Exhibition Production Designer

Yale University; New Haven (CT); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale University seeks an Exhibition Production Designer to conceptualize and refine 3D designs for exhibition layouts at the Peabody Museum. You will work with curators and the exhibitions team to translate concepts into engaging visitor experiences within budget and timeline constraints.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree with three years of related experience, strong proficiency in AutoCAD, Fusion, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, and the ability to manage multiple projects through

Qualifications

• Clear communication and ability to incorporate feedback from multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and track status through design development, fabrication and installation.
• Knowledge of conservation, lighting and construction design principles and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Confer with staff to determine theme, content and budget for exhibits and develop production schedules.
• Prepare preliminary drawings with construction details and material specs for final rendition by others.
• Oversee artwork preparation and fabrication to meet specifications and timelines.
• Coordinate with curators and designers to determine graphics and exhibit look and feel.
• Supervise outside contractors for exhibit components as needed.

Skills

Communication

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Fusion

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

170 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut

Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community, eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative, or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!

Overview

The Exhibition Production Designer will be responsible for conceptualizing, drafting, and refining 3D designs for spatial layout of exhibitions and displays at the Peabody Museum. This position reports to the Head of Visual Design and works closely with the exhibitions team, curators, and other stakeholders to creatively translate key concepts, goals, and collection materials into an engaging visitor experience that can be produced within budget, timeline, and collection care parameters. The Exhibition Production Designer will be responsible for tracking project tasks and deliverables throughout the exhibition development process. This position may manage or instruct students.

Required Skills and Abilities

• High proficiency with AutoCAD, Fusion, SketchUp, and/or other 3D design and modeling software. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and incorporate feedback from multiple stakeholders in collaborative design development processes.
• Comfort working on multiple projects at once. Ability to track detailed project status and deliverables through design development, fabrication, and installation.
• Proven ability to understand and apply conservation, lighting, and construction design principles and best practices. Demonstrated dedication to keeping abreast of industry trends, tools, and best practices.
• Three years exhibition, architecture, theater, industrial design, or related experience. Demonstrated experience with fabrication processes and materials.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

• Familiarity with natural history and human culture collections and display principles. Familiarity with print production methods. Student instruction and supervision.

Principal Responsibilities

• Confers with administrative, curatorial, and exhibit staff members to determine theme, content, interpretative or informational purpose, and planned location of exhibit. Discusses budget, promotion, and time limitations, and develops production schedule for fabrication and installation of exhibit components.
• Prepares preliminary drawings of proposed exhibit, including detailed construction, layout, and special effect diagrams and material specifications, for final drawing rendition by other personnel, basing design and specifications on knowledge of artistic and technical concepts, principles, and techniques.
• Submits plan for approval, and adapts plan as needed to serve intended purpose or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
• As part of an in-house exhibition team, works closely with curators, guest curators and other museum/gallery staff to determine methods and materials, develop cost estimates, and organize and track work flow. Works with Graphic Designer to determine the graphic look and feel of the exhibit.
• Oversees preparation of artwork and construction of exhibit components to ensure intended interpretation of concepts and conformance to structural and material specifications.
• Arranges for acquisition of specimens or graphics or building of exhibit structures by outside contractors as needed to complete exhibit.
• Inspects installed exhibit for conformance to specifications and satisfactory operation of special effects components.
• Oversees placement of collection objects or informational materials in exhibit framework.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and three years of related experience.

Job Posting Date

09/25/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Supervisor; Senior Associate (23)

Salary Range

$65,000.00 - $101,000.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

On-site

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties throughout their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.

Life at Yale

Community Collaborating to strengthen communities both internally and externally.

Ample resources and benefits to support your well being.

Belonging Your unique experiences and viewpoints contribute to our community.