{"id":1431791,"url":"https://alion.io/job/discoverycube-fossil-lab-manager","title":"Fossil Lab Manager","company":{"id":720003,"name":"Discoverycube","domain":"discoverycube.org","url":"https://alion.io/company/discoverycube-2","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":"junior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Santa Ana, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":80000,"max":90000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":90000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-29T00:22:38Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-29","last_verified_at":"2026-10-01T09:06:16Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"Come join the fun and make a difference with Discovery Cube! For over 25 years, we've been inspiring kids and educators alike with our hands-on science education initiatives and interactive exhibits. Our four core initiatives - STEM proficiency, early childhood education, healthy living, and environmental stewardship - are future-forward in promoting life-long-learning. Plus, with our immersive campuses in Orange County and Los Angeles, as well as our educational outreach programs, there are endless opportunities for learning exploration. As a prominent advocate for modern science education, we believe in empowering our learners with real-world applications and spotlighting science as a solution and force for good. Don't miss out on the excitement and join our important mission today!\nPosition:\nDiscovery Cube Orange County is seeking a knowledgeable, engaging, and highly organized DinoQuest Fossil Lab Manager to oversee the day-to-day operation of the DinoQuest Fossil Lab. The Fossil Lab functions as both a working preparation and research environment and a public-facing space where guests can observe and learn about paleontology in action.\nThe Fossil Lab Manager is responsible for the preparation, conservation, documentation, and preservation of fossil specimens while providing operational leadership for the lab. This position establishes and maintains laboratory standards, prioritizes preparation projects, oversees laboratory equipment and materials, and provides day-to-day direction, training, and mentorship to interns and volunteers.\nIn addition to advanced technical fossil preparation work, the Fossil Lab Manager plays an active role in informal science communication and ensures the lab provides a consistent, engaging, and educational experience for Discovery Cube guests.\nResponsibilities:\nFossil Lab Operations & Leadership\nOversee the day-to-day operations of the DinoQuest Fossil Lab, ensuring preparation, conservation, documentation, safety, and public engagement activities are carried out effectively.\nPrioritize and coordinate specimen preparation projects based on research, exhibition, educational, and organizational needs.\nEstablish, maintain, and reinforce laboratory procedures and standards related to fossil preparation, conservation, documentation, specimen handling, and safety.\nProvide day-to-day direction, training, mentorship, and technical guidance to interns and volunteers, including assigning work and monitoring quality and progress.\nManage laboratory equipment, tools, materials, and supplies, including coordinating routine maintenance, identifying replacement needs, and supporting purchasing and inventory control.\nMaintain an organized, safe, professional, and guest-ready laboratory environment.\nFossil Preparation, Conservation & Documentation\nPerform advanced manual and mechanical preparation of fossil specimens using microscopes and specialized fossil preparation tools and equipment.\nProduce high-resolution molds using silicone rubber or other appropriate materials to capture fine anatomical detail for scientific research and educational use.\nProduce research-quality casts using epoxy resin and other appropriate materials for comparative analysis, research, education, and exhibition purposes.\nApply appropriate conservation techniques and materials to stabilize, preserve, repair, and protect fossil specimens.\nEnsure the accuracy and integrity of specimen preparation records, research data, photographs, treatment documentation, and digital archives.\nSupport the digitization, organization, and long-term maintenance of fossil records and related documentation.\nPublic Engagement & Education\nCoordinate the Fossil Lab's public-facing activities and help ensure guests receive a consistent, engaging, and scientifically accurate educational experience.\nCommunicate scientific concepts, fossil preparation techniques, and paleontological research to guests of varying ages and backgrounds in an engaging and accessible manner.\nProvide demonstrations, presentations, and informal educational interactions within the Fossil Lab.\nCollaborate with Education, Exhibits, and other Discovery Cube teams to support programs, special events, exhibitions, and other guest experiences related to paleontology.\nCollaboration & Program Support\nCollaborate with internal and external scientific, museum, and educational partners as appropriate to support specimen preparation, research, documentation, and programming.\nRecommend improvements to laboratory workflows, equipment, procedures, documentation practices, and guest engagement.\nSupport special projects and other duties related to DinoQuest and Discovery Cube's mission as assigned.\nQualifications:\nBachelor's degree in biology, zoology, geology, paleontology, natural sciences, museum studies, or a related field and at least two years of relevant experience in fossil preparation, paleontology, museum collections, or a related specialty; a master's degree in a related natural science field may substitute for experience; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.\nDemonstrated proficiency with the tools, methods, equipment, and conservation techniques used in fossil preparation.\nExperience working with museum collections, scientific specimens, or research collections.\nDemonstrated ability to maintain accurate scientific documentation and ensure data integrity throughout specimen preparation.\nExperience training, mentoring, or providing day-to-day direction to interns, volunteers, students, or other team members.\nStrong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to prioritize projects, maintain laboratory standards, and manage multiple workstreams.\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, critical thinking, and sound judgment.\nDemonstrated ability to convey scientific information accurately and accessibly to a general audience.\nProficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nAdvanced experience in vertebrate paleontology, fossil preparation, or conservation.\nPrevious experience overseeing a laboratory, collection, preparation program, or comparable technical function.\nExperience supervising or coordinating volunteers, interns, students, or staff in a museum, laboratory, academic, or informal science setting.\nExperience working in a public-facing museum or science center environment.\nPhysical Requirements:\nFine motor skills- requires close visual acuity in the operation of machines and preparation of specimens\nAbility to lift specimens (often 25-50 pounds)\nAbility to sit or work at microscopes for extended periods\nWeekend availability required\nComfortable working in a highly interactive guest environment\n What’s In It For You: \nMedical, dental and vision insurance\nOptional supplemental insurance coverage\n401K with up to 4% match after one year for full-time employees\n14 Free general admission tickets per year\n4 Bubblefest tickets plus admission\n10% of on-site dining and shopping discount\nEmployee discounts through ADP\nAccrued paid time off for full-time employees\n10 paid company holidays\nCompensation\nCompensation\n$80,000—$90,000 USD\nDiscovery Cube provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. \nThis policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.","description_format":"text","description_chars":7784,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Insurance coverage","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["STEM Education","Theme Parks & Attractions"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-29T01:40:11Z"}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":2,"expected_fill_days":28,"reasons":["conf:7","win:early","comp:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":90000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/discoverycube-fossil-lab-manager","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/discoverycube-fossil-lab-manager.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01T09:44:27Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":473,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":4527,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"}}}