"Exhibit Designer and Preparator"

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Salary: $47,000 to $52,500.

The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, is seeking an experienced Exhibit Designer & Preparator to help us achieve our annual changing exhibit schedule through: layout and fabrication; employing knowledge of materials and collections practice to create mounts for specific specimens for display; and fabricating durable touchable items for hands-on elements. This position will also use creative problem solving for maintenance issues in the galleries.

From Research Stations (small, researcher-focused displays) to our Experimental Gallery, we aim to change out up to ten display spaces in the museum every year. Working collaboratively as part of the Exhibits team, this may include planning layouts for galleries or cases, designing exhibit elements, working with faculty, staff, or students to collect and mount artifacts, creating furniture or touchable items for hands-on activities, coordinating with or overseeing outside contractors, and making sure these projects are completed on time and within budget.

This position will be supervised by the Assistant Director for Exhibits.

This is an non-exempt, regular, full-time position.

Exhibit Design Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated experience in exhibition and experience design-ability to design a small gallery in its entirety, making full use of the space and visitor kinesthetic experience, creating unique and appealing museum exhibit spaces that are visitor-centered and clearly convey content through materiality and design
• Proficiency in 3D drafting, able to draft basic construction/fabrication drawings to illustrate changes and additions or create new exhibit elements
• Excellent command of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Sketchup, or other similar programs
• Ability to work with outside vendors to coordinate production of exhibit elements

Exhibit Preparation: Project Management

• Consultation and collaboration with museum partners
• Strategic plan aligned project management
• Support AD for Exhibits in developing team action plan
• Manage project timeline and budget in collaboration with AD for Exhibits
• Provide expertise to team cross-functional planning and implementation
• Familiarity with Asana or other project management tools, ability to create plans for work and hit milestones to deliver products on deadline

Exhibit Preparation: Fabrication & Installation Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of exhibit fabrication techniques, tools, and materials, including casework, lighting, mount-making, model-making, etc.
• Knowledge of museum standards and best practices
• Knowledge of installation procedures and techniques; experience working to install collections following museum industry best practices for collections handling and security
• Able to successfully coordinate and communicate with external contractors and internal personnel regarding exhibit deliveries, moving collections, and installation
• Ability to read and understand construction and exhibit display drawings
• Ability to establish solutions for the repair of damaged exhibits and measures to prevent further damage

The ideal candidate is an energetic, enthusiastic individual with the ability to work both independently and as a collaborative team member on multiple time-sensitive tasks. They should be a resourceful technician and creative problem solver, in addition to demonstrating self-reliance and excellent attention to detail. Must be flexible and able to prioritize projects with interruptions for time-sensitive tasks.

This position requires three to five years' experience in a museum or gallery setting, and demonstrated success in exhibit preparation and exhibit experience design.

A Bachelor's degree is expected in experience design, studio art, museum studies, or similar field, or related job experience / apprenticeship in comparable trade or craft.

General

• Ability to work collaboratively with individuals and with teams-collegial and congenial
• Ability to manage multiple projects
• Basic office computer skills
• Excellent command of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Sketchup or other similar programs
• Significant experience in an area (or multiple areas) of fabrication -- wood, metal, plastics, molding/casting, etc.
• Advanced knowledge of exhibit fabrication techniques, tools, and materials

Physical Requirements

• Must possess the ability to work confidently while on ladders, scaffolding, and scissor lift (certification on self-propelled scissor lift is preferred or on-the-job training will be required)
• Must be able to work in both confined and public spaces in the museum
• Ability to consistently transport up to 75 pounds

Preferred Qualifications

• Past experience working in a science museum
• Background or education in science / natural history field
• Previous specimen / artifact handling experience in a museum, knowledge of best practices in museum collections care
• Past experience designing and maintaining museum lighting plans