Experience
* Demonstrated capacity to support collection staff in the maintenance and preparation of the collection for digitisation including the ability to handle fragile specimens and labels and experience in, or willingness to handle hazardous chemicals, including ethanol and formalin. Demonstrated experience in working with collection management systems.
* Demonstrated experience in imaging (e.g. taking high quality photographs) of collection specimens/objects.
* Demonstrated basic knowledge and understanding of the application of Work Health and Safety (WH&S) legislation and regulations.
Essential requirements
* At minimum, TAFE qualifications in a relevant field, or equivalent experience in working with a natural science collection discipline (Arachnology, Entomology, Herpetology, Ichthyology, Malacology, Marine Invertebrates, Mammalogy, Mineralogy, Ornithology or Palaeontology).
About The Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is truly a great place to work. We aim to be a leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth and culture in Australia and the Pacific. We commit to transform the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation; be a strong advocate for First Nations’ culture; and continue to develop world-leading science, collections, exhibitions and education programs.
Recent staff survey results confirm that our staff feel valued, accepted and supported and that they believe the AM is an inclusive workplace. AM staff also report a high level of job satisfaction.
The AM is located on the homelands of the Gadigal people and acknowledges and pays respect to the Gadigal people as the custodians of the land, sky and waterways, paying respect to Elders past and present.
Check out our current exhibitions and events here.
Benefits
Besides working together with other like-minded people, you will have access to professional development and dedicated Wellbeing programs.
How to apply
Applicants must submit (if submitted as attachment, please upload as PDF):
* A one to two page covering letter which addresses the role description’s essential requirements, key knowledge and experience.
* Resume
As part of the online application process, you will be prompted to answer two targeted questions.
* Please outline your experience in working with museum collections, what your role involved and if you have experience with digitising museum collections (including registering, photographing, and/or barcoding specimens). Please include if you have worked with fragile specimens and specimens preserved in hazardous chemicals. (300 words maximum)
* The Australian Museum natural sciences collections consist of millions of specimens across several disciplines. Specimens come in a variety of forms such as mammal skins, pinned insects, and fluid-preserved fish. Please identify what significant challenges may face a technical officer responsible for digitising these collections. (300 words maximum)
Contact person: Rhiannon Stephens, Life Sciences Digitisation Manager,
Inclusive and welcoming
The Australian Museum is an NSW Public Service organisation and aims to attract and retain the right people for the right jobs. The AM is a diverse and inclusive workplace where genuine participation and contribution is enabled, and everyone, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances is valued, accepted and supported to thrive at work.
This means that we are embedding diversity and inclusion in everything we do on a daily basis, whether it be our recruitment processes, workplace culture, career development programs, customer service or policies and procedures. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment process to better enable you to shine, please reach out to the contact person or note this in your application.
Closing date for applications: Sunday, 15 February 2026