Director Of Exhibits Jobs

DEPARTMENT:Exhibits

SUPERVISOR: Executive Director

The Director of Exhibits is a member of the Montshire Museum of Science’s senior leadership team and is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the Montshire’s new strategies for audience and community engagement in science through novel, memorable and meaningful interactive exhibit experiences indoors and out. This position provides supervisory leadership for the Montshire’s Exhibits team, oversees large scale exhibition development projects, and works collaboratively with staff from other museum departments and external project partners to align and integrate exhibit offerings into the larger work of the Montshire.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Department Leadership (30%)

Strategic Planning, New Initiatives, and High Impact Projects. As member of the Montshire’s senior leadership team, participates in cross-departmental strategic planning to advance the new mission, vision, and educational strategies of the Montshire.Works collaboratively with museum leadership and other staff to evaluate and strengthen existing exhibit offerings and conceptualize new science exhibition opportunities – both indoors and across the Montshire’s 110-acre wooded campus. Develops productive relationships with outside organizations such as university partners, industry and informal science institutions/associations.

Staff Supervision and Management. Provides effective supervision, management and deployment of exhibit department team members, which includes professional staff as well as volunteers. Is responsible for developing annual and project staffing plans, and for recruiting, hiring/terminating, orienting, developing, and evaluating department staff. Ensures timely exhibition changeovers, regular exhibit maintenance and exhibit repair work. Works to advance the museum-wide Diversity, Equity, Access, and Belonging (DEAB) efforts and initiatives.

Budget and Reporting. Works closely with the Montshire’s administrative staff to create, track and report on department and project budgets. Provides oversight and approval for staff time allocation to grants and materials purchasing.

Support for Grant-Funded Projects. Participates in the conceptualization, development and/or writing of select grant proposals. Coordinates execution of exhibit projects, including project staffing, timelines, budgets, as well as front-end conceptualization, science content development, exhibit design, prototyping final fabrication, and evaluation. Ensures that deliverables are completed on time and within budget. Facilitates communication and collaboration among team members, museum administration, and external partners.

Exhibit Development, Exhibit Rotation, Maintenance and Repair (60%)

New Exhibit / Exhibition Conceptualization.Works to conceptualize new exhibits, exhibitions and learning spaces to support of the Montshire’s areas of strategic focus:STEM Learning, Literacy and Career Pathways; Climate and Sustainability; and Health and Wellness.

Exhibit Design and Development. Lead the design and development of select exhibit and exhibition projects, including: creation of design renderings, construction and testing of prototype exhibits, fabrication of final exhibits, coordination of work with partners and subcontractors, and oversight of installation of new indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Exhibit Maintenance and Repair.Participates in conducting daily exhibit checks, safety reviews, and scheduled maintenance for indoor and outdoor exhibits and gallery spaces. Helps to repair broken and/or worn exhibits to ensure safety and functionality.Coordinates work of exhibits and facilities staff assigned to exhibit maintenance and repair work.

Exhibit / Exhibition Installation and Takedown.Ensures smooth transition between exhibitions by coordinating and communicating timelines and scheduling, budgets, staffing requirements, logistics and storage, and public and media communications.Effectively delegates select tasks related to exhibit changeover to select exhibit and/or facilities team members, as needed.Participates in installation (uncrating, moving and assembly) and takedown activities (disassembly, re-crating, moving) during exhibition changeovers.

Exhibit Evaluation.Coordinates with internal and/or external educational evaluators to assess effectiveness of prototypes and exhibits for conveying intended science and/or educational content to intended audiences.

Cross Department Work (10%)

Special Events.Participates in planning and execution of select museum-wide events, such as our annual Fiddlehead Fling Gala, Spooky Science Halloween event, and Earth Day Festival.

Special Museum-wide Initiatives.As member of senior staff team, helps to plan, coordinate and implement select projects and new initiatives that increase the Montshire’s ability to effectively engage with our core audiences.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

Provides direct supervision for members of the Montshire’s Exhibits team, which includes professional staff (currently two) and volunteers.Expands the size of the team to appropriately staff funded project work with either new permanent or temporary professional staff.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Construction and fabrication skills required, including general carpentry, fine finish wood work, hardware, paint /finishes, basic circuitry and mechanicals.Skilled work in advanced materials (plastics, fiberglass, metal, plumbing, electrical, digital) strongly desired.
• Able to work, prioritize and focus on multiple projects amid frequent interruptions
• Creative, flexible, resourceful and willing to learn new things
• Strong organizer of self and others, including shared work spaces, schedules and calendars
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) or fluency in written Spanish, desirable
• 4+ years of experience supervising professional staff and leading teams required (including: hiring, evaluating, performance improvement plans)
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills
• Strong background in science with passion for STEM and the mission of the Montshire
• 4-year college degree or equivalent technical training required; academic and/or professional background in the physical or natural sciences, or in engineering strongly preferred.
• Collaborative, up-beat, passionately team-oriented, and able to work well in both an individual and team settings
• Familiarity with Universal Design Principles required; environmental, industrial, graphic and/or user-interface design skills also desirable.
• Reliable personal transportation, valid driver's license, and excellent driving record
• Strong interpersonal skills and maturity (collaborative, communicative and sensitive to others) required; must be an effective written communicator and oral presenter
• Must be able to lift and move large items weighing up to 50 pounds and navigate outdoor landscape and hiking trails.
• Strong business aptitude and decision-making skills with ability to weigh resource allocation with programmatic impact
• 5+ years of professional work in creating interactive exhibits required (including: conceptualization, design, fabrication, installation, maintenance and repair of interactive exhibits)
• Strong computer aptitude (specifically Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Suite, and comfort using databases)
• 2+ years project oversight and management experience on projects ranging from $25,000 to $1M required (including:project scoping and conceptualization, budget development and management, development and implementation of staffing plans, and contract negotiation); experience working on grant-funded projects strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• All Montshire employees are subject to a criminal background check
• Congenial and fast-paced non-profit museum environment, which includes office, meeting, fabrication shop, and outdoor settings.
• May be asked to drive Museum vehicles, including minivans, small trucks, or cars with trailers.
• Montshire Museum of Science requires that all employees and volunteers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

TIME COMMITMENT

• Full-time hourly position (37.5 hours/week) with weekend work required
• Occasional regional and national travel as required for program delivery, project and meeting participation, and/or conferences attendance
• Occasional weekend and evening work

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary: $80,000 - $88,000 depending on education, skills and years of experience.Includes full Montshire benefits: health insurance, 403(b) retirement savings, paid sick leave, paid vacation and personal time, life insurance, and short- and long-termdisability insurance.

The Montshire Museum of Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a passionate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.