Head of Exhibitions - Liberty Science Center (Jersey City, NJ)
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Liberty Science Center (LSC) is an interactive science museum and nonprofit learning center located along the banks of the Hudson River in a beautiful state park in Jersey City, NJ, and easily accessible from New York City. Liberty Science Center's mission is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers and excite learners of all ages about the power, promise, and pure fun of science and technology.
The Science Center houses 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, hurricane- and tornado-force wind simulators, K-12 classrooms and labs, teacher-development programs, and one of the Western Hemisphere's biggest planetarium—the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and LSC Giant Dome Theater. More than 750,000 students, teachers, and parents visit Liberty Science Center each year, and tens of thousands more participate in the Science Center's off-site and online programs.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Head of Exhibitions for Liberty Science Center (LSC) provides strategic and operational leadership for the creative design, development, and maintenance of exhibitions, experiences, and environments relevant to LSC’s diverse audiences and in support of LSC’s mission and goals. The role oversees multiple teams: Exhibition Development & Design, Exhibition Operations & Maintenance, and Animal Husbandry. In addition, the Head of Exhibitions oversees the management of Liberty Science Center’s featured traveling exhibitions program. The Head of Exhibitions reports to the President & Chief Executive Officer and is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.
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ABOUT YOU
With a notable track record in the exhibitions field you have extensive experience successfully leading compelling, engaging, and innovative design (both digital and physical) that is centered on the visitor experience. In addition, you already have a deep network in the museum and informal education fields where you are highly regarded. An eager consumer and seeker of all things related to the intersection of design, science, technology, art, and culture, you are a creative storyteller deeply interested in people as end-users. Moreover, you are a high-performing professional with significant experience organizing and managing multiple, complex initiatives through periods of growth and change to create and deliver interactive, memorable, inquiry-driven experiences that bring joy and meaning to diverse audiences. You embody competence, generosity of spirit, humor, grit, and humility.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Your essential job functions include, but are not limited to:
Culture Building
Provide leadership to the Exhibitions teams
Foster a team culture of creativity, inclusivity, mutual respect, accountability, and high performance while also maintaining a safety-first culture
Solicit, digest, and provide feedback and expertise
Ensure productive cross-department working relationships and coordination
Oversee management of subcontractors, ensuring consistency and adherence to project parameters.
Work with LSC’s People & Culture team to attract and retain skilled and diverse employees and address any performance-related concerns
Exhibitions Strategy & Leadership
Develop and execute a strategic and tactical plan for renewing current galleries and future projects, with the goal of sustainability in design, operations, and maintenance
Oversee the research, prototyping, and development of concepts that embody LSC’s experience, content, and design philosophy and result in a compelling, inclusive, and identifiable product unique to LSC
Oversee multidisciplinary teams from initial concept and narrative development, through a phased design development process, to the oversight of fabrication and final installation; facilitate a dynamic exchange and collaboration across departments and divisions, and between external partners, contractors, and vendors
Oversee the exhibition maintenance functions, operations, and processes to ensure they are fully operational, cleaned, and well-maintained
Ensure safety protocols and training processes are in place and followed for all teams.
Collaborate and coordinate across divisions to ensure exhibitions are integrated with building systems and operational procedures, and support public outreach, educational programming, and fundraising goals
Budget & Project Management
Implement and execute project management practices that ensure the successful completion of projects on time, on budget, and within scope
Create and manage department and capital project budgets and timelines, and maintain accurate records
Draft and administer RFQ and RFP processes
Negotiate and contract with traveling exhibition providers, external firms, outside freelance designers, photographers, illustrators, researchers, writers, and design, media, lighting, engineering, and architectural firms and consultants
Approve and monitor project and department invoicing and payments in coordination with the Finance team
Across Departmental Functions
Ensure each team that comprises the Exhibitions department is engaged in the Science Center's work and culture and is well run, high performing, and accountable to their deliverables
Supervise, mentor, and develop a staff of full-time and part-time designers, exhibition developers, animal husbandry specialists, exhibition techs, vendors, and consultants
Create and implement an integrated work plan and processes for each team
Maintain a digital and physical project archive of design, administrative records, and material samples
Traveling Exhibitions & Special Projects
Oversee the contracting, budget, installation, and strike of featured traveling exhibitions
Liaise with LSC staff, external contractors, and venues
Serve on the committee to research and select traveling exhibitions for LSC
Ensure the delivery of CEO-assigned special projects
SUPERVISION
You will directly supervise the following full-time staff:
Sr. Director of Exhibitions
Sr. Director of Exhibition Development & Design
Sr. Experiential Graphic Designer
Director of Animal Husbandry
QUALIFICATIONS
10+ years of expertise in exhibition development (both onsite and traveling), exhibition planning, management, and operations at a highly regarded agency or institution with increasing responsibility, including significant managerial experience.
Graduate-level degree a plus
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES (KSAs)
Extensive knowledge of exhibition planning, interpretation, design, visitor evaluation practices, and current principles, practices, trends, and innovations in new media, the museum field, and related disciplines
Understanding the principles and processes of architectural and industrial design, experiential graphic design, interactive media design, sound and lighting design, mechanical interactive design, interior design, exhibition fabrication, sustainable green materials and methods, and building systems integration
Experience in developing and implementing state-of-the-art experiential media is a strong plus
Experience developing and defining scopes of work and estimating costs for complex projects
Experience with project and budget management processes and software
Understanding of standard design software and hardware tools; technical proficiency with MS Office Software, Google Docs, and project management software
Accurately read and interpret architectural and other technical design drawings and documentation
Demonstrated leadership skills; a strategic thinker and a strong, emotionally intelligent manager
Facilitator and motivator of others in new practices and ways of working to support a culture of innovation and collaboration
Ability to foster an atmosphere of ongoing learning, creativity, empathy, humor, and trust
PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for prolonged periods and work on standard office equipment
Must be able to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds
Must be able to move about the Science Center facility and grounds with ease
PAY RANGE & COMPENSATION PACKAGE
The expected salary range is $165,000-$180,000 annually; this role is also bonus eligible. This role is an exempt, non-union role. Compensation for this position is based on a number of individualized factors, including but not limited to skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization, and depth and scope of experience. In addition to compensation for salary, you will be eligible for compensation in the form of a generous benefits and paid time off.
APPLICATION NOTES
Submit a cover letter and resume that is tailored to this specific role and organization into a single PDF file and submit it through the LSC Careers page. Our People Team will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. You may request a more detailed job description from peopleteam@lsc.org.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Liberty Science Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. LSC does not discriminate with respect to employment, or admission or access to LSC facilities, programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, gender (including sexual harassment), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy and lactation accommodations, alienage or citizenship status, current or former participation in the uniformed services, status as a veteran, caregiver, salary history, national or ethnic origin, height, weight, or on account of any other basis prohibited by applicable City, State, or Federal law.
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