Exhibits Production Manager

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Organizational Overview

The Museum of Us (formerly the San Diego Museum of Man) is located on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Kumeyaay Nation in what is now known as Balboa Park. Our mission is inspiring human connections by exploring the human experience—in all of its beauty and its messiness. With our community’s guidance, we’ve transformed an old-school anthropology museum with a legacy of colonial and racist harm into a human-centered museum that builds understanding, empathy, and belonging, and—in turn—the capacity to effectuate positive change. We’re a place for everyone, but especially for those who haven’t been able to tell their own stories in mainstream museums. We’re also a place for the new and future generations of museum-goers, who will continue to expect more from their cultural institutions. The driving force behind our work is developing better and better practices in what a decolonial and anti-racist museum can look like and then creating a ripple effect in the museum field (and beyond). Four interrelated themes loom large for us: Identity, Home, Wellness, and Justice. Every one of our projects/initiatives begins with an examination of whether (and, if so, how) the work is oriented around and informed by our decolonial and anti-racist commitments.

Position Summary

The Exhibits Production Manager reports to the Senior Director of Exhibits and Operations and works collaboratively with the Exhibits team and external partners, to create new community driven, culturally informed exhibitions at the Museum of Us. This person is someone who can plan and execute complex art installations, working very collaboratively with content development, design development, gallery construction, and fabrication of exhibit materials. Producing and installing exhibitions includes handling a diverse array of cultural resources objects, graphics, cabinetry, and hands-on interactives for public display. This position organizes and maintains database files with colleagues, artists, clients, and vendors. The Exhibits Production Manager operates with upmost professionalism in regards to museum best practices for public facing museum exhibits containing cultural objects, and works with teams and individuals to maintain a professional, clean and efficient environment during gallery transitions. The priority for this role in year one is producing the newly developed exhibit Race: Power, Resistance & Change, which features artworks from many regional living artists. The heart of the Exhibits Production Manager role is to manage the technical details of producing and installing all Museum of Us exhibitions through completion. This position is full time, non-exempt, with a Monday through Friday schedule. Work schedule may occasionally include weekends or evenings for programs and events.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Director of Exhibits and Operations, the Exhibits Production Manager is expected to work collaboratively with individuals throughout the Museum of Us and perform the following:

• Navigate the production needs of multiple ongoing projects, anticipate impacts to project stakeholders, and proactively work with teams both internal and externally to find solutions.
• Work collaboratively in creative spaces to identify unique design solutions that support timelines and budgets.
• Coordinate sending graphics files to be printed. Graphics files are primarily in Illustrator, and are typically printed to materials including vinyl, Dibond, wood, and Cintra.
• Keep project files on the exhibits servers current and organized. Proactively work with internal and external project stakeholders to ensure project files are complete and ready for archiving post exhibit production
• Maintain a clean and professional shared workspace in the museum exhibits storage and fabrication areas.
• Perform periodic walk-throughs of the exhibits, and collaborate with the museum operations staff to ensure exhibits are in working order, to ensure timely resolution and contribute to a high-quality experience for visitors.
• Read floorplans and elevations for new exhibit designs to ensure accuracy. Coordinate between fabrication contractors and designers to ensure consistency between teams of stakeholders.
• Acquire quotes from contractors, and coordinate with exhibits project team and designers to ensure that work is within project budgets.
• Provide quotes to support building project budgets for museum grant submissions.
• Installing graphics including vinyl wall treatments, hanging cleated panels, and adhesive mounted graphic materials
• Light fabrication including patching gallery walls, painting, drilling holes, simple object mounts, and interactive prototypes
• Occasionally moving and setting up exhibit components such as object cases, vitrines, graphic panels, projectors, lighting fixtures, exhibit cabinets, and exhibit seating
• Collaborate with other museum departments to support programs and events, including occasionally working at after-hours events.
• Participate in all required museum training programs, work towards the museum mission, and uphold the museum values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  

Experience & Education

Experience, Education, or Skills Required:

• Experience working in museums, performing arts spaces, cultural centers, and/or art galleries.
• Experience working in wood & metal fabrication, graphic design, interior design, and/or art handling.
• Experience coordinating with contractors and/or vendors.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, and public engagement skills; enjoys working with people.
• Experience navigating the production needs of multiple ongoing projects.
• Strong understanding of museum exhibits best practices.
• Willingness to be CPR/AED and First Aid certified.
• High school diploma or equivalent, Bachelor’s degree preferred.
  

ADA Notations

• Indoor/outdoor working environment including sitting, walking, climbing stairs, balancing, crouching, stooping, and communication (talking/ hearing).
• Ability to move between all areas of the museum, some of which are widely spaced on uneven terrain and require climbing stairs.
• Ability to climb ladders and step stools.
• Ability to lift and carry large/bulky items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Vision requirements include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Noise conditions range from quiet to moderate noise.

Salary & Benefits

• Full-time pay range $57,000 - $67,000 per year
• Rooted in a focus on equitability and sustainability, we offer an exceptional employee benefits package, including:
  • Medical/dental/vision/life insurance and disability benefits;
  • 15 paid holidays, with the ability to substitute employee-designated holidays for museum-designated holidays;
  • Vacation (10-20 days/year, depending on seniority) and sick leave (10 days/year);
  • Three days paid Community-Centered leave to support and build community however define it;
  • Matching retirement contribution plan, up to 6% of your annual salary;
  • $200 in “Museum Bucks” for you to support your work-life balance;
  • Birthday and anniversary gift cards;
  • A human-centered and highly supportive environment, which encourages team members to bring their whole selves to work.

Application Process

To apply for the Exhibits Production Manager position, please submit a cover letter and resume to recruiting@museumofus.org. The position is open until filled. The hiring committee will begin reviewing resumes August 15, 2024.