Senior Manager of Exhibitions

Carnegie Museum of Natural History, one of the four Carnegie Museums, is among the top natural history museums in the country. It maintains, preserves, and interprets an extraordinary collection of artifacts, objects, and scientific specimens used to broaden understanding of evolution, conservation, and biodiversity. Carnegie Museum of Natural History generates new scientific knowledge, advances science literacy, and inspires visitors of all ages to become passionate about science, nature, and world cultures. Carnegie Museums is interested in candidates who, through their experience and collaborations, will contribute to diversity and excellence of the Carnegie Museums community.
 

This Full-Time position is eligible for the Carnegie Museums' many Benefits. 

Please scroll to the bottom of this page to see information on the starting pay rate.

The Senior Manager of Exhibitions manages an interdisciplinary team creating Museum Experiences that make learning inspirational and accessible, and that show the interrelationship between humanity and the rest of nature. 

The Senior Manager of Exhibitions supervises the department and team charged with creating, planning, developing, installing, and maintaining innovative and engaging exhibitions. They will motivate and lead this team through a collaborative cross-departmental process that will result in exhibitions that welcome, serve, engage, and effectively communicate to all visitors of verifying age, gender, backgrounds, and ability. Senior Manager of Exhibitions develops plans to build, maintain, and operate an exhibition for its entire life ensuring that visitor needs are being met—using iterative testing, observation, and evaluation—and advocates for the necessary resources to fulfill these plans. They work closely with the Director of Museum Experience to develop near- and long-term direction for exhibitions that meet visitor-experience goals and the strategic goals of the Museum.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience, including senior-level experience in exhibition design, project management, budgeting, fabrication, and installation.
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant area such as museum studies, content development, design, project management, fabrication, maintenance. etc. or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with, and guiding, a wide range of team members including scientists, educators, fabricators, vendors, and other partners.

• Demonstrated track record of designing/developing exhibitions and installations, or similar, to meet visitor goals within a set budget and schedule.

• Experience to coordinating iterative testing, observation, and/or evaluation to ensure that visitor needs are being met.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, coordinate, and build consensus with diverse teams of stakeholders in a creative, multidisciplinary, and fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) and other project management software (such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, Asana etc.), design and construction software and with CAD (Computer Aided Design), Sketch-up, Vectorworks and/or other 3D design tools Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign).

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Excellent communication skills (interpersonal, public speaking, and written)
• Embraces working with people of different cultures, nationalities, and localities, and cares about making museum experiences accessible to a wide variety of communities.

• Exhibits positive, professional manner, and helps build team spirit. Actively seeks opportunities for team building and growth.
• Facilitates positive interpersonal team dynamics; works with individuals and the group to eliminate roadblocks and support alignment with departmental goals/values, mission, and commitments.
• Ability to work with limited supervision.
• Ability to work with and maintain confidential information.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The staff sits is in a non-confined office-type setting in which they move about at will. The environment for this position is clean and comfortable but includes minor annoyances such as noise, odors, drafts, etc. While performing their work, the employee:

• Will spend substantial time utilizing the computer.
• Will spend time in exhibition galleries and storage closets as needed.
• Must travel via personal vehicle or public transport to off-site meetings and facilities.
• Operate a computer using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.) and other project management software (such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, Asana etc.), design and construction software and with CAD (Computer Aided Design), Sketch-up, Vectorworks and/or other 3D design tools Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND Accountabilities

• Management: Supervises the team that develops exhibitions including budgets, schedules, design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance. Lead with a guiding hand, with empathy and support of others, while adhering to high standards of performance.
• Process: Along with the with the Director of Museum Experience, motivates and leads team through a collaborative cross-departmental process, providing guidance and input to ensure that exhibitions align with mission and commitments.
• Budgets: Monitor exhibition budgets in support of Project Managers and guide team on how to stay within budget while meeting visitor experience goals.
• Fundraising support: Assist Development staff and Director of Museum Experience in the preparation and presentation of proposals and grant applications that will financially support exhibitions and Museum Experience.
• Collaboration: Ensure effective cross-department collaboration, and that methods of seeking and responding to visitor/community input are built into exhibition processes.
• Accessibility: Supervises the team in creating exhibitions that welcome, serve, engage, and effectively communicate to all visitors of verifying age, gender, backgrounds, and ability.
• Resource planning: Work collaboratively with the Director of Museum Experience to identify, vet, secure, and work with contractors, community partners, and vendors needed to support exhibitions and Museum Experience, as needed, taking lead on Requests for Proposals (RFP), interviews, and meetings. Develops plans to build, maintain, and operate an exhibition for its entire life ensuring that visitor needs are being met—using iterative testing, observation, and evaluation—and advocate for the necessary resources (space, staff, funding, time) to fulfill these plans.
• Experience planning: Works closely with the Director of Museum Experience to develop near- and long-term direction for exhibitions that meet visitor-experience objectives and the strategic goals of the Museum.
• Leadership: Collaborate with other managers both internally and across Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh team of on behalf of the Exhibits Department within a greater responsibility of serving the good of the Museum, its mission, collections, scientific research, and audiences.
• Organization: Work with the Director of Museum Experience to ensure properly prepared schedules, budgets, plans, drawings, reports, contracts, evaluations, and assessments are in place, enabling team to achieve Museum/exhibition goals, and maintain accurate records and accountability within the department.
• Continued learning: Remain current with innovations in exhibition and museum fields, and science communication to support individual/staff growth, to maintain and improve the relevance, quality, and effectiveness of all exhibition experiences.
• Offering assistance: Depending on area of expertise, assists as needed with content development, design, project management, fabrication, or maintenance.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Museum Experience and dependent on organizational needs.

Expecting starting pay range, based on experience, $55,000-65,000

The following PA Act 153 clearances, or proof of application of clearances, are required beginning employment and as a condition of continued employment: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Obtaining the required clearances is completed as part of the new hire process.

Carnegie Museums is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer – Minorities / Females / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

The above job description reflects the essential functions and qualifications for the position identified, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position. The job description does not constitute an employment contract and does not alter the at-will relationship between CMP and the employee.   

*GUIDANCE ON ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:   The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) requires employers to consider and accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  An individual is qualified if he or she can perform the essential functions of a job with or without reasonable accommodation. An essential job function is any task that is a fundamental part of the job.  When considering essentiality, one must focus upon whether the function is essential to this particular job and not to the department as a whole. Some additional guidance on essential functions follows below.  Please note that the following guidelines are non-exhaustive.  If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact Human Resources. A. Is the function required to be performed on a regular basis? If the function is rarely performed, it may not be essential. B. Is the function highly specialized? Is the incumbent hired for his/her expertise or ability to perform the function?  The need for special expertise is an indication of an essential function. C. Does the position exist, at least in part, to perform the function?  If so, the function is more likely to be essential. D. How much time is spent performing the function and how often?  Note that even functions performed 10% of the time could be essential if they are required on a regular basis. E. Would elimination of the function fundamentally alter the job?  If so, the function is more likely to be essential. F. What are the consequences of not requiring the incumbent to perform the function? If they are significant, the function is more likely to be essential.  G. Are there a limited number of employees among whom the performance of the function could be distributed if the incumbent could not perform it?  If so, it is more likely to be essential.