Exhibits Technician

Socket.dev; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extensive PTO

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Flexible Spending Account

Job summary

Virginia Living Museum is seeking an Exhibits Technician to design, fabricate, install, and maintain engaging exhibits. You will work with traveling exhibit teams and manage lighting, signage, and display components to enhance guest experiences.

The role requires hands-on fabrication, carpentry, and painting skills, with 1–3 years in exhibit prep, and a collaborative, detail-oriented approach to supporting the museum’s mission.

Qualifications

• Degree or certificate in Fine Arts, Industrial Design, or Museum Studies preferred.
• 1–3 years in three-dimensional exhibit preparation; museum setting a plus.
• Demonstrated creativity through artistic design and build.
• Knowledge of design, tools and principles for technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Knowledge of construction and building practices.
• Skills in painting, general repairs, and carpentry.
• Experience in woodshops, fabrication, building and prototyping.
• Detail oriented and highly organized with good time management.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to present ideas clearly.

Responsibilities

• Be a positive, enthusiastic representative of the Virginia Living Museum.
• Maximize guest experience by supporting non-live exhibits, including installation, lighting, artifacts, and signage.
• Perform maintenance and repair of non-live exhibits (wall prep, painting, carpentry, lighting).
• Ensure all displays are clean and in working order daily.
• Install, maintain and remove temporary rental exhibits.
• Assist fabrication and installation of educational exhibits and signage.
• Manage specialized lighting for museum exhibits and spaces.
• Care for non-collection objects used for displays.
• Oversee a team of department volunteers to support museum mission.
• Keep abreast of new technology and trends to keep exhibits engaging.

Skills

Exhibit fabrication

3D design

Woodworking

Carpentry

Painting

Blueprints

Team leadership

Communication

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Fine Arts degree

Industrial Design certificate

Museum Studies degree

Tools

Woodshop tools

Fabrication equipment

Prototyping tools

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 Technician supports the Museum’s mission to connect people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation through the production and maintenance of high quality, engaging exhibits. The main responsibilities of this position include fabricating and building exhibits, as well as working with traveling exhibit companies on installation and removal of changing exhibits. 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 Exhibits Manager.

Qualifications

• Creative and passionate about education
• A degree or certificate in a relevant field such as: Fine Arts, Industrial Design, or Museum Studies, preferred
• 1 - 3 years of experience in three-dimensional exhibit preparation, preferably in a museum setting
• Demonstrated creativity through artistic design and build
• Sound knowledge of design, tools, and principals involved in the production of technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Knowledge of construction and building practices
• Skills in painting, general repairs, and carpentry
• Experience in woodshops, fabrication, building and prototyping experience
• Detail oriented, highly organized, effective time management
• Problem solver, ability to formulate creative ideas/concepts for exhibits and signage
• Must be able to clearly and professionally present thoughts and ideas through written and oral communication, often using sketches and drawings

Duties and Responsibilities

• Be a positive, enthusiastic representative of the Virginia Living Museum
• Maximize the guest experience by supporting all non-live permanent and temporary exhibits, including installation, lighting, artifacts, interpretive signage, and other methods to convey information in an engaging manner
• Perform maintenance and repair of all non-live temporary and permanent exhibits (including wall preparation, painting, finish carpentry, lighting needs, etc.)
• Ensure all displays and exhibits are clean and in working order each day
• Install, maintain and remove temporary rental exhibits
• Assist in fabrication and installation of educational exhibits to include signage, graphics, banners
• Manage the specialized lighting for all museum exhibits, galleries and spaces
• Care and maintenance for non-collection objects used for displays and exhibits
• Oversee a team of department volunteers to maximize and strengthen the Museum’s mission and commitment to the community
• Keep abreast of new technology and trends to ensure VLM exhibits remain engaging and relevant.
• Collaborate across Museum departments to improve exhibits based upon guest feedback
• Strategically utilize and manage department staff & volunteers and their applicable skills to strengthen the Museum’s mission and commitment to the community
• Follow museum safety policies and procedures
• Other duties as assigned.

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 and written 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: None

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. This position, Exhibits Technician, will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the appropriate Supervisor/ Director. Virginia Living Museum reserves the right to update, revise or change the job description and related duties at any time.