Museum Scientist 5, Box OCE-1606/27863

Job Description

The New York State Education Department's (NYSED) Office of Cultural Education (OCE) is seeking candidates for a Museum Scientist 5, SG-29 position in the New York State Museum. As the nation's oldest and largest state museum, home to more than 20 million specimens and artifacts and to the New York State Geological Survey (NYSGS), the Museum offers an exceptional platform for scientific research, collections stewardship, statewide service, and public engagement. Reporting to the Director of Research and Collections, the State Geologist leads the NYSGS and oversees the Museum's Geology Department, setting scientific and programmatic priorities, advancing geological research and mapping across New York, stewarding significant collections, building partnerships, and helping shape how the Museum interprets and communicates the geology and landscapes of the state for broad audiences, including children and families.
The New York State Museum is part of the Office of Cultural Education (OCE) within the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Established in 1836, the Museum has a longstanding tradition of research, collections, education, and public service, while the New York State Geological Survey is the nation's oldest continuously operating geological survey. As the Museum expands its reach and advances a major period of renewal, this position offers a rare opportunity to help shape its next chapter through scientific leadership with statewide visibility and lasting public impact.
The successful candidate will provide scientific, administrative, and strategic leadership for the Geological Survey while maintaining an active program of research. The position requires an experienced scientist and manager who can lead staff, secure and administer external funding, oversee mapping and collections, develop strong professional partnerships, and communicate geology effectively to a wide range of audiences. As a senior scientist within a public museum, the State Geologist will also contribute to the Museum's educational and interpretive mission through exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives, and programs for children and families. The successful candidate should be able to translate geological research, collections, and discoveries into engaging and accessible experiences that deepen public understanding of New York's geology and landscapes. Duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Serve as the State Geologist of New York State, carrying out the statutory, scientific, advisory, educational, and public-service responsibilities of the position. Lead the New York State Geological Survey (NYSGS) and the Museum's Geology Department; supervise professional and technical staff; serve as the Department's principal point of contact within the Research and Collections Division; and set research, collections, and programmatic priorities;
• Maintain an active program of original geological research focused on New York State, including field, laboratory, collections-based, and collaborative investigations. Initiate new research and provide scientific direction for work conducted by Geology Department staff, including review of research goals, methods, and outcomes within established Museum priorities;
• Lead and provide scientific oversight for the NYSGS statewide geologic mapping program, including establishing priorities, directing staff assignments, and overseeing cooperative mapping and research projects with federal and State partners, including STATEMAP, the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), and related programs;
• Prepare research findings and reports for publication and broader professional dissemination, including peer-reviewed journal articles, monographs, books, and other scholarly or technical publications that advance understanding of New York State geology; and review and support the publication of work by Geological Survey staff;
• Provide leadership for the stewardship and use of the Museum's geological collections, including developing research and collections policies, promoting collections for research, exhibitions, education, and public programs, and overseeing their care. May serve as curator of a major geological collection, with responsibility for its intellectual integrity and physical stewardship;
• Develop and lead competitive grants and cooperative funding initiatives that advance geological research, mapping, collections, education, and public programs; serve as principal investigator or project lead, as appropriate; and ensure effective stewardship of commitments, budgets, reporting, and deliverables;
• Provide administrative and programmatic oversight for the Geological Survey, including the effective use of staff and resources and the management and tracking of State, Federal, and externally funded expenditures, travel, contracts, purchases, project schedules, and other operational responsibilities necessary to advance departmental priorities and long-term goals;
• Establish and sustain statewide and national scientific and professional partnerships with federal and State agencies, colleges and universities, museums, cultural and educational institutions, and professional geoscience organizations; and represent the NYSM and NYSGS in professional meetings, conferences, committees, and collaborative forums;
• Contribute to the Museum's public-facing, educational, and interpretive work for broad audiences, including children and families, collaborating with Museum colleagues to translate geological research, collections, and discoveries into engaging and accessible exhibitions, public programs, lectures, tours, hands-on activities, teacher workshops, family programs, and other interpretive experiences and;
• Provide geological expertise and information to State agencies, the public, and scientific and educational partners; and contribute to Museum-wide initiatives that advance the missions and public impact of the NYSM and NYSGS.

Minimum Qualifications:
NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
To be considered for appointment candidates must meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:
• Master's degree and five years of professional experience or a doctoral degree and three years of professional experience.
Reassignment: Candidates must have one year of permanent non-competitive or 55b/c service as a Museum Scientist 5.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Preference may be given to candidates who possess the following qualifications:
• Ph.D. in geology or a closely related geoscience field.
• A strong record of original geological research, peer-reviewed publication, and professional accomplishment in the geosciences.
• Significant experience leading and supervising professional scientists and technical staff in research, field, laboratory, mapping, collections, or comparable settings.
• Experience developing and managing competitive grants, cooperative agreements, geological mapping programs, or other complex scientific initiatives.
• Experience in the stewardship, research use, and interpretation of geological collections.
• A record of building effective partnerships and representing a scientific organization with government agencies, academic institutions, professional organizations, and other external partners.
• Ability to communicate geological research and scientific information effectively to broad public audiences, including children and families, through exhibitions, educational initiatives, public programs, or other interpretive work.
• Professional Geologist licensure in New York State, or the ability to obtain New York State licensure.

Requirements

NON-COMPETITIVE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
To be considered for appointment candidates must meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The qualifications are:
• Master's degree and five years of professional experience or a doctoral degree and three years of professional experience.
Reassignment: Candidates must have one year of permanent non-competitive or 55b/c service as a Museum Scientist 5.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Preference may be given to candidates who possess the following qualifications:
• Ph.D. in geology or a closely related geoscience field.
• A strong record of original geological research, peer-reviewed publication, and professional accomplishment in the geosciences.
• Significant experience leading and supervising professional scientists and technical staff in research, field, laboratory, mapping, collections, or comparable settings.
• Experience developing and managing competitive grants, cooperative agreements, geological mapping programs, or other complex scientific initiatives.
• Experience in the stewardship, research use, and interpretation of geological collections.
• A record of building effective partnerships and representing a scientific organization with government agencies, academic institutions, professional organizations, and other external partners.
• Ability to communicate geological research and scientific information effectively to broad public audiences, including children and families, through exhibitions, educational initiatives, public programs, or other interpretive work.
• Professional Geologist licensure in New York State, or the ability to obtain New York State licensure.