Senior Director, Creative Spaces at the Please Touch Museum

Job Title: Senior Director, Creative Spaces

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Salary:  $100,000.00 – $110,000.00

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Director, Creative Spaces, is responsible for leading the planning, design, and implementation of new, innovative exhibits and creative spaces that foster playful learning and creative expression for museum visitors. The Senior Director is a strategic, collaborative, and innovative leader with deep expertise in planning and design of museum exhibits, project management, or the creation of play-based learning environments. Reporting to the Chief Learning Officer, the Senior Director will oversee a department of full- and part-time exhibits professionals. They will work collaboratively across departments to ensure museum spaces and experiences integrate the latest educational research and approaches to play-based learning. Working with the Chief Learning Officer and in tandem with the goals of the museum’s strategic plan, they will lead the museum’s interpretative planning process to build a long-term vision and strategy for future exhibit changes, renovations, and updates.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Exhibitions Vision, Strategy, and Planning

  • Oversee the development and implementation of an interpretative plan to guide future decision-making related to exhibit changes.
  • Collaborate closely with Director of Museum Learning and team to develop and implement a strategy for activating museum spaces that utilizes current research in play-based learning approaches.
  • Facilitate involvement of museum staff, communities, and outside stakeholders in the conceptualization and development of exhibits and experiences.
  • Lead the conceptualization and development of physical activities for exhibitions, interactives, spaces, and supports visual communications (drawings/graphics) and language development for proposals for project funding.

Exhibitions Department Management

  • Develop and manage the creation of play-based learning environments.
  • Ensure the development of exhibits and experiences have a clear focus on communities and learner diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
  • In collaboration with Assistant Director of Exhibits and Museum Learning teams, oversee the integration and implementation of research, evaluation, prototyping, testing, and reporting into museum exhibits and experiences.
  • Stay current in latest practices in exhibit design and related child development fields.
  • Represent PTM in local, regional, and national settings (conferences/workshops), displaying leadership skills that position PTM as thought instigators in these settings.
  • Develop and support relationships with other museums and organizational institutions that further the museum’s educational and community initiatives.
  • Directly manage Assistant Director of Exhibits and support exhibits team.
  • Develop and manage departmental budgets.
  • Collaborate with Director of Research & Evaluation and Director of Museum Learning to build relevant evaluation plans of exhibits and exhibit-related content.
  • Work closely with Development team to identify, pursue, and secure funding opportunities.
  • Collaborate with Marketing and Communications team to ensure brand alignment across signage and messaging.
  • Project direct all aspects of the development and design of new exhibition projects.
  • Responsible for the creation of, (either by oneself or via direction of staff or outside firm), drawings, models, sketches, renderings, construction documents, specifications, graphic design, etc.
  • Uphold the Museum’s commitment to provide welcoming and inclusive experiences for all visitors and expand opportunities for diversity of thought.

Senior Leadership

  • Serve as a critical member of PTM’s senior leadership team, collaborating across departments on organization-wide initiatives such as philanthropic giving, content development, educational program planning, and strategic planning processes.
  • Create a collaborative and inclusive team culture that inspires and empowers our staff to live our mission to its highest standards.
  • Lead and inspire a talented team in creating innovative and leading-edge programs for children and families of all backgrounds and abilities.
  • Provide team with clear objectives, evaluate performance, and offer constructive coaching; offer opportunities for professional development.

 

Requirements

  • Minimum 8 years’ experience working in a museum or similar environment in a related field.
  • Bachelor’s degree required in design, science, education, or related discipline; Master’s degree in design, planning, social science, museum studies, or related field strongly preferred.
  • At least 2-3 years of exhibit development experience required with preference in early education exhibits.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and coach a talented team and cultivate an inclusive, collaborative team environment.
  • Excellent communication skills with experience working effectively across departments to align goals and share resources.
  • Innovative thinker and creative problem-solver who thrives in a dynamic environment.
  • Demonstrated experience in the development and management of project schedules, budgets, teams, and ongoing maintenance.
  • Proficiency using multiple software platforms (CAD-Vectorworks/SketchUp, Adobe Suite, project management software) and basic software (Windows, Office, etc.).
  • Strong cultural competency and commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.
  • Must have PA Act 153 clearances (PA criminal history, FBI fingerprints, and PA Child Abuse) completed prior to hire.
  • All employees are required to have COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 booster, and annual influenza vaccination, as a term and condition of employment.

Apply via AAM