Collections Manager in Botany – Natural History Museum of Denmark

The Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, is seeking a permanent, full-time position for a Collections Manager in botany, starting 1 June 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The candidate will be part of a diverse Collections Management Team across the museum and will refer to the Head of the Geology and Botany Unit.

The successful candidate will join the botany team and be responsible for the day-to-day management of the herbarium collections, including their physical care loan administration, maintenance, and security. Demonstrated knowledge, and experience working with bryophytes and/or vascular plants, will be an advantage.

The collections at the NHMD are managed by the museum’s curators and collections staff in close collaboration with the Unit Leader and the museum’s Deputy Director for Collections. The collections managers are responsible for the practical management of the collections, while the museum’s scientific curators are responsible for the scientific curation. The position is not a research position and does not include any research opportunities or obligations.

Ideal candidates will share a passion for nature, and the long-term preservation of natural history collections.

The botanical collections at NHMD (Index Herbariorum: C) comprise around 3.5 million specimens within vascular plants, bryophytes, algae, fungi and lichens, with the oldest specimens dating to the 1600s. It houses significant historical and international collections, as well as collections from Denmark and Greenland. The collections include subcollections of fluid preserved specimens, book herbaria, microscopic slides, seeds, wood and cones, in addition to traditional specimens in sheets and capsules.

The bryophyte collection of about 350,000 specimens is particularly strong on Danish and arctic (Greenland) material but also contains material from all over the world. To read more about the botanical collections, see here: https://samlinger.snm.ku.dk/en/dry-and-wet-collections/botany/.

NHMD is currently working on a high-profile new museum project (see below and https://snm.dk/da/nyt-museum), which involves entirely new buildings and galleries, which will open to the public in spring 2027. Therefore, the successful candidate will be expected to select objects for, and to advise on development of, this and other upcoming public exhibitions. Due to the new museum project, participation in planning and moving of collections is also expected in coming years.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring the physical care, maintenance, preservation, and security of the collections.
• Improving and updating the physical organization and storage conditions of the collections.
• Processing incoming and outgoing specimens and/or material, including donations, exchanges and loans, including associated permits and documentation.
• Documenting the collection through digitization, including entering and updating database records in the collection management system (Specify).
• Dedicating 20% of the working week to assisting with the DaSSCo mass-digitization project.
• Assisting in planning and overseeing digitization of the collections, making datasets available on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database (GBIF) as well as for the broader public via the museum collection portal (www.collections.snm.ku.dk)
• Participating in the rehousing of collections, as necessary.
• Staying current in modern techniques in collections maintenance and database management.
• Working cooperatively with other collection management and museum staff, including curators, to achieve the highest level of collection care and productivity across organizational units.
• Providing service to scientific guests and supervising and training visitors, students and volunteers.
• Supporting the planning and preparation of temporary and permanent exhibits.

Desirable qualifications and skills:

• Knowledge of biology equivalent to a Master’s degree in biology, natural history conservation (conservator) or a comparable field. Other relevant expertise and knowledge about nature and natural history collections will also be a suitable background.
• Work experience in day-to-day management of natural history or other biological collections.
• Working knowledge of taxonomy, systematics, and natural history of bryophytes and/or vascular plants.
• Working knowledge of Specify will be an advantage.
• Experience with botanical specimen preparation.
• Ability to work effectively independently as well as collaboratively.
• Ability to learn and develop new skills related to specimen and data management.
• Good communication skills.
• Good computer skills.
• An understanding of relevant international compliance procedures regarding import, export, and shipping of scientific specimens.
• Fluency in English (spoken and/or written).
• Fluency in Danish (spoken and/or written), or willingness to learn Danish as a working language within five years.
• Driver’s license valid in Denmark.

About us
Natural history museums have never been more important. The impact of climate change and anthropogenic forces on biodiversity has reached a critical point. We need action to build a more sustainable relationship with nature. The Natural History Museum Denmark is the national museum for nature. We work to empower citizens to connect with nature with the aim of creating positive change for people and planet. We want to inspire, engage, and enable people to enjoy, understand, and care for the diversity of the natural world.

We are currently building a new national museum for nature. One big museum site, in the Botanical Garden, in the center of Copenhagen, will host state-of-the-art laboratories, outstanding research collections, new public galleries, and combined facilities for programming, education, and citizen science. It is an ambition for the museum to enhance natural history and inspire curiosity, knowledge, and empowerment for the future.

Terms of salary and employment
Employment as academic employee is made in accordance with the Circular on the Collective Agreement concerning academics in the state sector concluded between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations), or the Collective Agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Organisations of Public Employees – governmental institutions (the OAO-S collective agreement) and the Professional Agreement for clerical employees, laboratory technicians and IT-officers in the state.

The salary is based on education and seniority. It is possible to negotiate additional salary according to documented previous experience and special qualifications.

The working hours are 37 hours per week on average. The specific working hours have some flexibility.

Application
Applications should be written in English and submitted electronically with a CV plus documentation for education and eventually letters of reference.

The application should be submitted no later than 27 March 2026 at 11:59 PM CET. Only electronic applications are accepted. Interviews are expected to take place in week 17 or 18.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender or personal background.

Further information
More information about the position can be obtained from Head of Geology and Botany Collections, Christian Lange (christianl@snm.ku.dk). General information about the Natural History Museum of Denmark can be found on our website www.snm.ku.dk

The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen – or SCIENCE – is Denmark's largest science research and education institution with 4,000 employees and 9,700 Bachelor and Master's students in 11 departments and one museum. The Faculty has an annual budget of DKK 3 billion.

Learn more about The Faculty of Science at www.science.ku.dk.