Exhibitions Project Manager at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center

Job Title: Exhibitions Project Manager 

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Salary: $63,240-$74,000

Position Summary:

Detail-oriented project manager, skilled in hands-on work. Experience utilizing best practices in exhibition design, lighting, light construction, and woodshop skills and safety. Excellent communication, staff management, critical thinking, problem-solving, and multitasking are essential skills necessary for this position. Responsible for fabrication, installation and maintenance of indoor and outdoor exhibits and interpretive displays. Establishes and implements the strategy and vision to create and maintain a strong guest-focused experience throughout the Museum. Plays a key role in completing the Phase 2 master plan for exhibits.

Responsibilities:

  • Organizes and plans exhibit projects from start to finish and communicate ideas to Museum and Sea Center staff
  • Manages exhibit projects both small and large with strict deadlines, including setting priorities, developing project goals, work plans, schedules, budgets, and timelines
  • Oversees the installation and de-installation of museum exhibits in collaboration with crew members and other Museum staff
  • Leads the team on the more complex tasks in the installation, de-installation, fabrication, and maintenance of museum exhibits
  • Ensures the museum’s exhibits are fully operational and well-maintained by effectively and efficiently prioritizing maintenance needs and proactively identifying problems or anticipated repairs
  • Manages vendors and external consultants, including the timely execution of the Exhibit Plan, providing both creative and tactical input to the development of new exhibits, while adhering to the overall exhibits plan
  • Manages project-specific administrative tasks such as project budgets, scheduling, procurement, and communication
  • Communicates and keeps all parties involved in projects as well as other stakeholders up to date. Presents plans for approval, describes intended purposes, budget requirements, and fabrication restrictions.
  • Stays current with trends and best practices in exhibit design
  • Supervises department staff, volunteers, and interns
  • Assigns tasks and tracks priorities using museum software such as Trello, Outlook, and Google Drive
  • Responsible for managing and cleanliness of the museum workshops, storage, and display of specimens and artifacts.
  • Maintains organization and cleanliness of work and exhibit areas

Skills & Qualifications:

  • Creative approach to problem-solving, with an ability to interpret technical information and deal with multiple variables
  • Excellent interpersonal skills; must be receptive to the ideas of others and able to work cooperatively to prioritize tasks and accommodate many different needs of multiple stakeholders
  • Able to read and interpret schematics, blueprints, shop drawings, and design sketches
  • Knowledge of professional printing and construction methods, and familiarity with standard production materials and processes
  • Passion for creating a world-class museum that is recognized as delivering a truly outstanding educational experience
  • Enthusiasm for working in an organization where change is constant, structures are evolving, and flexibility, teamwork, and good humor are absolutely essential
  • Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn new systems and adapt to emerging technologies
  • Knowledge of ADA requirements and broader awareness of issues relating to access and inclusion and the ability to build inclusive, accessible, and ADA-compliant visitor experiences
  • Proven experience with effective budget management and long-term planning and implementation
  • Knowledge of museum specimen conservation needs and practices
  • Ability to work overtime, work weekends, or shift schedules to meet department needs
  • Hand-sketching, drafting, model-making, and basic printing skills
  • Spanish fluency a plus

Position requirements:

  • Minimum 3-5 years experience in project management for exhibits, designed experiential or comparable spaces
  • General fabrication knowledge and carpentry skills

Additional Information:

  • This is a full-time position, and onsite work required
  • Reliable timely attendance is required
  • Work week is Tuesday through Saturday or Sunday through Thursday
  • Frequent standing, walking, bending, sitting, crawling, climbing, crouching, squatting, reaching, kneeling, balancing, pushing, pulling, lifting up to 50 lbs., using eye-hand coordination, and working around equipment and machinery
  • Occasional work in tight spaces
  • Occasionally operate machinery such as scissor lifts and possibly forklifts
  • Required to wear protective equipment (dust mask, goggles, gloves, etc.)

To Apply:

you must apply via this link to be considered: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Apply/1494680/SB-Museum-of-Natural-History/Exhibits-Project-Manager