Exhibition Support & Technology Manager

Waterloo Regional Children's Museum; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused children's museum in Kitchener seeks an experienced Exhibition Support & Technology Manager. The role involves managing exhibit planning, technical support for events, and maintaining museum facilities. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in exhibition design and technical skills, with a commitment to creating engaging experiences for visitors.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma that includes sound and lighting technology.
• Four years experience in exhibition planning and build.
• Experience in using computers and various technical equipment.

Responsibilities

• Support exhibit planning and installation.
• Create audio/visual content for exhibits.
• Ensure building maintenance for guest experience.

Skills

Exhibition planning

Technical knowledge of lighting and sound

Project management

Problem-solving

Education

Two-year community college diploma in relevant field

Tools

Projectors

Lighting systems

Computer software

Job description

JOB TITLE: Exhibition Support & Technology Manager

DEPARTMENT: Curation, Exhibitions & Program Development

REPORTS TO: Senior Director, Curation, Exhibitions & Program Development

POSITION TYPE: Full-time position (37.5 hours per week) with flexible hours including some evenings and weekends as scheduled per museum events or exhibition installs and de-installs.

JOB PURPOSE:

The position supports exhibit planning, including the planning, install and deinstall of temporary exhibitions as well as the maintenance and procurement of permanent exhibits and related resources. The position also supports facilities, special events, rentals, as well as custodial as needed. The incumbent provides technical knowledge as it applies to these functions, and researches new ways THEMUSEUM can remain technologically advanced, secure, and efficient. This position is responsible for some content creation, design, and construction of exhibits and displays.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Exhibitions:

• Provides technical knowledge to plan exhibits that come to THEMUSEUM or are created internally.
• Supports Senior Director with exhibition planning, budget tracking and communication with exhibition partners/artists.
• Sources materials to implement installations and researches solutions.
• Manages inventory of projectors, screens, televisions, media players, etc. in order to deliver exhibits and programming.
• Installs and de-installs exhibitions, maintains them and addresses usage.
• Liaise with artists and exhibit companies to ensure a smooth installation and run period.
• Participates in exhibition/facilities meetings and building walkthroughs to identify/resolve any work in building and exhibitions that needs attention.
• Facilitates any staff training needed around exhibition/building installations.

Content Creation:

• Creates Audio/Visual Content for Exhibits, Marketing, Special Events and documentation purposes.

Facilities:

• Ensures the building is in working order before opening/closing.
• Ongoing maintenance of the building to provide a positive guest experience by paying close attention to atmosphere (lighting, cleanliness, sound level, temperature, etc.)
• On-going permanent/temporary exhibit maintenance as needed.
• Act as a liaison with IT as needed.

Events and Rentals:

• As needed, provides technical assistance and planning for THEMUSEUM events and third-party rentals including:
  • Lighting systems (focus, programming, maintenance)
  • Sound systems (setup, testing, mixing, maintenance)
  • Rental/contractor equipment setup
• Operate lighting, sound and other required equipment.
• Assist event coordinator as needed.
• Assist with events and rentals teardown including:
• Clean-up
• Restore/set areas of THEMUSEUM
• Equipment shut down
• Any other required building closing procedures
• Stage managing as required to keep talent on scheduled timelines.
• Assist vendors with loading in, loading out, moving around the building, locating power.
• Deals with emergencies in a calm and professional way, ensuring guest safety.

Custodial:

• As needed, working with custodial staff: Ensures THEMUSEUM is cleaned and presented at the highest standards including washrooms, mopping, sweeping, scrubbing, windows, vacuuming, taking out garbage & recycling, dusting, replacing consumables, and other cleaning tasks that arise.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:

Two-year community college diploma including lighting and sound tech.

The following are assets to the position:

A creative thinker, detailed oriented and multi-tasker, experience with exhibition planning, design, and build. Smartserve designation and valid driver’s license, as well as working from heights certificate.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Four years related experience, including:

• Computers and computer programs
• Projectors
• Soldering
• Electrical
• Lighting
• Exhibition Planning/Build

WORKING CONDITIONS –ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENT

Moderate exposure to hazards such as dust, noise, slippery surfaces, and working from heights.

EFFORT – PHYSICAL AND SENSORY

Considerable time spent using both fine and coarse muscle movements, lifting, pulling, pushing and walking

Considerable time spent working with computer software

Considerable Preparation of electronic materials

About THEMUSEUM

THEMUSEUM’s vision is to awe, inspire and enlighten and as such stages permanent and travelling exhibitions for both children and adults. Located in downtown Kitchener, THEMUSEUM is a charitable organization offering a unique blend of art and technology at play and provides an opportunity for children and adults to learn in a fun, imaginative, non-traditional, creative environment. We encourage you to visit our website at www.THEMUSEUM.ca.

THEMUSEUM strives to promote diversity in the workplace by considering all future employees without regard to race, religion, age, sex, national origin, sexual identity, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, or any other minority. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

THEMUSEUM will accommodate all applicants as required by Human Rights Legislation and the AODA.

We thank all interested applicants. However, THEMUSEUM will contact only those candidates to be interviewed. No phone calls please.