Exhibits Manager

Virginia Living Museum; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days PTO per year

Fully/partially subsidized health &amp

Dental coverage

Life insurance

Job summary

Virginia Living Museum is seeking an Exhibits Manager to lead the design, planning, installation, and logistics of the museum's exhibits. You will work with a team to deliver permanent, traveling, and special projects aligned with our mission to connect people to nature.

The role requires strong leadership, project and budget management, and excellent communication. It is an on-site, full-time position reporting to the Senior Director, Facility Operations.

Qualifications

• Proven leader with strategic, self-motivated approach.
• Experience driving creative design through exhibit completion.
• Ability to present ideas clearly via sketches and drawings.

Responsibilities

• Be a positive, enthusiastic representative of the Virginia Living Museum.
• Coordinate staff assignments with Senior Director Facility Operations to meet deadlines.
• Maximizes guest experience by planning and managing permanent and temporary exhibits.

Skills

Exhibit design

Project management

Leadership

Time management

Written and verbal communication

Budget management

Supervisory skills

Tools

Graphic design

Job description

Description

Who We Are

At Virginia Living Museum, we inspire people to discover, care for, and protect the natural world. Home to 1,100+ Virginia native species, we connect with our community through immersive experiences, innovative partnerships, and investments in sustainability.

Accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), Virginia Living Museum is one of only fifteen institutions in the country to hold both distinctions. Community volunteers outnumber staff by approximately 8:1, extending our reach and strengthening our mission every day.

Our full-time employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including 35 days of paid time off per year (9 holidays, a birthday, 10 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 3 personal days), fully paid life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance, dental coverage, and health insurance costs full or partially subsidized by the Museum. Additional benefits include a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and the option to participate in a 401(k) retirement plan. Join this dynamic organizational culture to inspire and connect people with the natural world!

Status: Full Time, Exempt, 37.5 - 40 hours/week (on-site)

Department: Exhibits

General Statement of Duties

The Exhibits Manager ensures the highest quality exhibits to support the Museum’s engaging mission to connect people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation. The Exhibits Manager is responsible for the design, planning, installation and logistics of the museum’s permanent, traveling exhibits, and special projects. This position’s priorities align with the VLM strategic plan's three core initiatives: immersive experiences, innovative partnerships, and investments for sustainability. This position reports to the Senior Director, Facility Operations.

Qualifications

• Proven leader. Strategic, self-motivated, customer–focused, problem solving professional
• Demonstrated ability to drive creative design through exhibit completion
• Demonstrated imagination through creative/artistic design. Must have sound knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in the production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models
• Minimum of one year’s experience in three-dimensional, interactive exhibit design, planning and building
• Excellent organizational, time management and supervisory skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Working knowledge of graphic design and exhibit sign design. Ability to work with a wide range of materials including but not limited to wood, plastics, and metals
• Must be able to clearly and professionally present thoughts and ideas through written and oral communication, including sketches and drawings
• Working knowledge of various and alternate ways to inform and entertain a variety of guests, including knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation
• Excellent shop development, fabrication, painting, general repairs, and carpentry skills and experience
• Neat, detail-oriented and highly organized
• Ability remain calm, make sound decisions and provide clear directions in a crisis situation

Duties and Responsibilities

• Be a positive, enthusiastic representative of the Virginia Living Museum
• Coordinate staff assignments with the Senior Director Facility Operations as well as the Facility Manager on a cohesive basis to facilitate successful project completion and deadlines
• Maximizes the guest experience by researching, planning and managing all permanent and temporary exhibits, including installation, lighting, artifacts, interpretive signage, and other methods of conveying information
• Review and approve the creation of exhibits to include the designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of design principles and esthetic design concepts
• Plans and creates displays that best showcase information and artifacts
• Plan, direct and coordinate activities of staff and volunteers who design, create and breakdown exhibits, displays and signage
• Manages project budgets, schedules, and resources
• Catalogues, arranges and cares for objects used for displays and exhibits
• Ensure all displays and exhibits are clean and in working order
• Work with Senior Leadership on long range planning of museum special build projects and coordinating implementation of those initiatives
• Strategically utilize and manage department staff & volunteers and their applicable skills to strengthen the Museum’s mission and commitment to the community

Requirements

• Ability to work the occasional evening, weekend or holiday
• Availability to participate as a member of the museum’s snow removal team
• Must be able to perceive detailed information through oral communication
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to lift and/or exert 50 pounds routinely, 80 pounds occasionally
• Must be able to move throughout the Museum’s building(s) and outdoor trail as needed
• Must have visual acuity to be able to operate motor vehicles and/or equipment
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crawl, reach, push, pull, lift, grasp, feel, and utilize repetitive motions. Must be comfortable at heights and using tall ladders.
• Will be subject to outdoor environmental conditions such as heat, cold, wind, snow, and humidity

Supervision Exercised: Exhibits Technicians