Manager of Exhibits + Facilities

National Museum of Wildlife Art; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

National Children’s Museum is seeking a Manager of Exhibits + Facilities to oversee daily operations of the museum’s exhibits and facilities. You will ensure exhibit integrity, safety, and engaging learning experiences while maintaining the building and systems, coordinating with vendors, and leading custodial and facilities teams.

Reporting to the VP of Marketing + Creative Strategy, the role focuses on expanding family-centered engagement, crafting physical experiences, and sustaining the

Qualifications

• 3-5 years working with exhibits and facilities in a museum or similar setting.
• Experience with exhibit and/or experiential design as it relates to a larger brand system.
• Creative mindset and interest in tinkering, making, and design.
• Demonstrated skills in troubleshooting, repairing, and fabrication of exhibits and building systems.
• Experience writing, issuing, and managing RFPs and contracts.
• Previous experience working with children, particularly in museums, STEAM learning, arts, or theater.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills.
• Self-starter able to take charge of tasks and decisions quickly.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship not available.

Responsibilities

• Uphold exhibit integrity to ensure experiences work as intended while prioritizing guest safety and engagement.
• Reinforce the full brand experience by ensuring continuity on the whole user journey from website to physical experience.
• Design and fabricate exhibit materials, props, and small-scale installations for dynamic learning experiences.
• Manage visiting exhibit hall program by coordinating with vendors and overseeing logistics.
• Ensure the building and its systems are well maintained with building management and contractors.
• Supervise exhibits, facilities, and custodial teams to maintain cleanliness and space condition.
• Conduct routine maintenance, repairs, and improvements to exhibits and facilities.
• Develop and maintain documentation of facilities and exhibits operations and maintenance.
• Review visitor feedback to continuously improve the Museum experience.

Skills

Exhibits management

Facilities management

Project management

Vendor coordination

RFPs and contracts

Job description

National Children’s Museum is a world-class institution that aims to spark children’s imaginations and encourage them to dream. Steps off the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue, National Children’s Museum celebrates the joy of childhood through science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) exhibits and programs. As Manager of Exhibits + Facilities, you will help realize this vision for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

As Manager of Exhibits + Facilities, reporting to the Vice President of Marketing + Creative Strategy, you will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Museum's exhibits and facilities. As part of the full brand experience, this role will focus on creating deeper family-centered engagement and more moments of joy and learning. Your work will support the mission of the National Children’s Museum to inspire children to care about and change the world—playing a critical role in sparking curiosity and igniting innovation for millions of children in this next generation.

What you’ll do:

• Uphold exhibit integrity to ensure experiences work as intended while prioritizing guest safety, security, and engagement in exhibit content and learning objectives;
• Reinforce the full brand experience by ensuring continuity on the whole user journey from our website to the physical experience;
• Design and fabricate exhibit materials, props, and small-scale installations to support dynamic, responsive learning experiences;
• Manage National Children's Museum visiting exhibit hall program by coordinating with vendors and managing transition and installation logistics;
• Ensure the building and its systems are well maintained by working with building management, external vendors, service providers, and contractors as needed;
• Manage exhibits and facilities and custodial team members to ensure the space is kept in excellent condition with a high quality of cleanliness;
• Conduct routine maintenance, repairs, and improvements to the exhibits and facilities;
• Develop and maintain documentation of facilities and exhibits operations and maintenance; and
• Continue to improve the Museum experience by reviewing visitor feedback as it relates to Museum exhibits and facilities.

What we believe are important experiences + traits for this role:

• 3-5 years working with exhibits and facilities in a museum or similar setting;
• Knowledge or interest in exhibit and/or experiential design as it relates to a larger brand system;
• Creative mind-set and interest in tinkering, making, and design;
• Demonstrated skills in troubleshooting, repairing, and fabrication of exhibits and building systems;
• Experience writing, issuing, and managing RFPs and contracts;
• Previous experience working with children, particularly in settings such as museums, or programs in STEAM learning, arts, or theater;
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills and a proven ability to organize and prioritize work, projects, and meet deadlines;
• Self-starter able to take charge of tasks and make decisions swiftly;
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship;
• Be a positive, collaborative member of National Children’s Museum Team’s creative culture; and
• Passion for the mission and values of National Children’s Museum.