CURATOR, NATURAL HISTORY

Code: 74527I State Competitive Range: R30 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $100,498.48 - $148,186.78/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the direction of the Executive Director of the State Museum, Department of State, plans the overall program and supervises the staff of the Bureau of Natural History; conducts and/or supervises the development and organization of permanent, temporary, and circulating exhibitions, programs, research projects, and publications; assesses, develops, and expands the natural history collections; oversees the care of the natural history collections and scientific specimens on loan to the museum; prepares materials needed for grant, foundation, corporate, and other funding requests as needed; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Acts as a special advisor to the director in natural history research and related matters.
• Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Under direction, plans, organizes, and supervises all natural history research, including ornithology, paleontology, botany, entomology, herpetology, mammology, and physical sciences, geology, astronomy, and marine sciences as required.
• Plans and conducts surveys as a basis for scientific research projects.
• Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of basic science research and other written materials in the field of natural history; supervises the preparation of material for publication.
• Plans and supervises the selection of science subjects and materials for display and programming, and assists in their preparation and design; monitors developments in the natural and physical sciences and submits ideas for museum program and content.
• Makes recommendations for additions, deletions, and exchanges in the collections.
• Supervises collections management.
• Responsible for the accurate description, recording, care, and safeguarding of the museum's collections in natural history; ensures permanent and adequate registration records of all collections under bureau supervision.
• May be required to serve on exhibition research and advisory teams.
• Identifies and/or arranges for the identification of natural history materials referred to the museum for opinions.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships within the bureau and with other bureaus in the museum.
• Prepares special project proposals, including estimates of personnel, equipment, required materials, costs, and other items.
• Prepares the bureau's annual budget, including the required interpretation concerning the needs of various sections within the bureau; maintains bureau expenditure records.
• Advises and assists the Bureau of Education and Public Programs in developing school and public programs in natural history.
• Prepares correspondence.
• Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in a natural or physical science.

Experience

Five (5) years of natural history field and laboratory experience, three (3) years of which shall have involved performing curatorial duties related to collecting, researching, and exhibiting natural history specimens in a museum, college/university, or science center.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of scientific research techniques and methods.
• Knowledge of the physical sciences and basic natural science features of New Jersey.
• Knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to developing natural history collections and exhibitions.
• Knowledge of the methods used to select and prepare science materials for exhibition.
• Ability to supervise assigned staff and plan, organize and implement projects within the unit.
• Ability to organize research and related work, analyze scientific problems, and develop appropriate work methods.
• Ability to work harmoniously with museum staff and outside consultants.
• Ability to coordinate activities with those of other bureaus in the museum.
• Ability to use a collections management system.
• Ability to identify specimens and provide expert advice and assistance to inquirers.
• Ability to prepare project costs and other estimates.
• Ability to prepare correspondence.
• Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and comprehensive bureau reports.
• Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.