Director of Exhibits and Exhibit Engagement at the Imagine Children’s Museum

Job Title: Director of Exhibits and Exhibit Engagement

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Everett, WA

Salary:  $65,000 – $80,000

Description

Position Summary 

The Director of Exhibits and Exhibits Engagement (DEEE) contributes to the mission of Imagine Children’s Museum to utilize playful learning to enrich children’s lives through the design, development, execution, and ongoing improvement of exhibits and related activities that create an engaging visitor experience. Imagine currently offers new exhibits as part of its recent 33,000 sq. ft. expansion, complemented by existing exhibits in the original building. The DEEE is responsible for maintaining exhibits momentum by creating and executing a master plan that articulates a strategic multi-year sequence of exhibit renovation and replacement, based on results from systematic evaluation. The DEEE advances this long-term vision through oversight of daily exhibit maintenance and repair, periodic changes to freshen the exhibit experience, and annual exhibits refurbishment. Working collaboratively with other departments, the DEEE is responsible for exhibit engagement programming that is both self-guided and facilitated. As a member of Imagine’s leadership team, the DEEE contributes to the overall success of the organization through interdepartmental collaboration and mutual support. 

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

Create and execute an exhibits master plan.

  • Conduct both informal and formal evaluations of exhibit function, educational effectiveness, accessibility, and degree of visitor engagement.
  • Based on these results and aligned with Imagine’s strategic vision, develop and execute a multi-year exhibits master plan that articulates a sequence of exhibit renovation and/or replacement.
  • Work collaboratively with the Museum’s leadership team to develop conceptual plans for new exhibit areas.
  • Work with finance and development directors to budget and raise funds for new exhibit projects.
  • Engage with in-house staff and contractors to design, prototype, fabricate, and install new exhibit areas.
  • Plan, develop, and negotiate scope of work, pricing, and contracts with exhibit contractors; ensure adherence to budgets and schedules.
  • Conduct after-opening evaluation to ensure that new exhibits are performing as intended and remediate if necessary.

 Optimize daily exhibit function.

  • Oversee daily exhibit maintenance and repair to ensure proper function, safety, sanitation, accessibility, inclusion, and attractiveness.
  • Oversee daily husbandry of the Museum’s live collections to ensure animal health and safety.
  • Oversee management of Imagine’s teaching collections to ensure the proper documentation and care of objects.
  • Continually freshen the exhibit experience through rotation of props, seasonal changes, and/or introduction of new play elements.
  • Plan and execute annual exhibit refurbishment during closed week.
  • Oversee contracts, pricing, and performance of exhibit contractors and vendors.

 Develop and execute exhibit engagement programming that is both self-guided and facilitated.

  • Work collaboratively with the Director of Education to develop self-guided activities that enhance the exhibits’ learning objectives.
  • Work collaboratively with the Director of Operations to train Imaginologists to facilitate on-the-floor activities that add value and advance playful learning.
  • Seek ways to activate the exhibit environment with other programming elements that deepen visitor engagement.

 Serve as a member of Imagine’s leadership team.

  • Contribute to leadership discussions of organizational policies and procedures, finances, safety, visitor experience, and community engagement.
  • Develop, submit, and modify as requested an annual Exhibits department budget.
  • Contribute to overall organizational efforts such as strategic planning, the annual fundraiser/report, and grant proposals.
  • Engage in activities related to museum-wide capital projects including architectural planning, programmatic design, space use, and function.
  • Support Imagine’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

 Other duties as assigned.

 

Requirements

Position Requirements

Professional knowledge of and experience in

  • Exhibit development for hands-on, child/family-centered environments
  • Developing content and interpretation for intergenerational audiences
  • Creating an engaging visitor experience
  • Learning through play for multiple learning styles
  • Exhibit evaluation and prototyping

 Administrative knowledge of and experience in

  • Leading diverse teams
  • Collaborative interaction with peers and cross-functional teams
  • Strategic planning
  • Budget development and management
  • Analysis of bids and contracts
  • Project management
  • Clear communication, both verbal and written

 Technical knowledge of and ability to

  • Visually express ideas with hand sketches and computer drawing
  • Visually communicate project management schedules and responsibilities
  • Interpret technical instructions
  • Read architectural plans and specifications
  • Comply with OSHA, SDS, and ADA

 Preferred experience in

  • Basic shop skills
  • AV and electronic components

 As needed, ability to

  • Work evenings and weekends
  • Work on call shifts

 Commitment to Imagine Children’s Museum mission, vision and beliefs

Education and/or Experience

Minimum five years of relevant professional experience, with two years in a management role.

 Supervisory Responsibility

Direct supervision of exhibit staff. May manage work teams consisting of volunteers and/or contractors.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in a typical interactive exhibit environment with moderate noise levels.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is regularly required to:

  •  Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk for long periods of time, climb ladders and stairs.
  • Regularly lift and or move up to 50 pounds.
  • Independent body mobility to access a variety of spaces (high, small, awkward etc.) with exhibit elements of varying heights.
  • Ability to bend, carry, reach to the side, front and overhead, push, pull, walk, stand, twist and squat, grab, squeeze are repetitive motions required of the position.
  • Use hands to feel and manipulate tools and materials, and reach with hands and arms
  • Some exposure to hazards or physical risks which require basic safety precautions and PPE
  • Both indoor and outdoor exhibit spaces. May be exposed to moderate weather conditions.
  • Regularly exposed to moderate noise in and around exhibits. Occasionally exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable.

Apply via AAM