Director of Exhibits

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 aligning the Montshire’s indoor and outdoor exhibit experiences to the Museum’s new organizational strategy. This position provides supervisory leadership for the Montshire’s Exhibits team; oversees new exhibition planning, development and implementation; ensures proper maintenance and/or repair of existing exhibits; and works collaboratively with staff from other museum departments and project partners to align and integrate exhibit offerings into the larger work of the Montshire.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Department Leadership (30%)

Planning and Implementation of New Initiatives and High Impact Projects. As member of the Montshire’s senior leadership team, participates in cross-departmental initiatives that advance the new mission, vision, and strategic initiatives of the Montshire.  Works collaboratively with the Executive Director, senior leadership team members, and other staff to strengthen exhibit offerings and to conceptualize new science exhibition opportunities – both indoors and across the Montshire’s 110-acre wooded campus. Develops productive relationships with outside organizations, including 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. Manages team effectively to ensure timely exhibition changeovers, regular exhibit maintenance and exhibit repair work.

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 and materials purchasing allocation to grants.

Support for Grant-Funded Projects. Participates in the conceptualization, development and/or writing of select grant proposals. Provides oversight for 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. 

Exhibition Planning, Development, Maintenance and Repair (60%)

Planning. Creates and maintains a forward-looking 1-3 year plan for exhibitions, connecting planned exhibitions to the Montshire’s larger strategy, and integrating an appropriate mix of rented exhibitions, purchased exhibits, and exhibits that are fabricated in-house.

New Exhibit / Exhibition Conceptualization.  Is responsible for securing and/or creating new exhibits, exhibitions and learning spaces that support the Montshire’s areas of strategic focus:  STEM Learning, Literacy and Career Pathways; Climate and Sustainability Education and Action; and Health and Wellness.

Exhibit Design and Development. Lead the design and development select exhibit and exhibition projects, including: creation of design renderings, building 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.  Ensures completion of 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 communicates and 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.  For exhibitions developed by the Montshire, 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.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

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

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• 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.
• 5+ years of professional work in creating interactive exhibits required (including: conceptualization, design, fabrication, installation, maintenance and repair of interactive exhibits)
• Strong business aptitude and decision-making skills with ability to weigh resource allocation with programmatic impact
• 4+ years of experience supervising professional staff and leading teams required (including: hiring, evaluating, executing performance improvement plans)
• 2+ years project 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.
• 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.
• Familiarity with Universal Design Principles required; environmental, industrial, graphic and/or user-interface design skills also desirable.
• Collaborative, up-beat, passionately team-oriented, and able to work well in both an individual and team settings
• Strong interpersonal skills and maturity (collaborative, communicative and sensitive to others) required; must be an effective written communicator and oral presenter
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills
• Strong organizer of self and others, including shared work spaces, schedules and calendars
• Able to work, prioritize and focus on multiple projects amid frequent interruptions
• Strong computer aptitude (specifically Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Suite, 3D rendering software; AdobeCS)
• Creative, flexible, resourceful and willing to learn new things
• Must be able to lift and move large items weighing up to 50 pounds and navigate outdoor landscape and hiking trails on foot.
• Reliable personal transportation, valid driver's license, and excellent driving record

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Congenial and fast-paced museum environment; includes office, meeting, fabrication shop, and outdoor settings.
• May be asked to drive Museum vehicles, including minivans, small trucks, or cars with trailers.
• All Montshire employees are subject to a criminal background check
• 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)
• Occasional weekend and evening work
• Occasional regional and national travel as required for program delivery, project and meeting participation, and/or conferences attendance

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

Salary: $80,000 - $95,000 depending on skills, education and years of experience.  Includes full Montshire benefits: health insurance, vision, dental, supplemental flex spending accounts, 403(b) retirement savings, generous paid vacation and paid sick leave, life and accident insurance, and short- and long-term disability insurance.