Director of Exhibition Design - Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA)
About the job
At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates and values diversity. We firmly believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices, working together, increases our capacity to serve our visitors and fulfill our mission. We welcome people from all walks of life into our team and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.
Job Summary:
Set strategic direction and project vision for design projects, in collaboration with core Exhibitions Division Leadership. Provide direction and supervision of the 2-D and 3-D design teams. Support an exhibition philosophy that content drives design, and support an exhibition design process that is transparent, collaborative, takes other areas of expertise into account, and seeks understanding and buy-in from colleagues within Exhibitions and across the Aquarium. Lead and facilitate a creative design process in collaboration with project managers to produce excellent public facing exhibitions that align with existing Aquarium exhibition brand while being innovative. Foster strategic development of staff to ensure they are prepared to meet the current and future needs of the Division and organization’s project goals and deadlines, and to produce high-quality and engaging experiences across the organization. Collaborate with other departments and divisions to ensure the quality and value of the visitor experience. Perform other duties as required.
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Core Activities:
Set strategic design direction and project vision in collaboration with core Exhibitions Division Leadership.
Provide supervision and management of the Exhibition Design department (3D and graphic designers), including personnel management, annual operating budget development and management, detailed project schedules, and staff work plans.
Create and implement staff development plans; provide performance feedback and evaluate annual performance.
Provide experience design for exhibition projects including but not limited to exhibit experiences, look and feel of gallery, color palette, and suggested materials to create collaborative design packages at each project phase. Produce dimensioned hand sketches, sketchup renderings, floorplans, elevations, detailed drawings, etc, with the integration of graphic designs, in collaboration with the exhibits team.
Conduct reviews, approvals, and incorporate feedback into exhibit and graphic designs, in collaboration with cross-divisional project teams, architects, and/or general contractors.
Participate in Aquarium-wide planning processes, as requested.
Develop effective and supportive cross-divisional relationships with Guest Experience, Animal Care, Education, and Marketing to ensure that projects meet or exceed visitor needs, animal care needs, and other MBA requirements.
Conduct regular reviews of public areas and identify areas for improvement to improve the guest experience that are in keeping with the existing building and Aquarium aesthetics in collaboration with Exhibitions, Animal Care, and Guest Experience.
Work with Exhibitions staff and managers to regularly and effectively communicate work progress to stakeholders, staff, management, and board.
Establish, communicate, and implement industry best practices for exhibit design and graphic design, processes and norms including but not limited to complete exhibit design drawing sets, graphic designs, and specifications.
Prepare and manage RFPs and contracts, including scope, schedules, budgets, terms and conditions and fee basis in collaboration with project managers; also participate in contract negotiations as required and select vendor/contractor management.
Manage small to mid-size projects, outside design firms, and design contractors and specialty fabrication as required.
Develop and oversee the exhibitions team’s timely completion of permit packages and obtaining permits required by the Aquarium or by government agencies in relation to projects (e.g., building and/or electrical permits).
Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
Bachelor’s degree in design, exhibition design, art, or equivalent combination of education, training, and design experience
Advanced Degree in Museum Studies, Architecture, Design Management, Industrial Design or related field or equivalent combination of education, training and design experience
Demonstrated experience in providing creative and innovative exhibition designs that can be produced on time and on or under budget , and that meets the needs of the Aquarium
Ten+ years of experience designing and/or managing the exhibition design process of large-scale exhibition projects at an aquarium, zoo, or museum
Experience managing and supervising departmental staff
Superior communication and management skills
Demonstrated knowledge of concept design, schematic design, design development and construction/fabrication/production documents
Experience in initiating and prioritizing tasks; excellent time management, schedule development, problem prevention and problem-solving skills
Proven ability to oversee work effectively, flexibly and efficiently under multiple, competing projects and deadlines
Experience managing the character, quality and cost of construction/fabrication materials and equipment
Knowledgeable of architectural and technical detailing, construction, fabrication and production technology and equipment
Ability to receive and process constructive feedback on design elements
Skilled at working within design constraints, and creating a shared understanding of design elements within a large and collaborative team, with often complex design requirements.
Competency in all Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Powerpoint; and in Google Workspace (formally G Suite) including Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Competency with industry-standard programs and software; proficient at Adobe Creative Cloud environment applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat) and architectural drawing programs (AutoCAD, VectorWorks, Revit and/or 3D drawing software such as Sketchup or Rhino) and excellent hand-sketching skills to clearly articulate intent
Knowledgeable about green materials and sustainable design
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Skilled with making compelling presentations to diverse audiences: staff, colleagues, senior managers, donors, experts, boards
Experience designing exhibitions for aquatic or live animals
Support and emulate the Core Values of the Exhibitions department
Ability to work within, and maintain Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Core Values
Demonstrated commitment to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Leadership Competencies
Physical Requirements to Perform Essential Job Functions:
Typical office equipment
Constant sitting, standing, walking, bending
Occasional unassisted lifting up to 50 lbs
Typical office environment, main aquarium, animal care service areas, exhibits, occasional offsite venues including MBARI
Annual Compensation Range:
$120,600- $154,000 annually. Starting rate will vary based on previous experience and relevant skills/knowledge set.
