Manager of Content Innovation at the National Aquarium – Museum Studies

Job Title: Manager of Content Innovation

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Baltimore, MD

Salary: $68,000 – $75,000

Job Summary

The Manager of Content Innovation is a seasoned experience designer, skilled writer, and effective communicator who provides leadership and content direction throughout the planning and design processes for a variety of National Aquarium exhibits and experiences. This core member of a creative team is a knowledgeable advocate both for visitors and for the National Aquarium’s mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures.

In consultation with a cross-functional team, the Manager of Content Innovation helps develop or refine overall project scopes, timelines, and development processes for each unique project. This position plays a critical role by determining innovative communication strategies that engage guests with content and conservation, and ensures that content is clear, concise, and compelling. This position is directly responsible for managing the creative content development processes and interpretative deliverables through all phases—from initial planning through prototyping, final design, installation, evaluation, and remediation. This position consistently and reliably brings clarity of purpose and message that allows the team to direct creative energy towards shared communication goals. The Manager of Content Innovation outlines strategies to prototype, test, and elicit feedback from end users as a regular part of development work

The Manager of Content Innovation is an expert in the traditional and emerging media of aquarium exhibits and/or museum science content. This position plays a key role in setting and maintaining standards of scientific accuracy, brand alignment, and guest experience. This staff has vision, drive, and creativity and is a passionate and knowledgeable advocate that relishes the opportunity to help mold the future of exhibits and experiences for National Aquarium.

Key Accountabilities

Content Development Management

Lead the process of developing and documenting exhibit content, organizing ideas, and effectively communicating exhibit messages, themes, and interpretive goals for multi-faceted project teams and across the organization.
Advocate for messaging through a collaborative development and design process, consistently guiding the project team toward design decisions that serve content goals, often negotiating the perspectives of diverse reviewers and stakeholders, including senior leadership.
Collaborate with designers and interactive developers to envision overall experience and identify best display/media strategies to express the project’s conceptual framework and meet the needs of the identified audience.
Manage the intellectual and scientific content of exhibits and experiences including interpretative scripts, objects, photography, and videography. Serves as the primary contact for scientific review of materials.
Develop and execute concise action plans, timelines, and deliverables to meet project deadlines.
Manage the workflow of interpretative or operational content requests to provide timely service, creative solutions, and excellent communication across departments.
Lead the design and implementation of major and minor exhibit or experience evaluations that support project goals and lead to remediation efforts.
Manage content writing staff. Mentor and coach emerging colleagues.
Advocate for exhibit audiences and programs and participate in master and interpretative planning.
Represent the interpretative team and their work to others—both internally and externally. Represent National Aquarium at conferences, meetings with contractors or collaborators, or on research trips.
Assess and implement exhibit process improvements and best practices that further institutional efficiency, excellence of exhibit experience and the wider professional field of exhibit development.
Keep abreast of innovations in the ever-changing fields of exhibit development, conservation psychology, changing guest expectations, and innovative display techniques.

Content Development and Writing

Conduct research in complex subject matters both independently and working closely with expert colleagues in our Animal Care and Welfare Department.
Write or coordinate the writing of exhibit text, labels, scripts, articles, visitor handouts, audio/visual scripts, exhibit-specific public programs scripts, fundraising, conservation-focused content, and other interpretive tools and products.
Translate science and data into forms people can experience and understand, empowering them to consider downstream implications and ultimately influencing decisions about the products, services, and government policy we bring into the world today.
Consider immersive stories to engage the senses and involve our audiences as actors. Incorporate immersive multisensory storytelling and experiential futures through physical computing, ubiquitous computing, and interaction design. Look for opportunities for how computation can exist fluidly alongside traditional materials like wood and metal, and where emerging technologies could be seamlessly incorporated into an ever-evolving palette.
Develop prototypes for testing exhibit and experience ideas, working independently and in collaboration with design and fabrication teams.
Research and acquire images, A/V media, artworks, objects, and other assets for display.

Operational Support

Respond to requests for operational text or content through an internal work order system. Provide coordinated response and excellent customer service.
Adhere to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Advanced degree (preferred) in Museum Studies, Biology, Museum Education or equivalent combination of education, training, experience.
Minimum seven years of prior relevant experience in managing exhibit interpretive content and writing for the public.
Emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the ability to self-reflect.
Commitment to collaboration and an iterative experience-led design process.
Resilience, flexibility, and a high tolerance for ambiguity.
Exceptional ability to organize, document, and effectively communicate complex ideas.
Demonstrated ability to lead meetings and guide diverse groups toward successful outcomes.
Demonstrated presentation skills.
Significant knowledge of best practices in exhibit development, evaluation, and visitor-centered museum practice.
Thorough understanding of exhibit interpretive media from graphics to interactive media and emerging immersive, environmental experiences.
Ability to successfully work within and maintain National Aquarium’s Core Values (Integrity, Innovation, Service, Excellence, Engagement).

Annual Salary: $68,000 – $75,000

We have moved to a hybrid work model, where staff works in-office a few days a week and remotely the balance of the week.

To Apply:
Interested candidates should upload a resume and cover letter to our online application in order to be considered. Supporting documentation, such as portfolio/work samples/website, is appreciated.

Application review will begin immediately.

The National Aquarium is committed to diversity and invites individuals who bring a diversity of culture, experience and ideas to apply.

About The National Aquarium

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, is a nonprofit organization that’s changing the way humanity cares for our ocean planet. The Aquarium’s award-winning habitats are home to thousands of animals representing hundreds of species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. We are proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and strive to meet or exceed AZA standards in all aspects of animal care and welfare. A dedicated team of full- and part-time employees and volunteers drives the Aquarium’s mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures. More than a million guests visit the Aquarium each year, and millions more participate in its conservation, education and engagement initiatives.

Our Culture

The National Aquarium opened in 1981 as a visitor attraction and has evolved into a conservation organization that operates a world-class aquarium. Our core values—integrity, innovation, service, excellence, and engagement—form the basis for our beliefs about our organization, our colleagues and ourselves, and serve as the framework to guide our behavior and actions to achieve our mission. Through unparalleled exhibits, science-based education programs and hands-on field initiatives, the Aquarium is at the forefront of efforts to connect people with the natural world and raise awareness of the challenges facing our ocean.

Our Mission and Goals

By connecting people with nature, the Aquarium drives conservation action for the benefit of people, animals and the planet. The Aquarium’s mission—to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures—begins within the walls of its buildings, but it does not end there. The Aquarium protects, enhances and restores natural resources through education and engagement, habitat restoration, animal rescue and sustainable business practices, with its conservation work guided by three overarching goals—to combat climate change, save wildlife and habitats, and stop plastic pollution.