Exhibits Manager

The Buffalo Museum of Science is seeking an exhibits manager to help shape the next exciting chapter in our evolution. This dynamic leadership role is perfect for a hands-on creative professional who’s ready to drive innovation, inspire a team, and bring bold exhibit ideas to life. From carpentry and welding to painting and signage installation, the exhibits manager is at the heart of our exhibit creation and maintenance—ensuring every display is engaging, well-crafted, and mission-aligned. The Exhibits Manager will lead the full exhibit lifecycle, including planning, fabrication, budgeting, and scheduling, while also managing traveling exhibitions and special projects. As a mentor and coach, this position will lead a skilled, passionate team and foster a culture of growth.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight of the exhibit development process, including planning, scheduling, budget development, and tracking.
• Responsible for strategic growth of the exhibits department.
• Oversee the regular maintenance, repair, and updates of exhibits, ensuring they remain functional, fresh, and engaging.
• Work with science and collections personnel to develop content and facilitate exhibit design and installation.
• Participate in special projects and conduct the coordination of traveling exhibits.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the exhibit’s department.
• Coordinates with experience, buildings and grounds, and IT staff to ensure the guest experience is unimpeded and always of high quality.
• Manage work areas, materials, supply inventories, and equipment.
• Foster productive, professional, and collaborative relationships with direct reports, peers, and executive leadership, ensuring alignment and a unified approach to achieving goals
• Researches, qualifies, and maintains a list of available contractors who support, assist and add additional expertise to the exhibits program and staff.
• Supervise exhibit technicians, contractors, temporary staff, interns, and volunteers.

Education, Experience, Skills, and Qualities Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study such as design, project management, art, architecture or any equivalent combination of experience and/or education.
• 5-7 years of related professional experience, including exhibition development.
• Knowledge of and experience with museum and exhibition methods and best practices.
• Experience in a construction-related field (i.e., carpentry, electrical, metal work).
• Valid NYS driver’s license. Experience driving medium size trucks preferred.
• Experience with arts and culture organizations and/or with community-based nonprofit organizations preferred.
• Experience managing complex and multi-year projects with various internal and external stakeholders.
• Direct supervision experience, as well as overseeing a department.
• Self-motivated and able to work accurately and independently, with a high level of confidentiality.
• Highly collaborative in organization-wide initiatives, as well as departmental efforts.
• Capable of managing sensitive matters effectively and with diplomacy.
• Strong proficiency with a range of computer software and other online, cloud-based project management and collaboration tools, desirable.