Our Mission: Discovering and describing life and earth – with people, through dialogue.

The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN) is an excellent and integrated research museum of the Leibniz Association with an international reputation and globally networked research infrastructure. It is active in three closely interlinked fields: collection-based research, collection development and cataloguing, and research-based public and educational work. Over the next ten years, the Museum für Naturkunde will realise its plan for the future. New laboratories and jobs for cutting-edge research will be created. At the same time, one of the world's most comprehensive natural history collections with over 30 million objects will be housed in modern collection buildings and completely digitised in the process. The implementation of the Future Plan, funded with a total of 660 million euros from the Federal Government and the State of Berlin, will only succeed with strong interdisciplinary national and international partners.

Become part of our team.

Community Management TheMuseumsLab (f/m/div)

Work schedule: full time (39 h 24 min per week)
Duration: as soon as possible until 31 December 2026
Salary level: E 11 TV-L
Code: 12/2024

Project description:

TheMuseumsLab is a collaborative project designed to offer African and European museum professionals a platform for continuous joint learning, unlearning, networking, career development, and perspective exchange on the future of museums in both Africa and Europe. Its primary objective is to facilitate connections that bridge individuals, institutions, and nations across two continents, fostering engaged discussions on how museums can confront their colonial past, meet the present societal, global challenges, and work together to actively shape a more equitable future.

The thematic focus of TheMuseumsLab encompasses critical areas such as digitisation, provenance research, decolonisation, and the presence of objects from colonial contexts in European museums. Moreover, the programme aims at sparking a joint reflection on a new ethical framework for international cooperation.

TheMuseumsLab comprises three modules, taking place online and on-site in Africa and Europe. Furthermore, each fellow participates in a one-week fesidency in Africa or Europe in one of the institutions from TheMuseumsLab Partner Museum Network.

• Coordination of the annual TheMuseumsLab fellow cohort
• Support of the growing alumni network
• Assisting in the facilitation and management of alumni projects
• Serving as a primary point of contact throughout the programme year and beyond
• Offering close support and guidance to fellows during the modules
• Maintaining the fellows platform / website
• Developing supportive materials, such as booklets
• Facilitating Residencies for fellows at Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

• Degree in museum studies, heritage studies, curatorial studies, event management, communication sciences, cultural studies, or equivalent
• Special expertise in the planning, implementation, and follow-up of digital, hybrid, and on-site events
• Professional experience in communication and commissioning external service providers
• Professional experience with tendering processes and award procedures as well as administrative processes in the public sector
• Professional experience in project management and coordination
• Professional experience in collaborative international projects and events
• Knowledge of the African and European museum landscape
• Experience in fostering an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences
• Fluency in both English and German (both orally and in writing)
• Confident handling of MS Office and different video conferencing services
• Sensitive and confident handling of conflict and stress situations
• Motivated, diligent, and independent approach to work
• Enthusiasm for collaborative teamwork
• Distinct diversity competence