Manager of Exhibit Design - Adler Planetarium (Chicago, IL)
About The Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium connects people to the universe and each other. Whether introducing a guest to the Ring Nebula, a neighborhood school to a community partner, a research team to a network of citizen scientists, or one staff member to another, Adler’s focus on meaningful connections dates back nearly a century.
Today, the museum hosts more than half a million visitors each year and reaches millions more through youth STEM programs, neighborhood skywatching events, online citizen science, and other outreach projects. With Adler’s support, people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities gain the confidence to explore their universe together and return to their communities ready to think critically and creatively about any challenge that comes their way.
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The Position
The Adler Planetarium is seeking a Manager of Exhibit Design to join our dynamic team located on Chicago's Museum Campus. The Manager of Exhibit Design at the Adler is responsible for creating and maintaining the design of exhibitions, galleries, community labs, and other public spaces. They ensure the designs are functional, engaging, and visually cohesive with the museum's brand. They work within financial, content, time, and space constraints to improve guest experiences. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, they develop the guest experience, exhibit process, and schedule. They supervise the Graphic Design Production Specialist and external designers, consulting with content teams to ensure designs are relevant and impactful.
This individual will also be responsible for:
Lead Exhibit Design: Oversee the complete design process for exhibits and experiential spaces, including graphics, floor plans, interactive elements, and case design. Manage smaller exhibits from concept to completion and work with contracted services on larger projects.
Collaborative Development: Participate in the experience development process from the early stages, applying key themes, content, and desired impact to design spaces that meet guest experience goals. Collaborate with project teams and stakeholders to create appropriate exhibitions and interpretive elements.
Design Execution: Develop designs based on guest experience goals, space conditions, budget, schedule, and research. Communicate approaches, integrate feedback from stakeholders, and prepare detailed drafts and revisions on schedule.
Team Supervision: Supervise the Graphic Design Production Specialist and collaborate with the Manager of Exhibit Operations to maintain and update experiential spaces, ensuring the refurbishment of outdated exhibit elements and refreshing gallery interiors as needed.
FT The Compensation & Benefits
Base Pay: range: $70,000 - $90,500/yr.
Work-Life Balance
35-hour workweek
3 sick days as of date of hire (can accrue up to 6.5 days per year)
7 Adler paid holidays
4 Personal Holidays (Prorated for new hires starting after January 1st)
Paid Family Bereavement Leave & Jury Duty
Eligible to accrue up to 18 vacation days per year to start
Flexible work arrangements
Competitive Health Coverage
Medical, Dental, & Vision insurance
Healthcare, Dependent Care & Commuter flexible spending accounts
Adler Paid Short-Term Disability insurance
Retirement Savings Plan
403B plan with Adler match
Adler match is 100% vested immediately
Eligible to enroll as of the date of hire
Network of Support through our EAP programs
Resources to help address emotional, legal, and financial issues
Face-to-face, telephonic, and web-based services
Free subscription to the Calm Premium app
Discounted Onsite Parking Passes
Free Entrance to Chicago area museums and cultural institutions
The Person
The ideal candidate has keen attention to detail, a strong aesthetic sense, and excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. They possess strong communication and teamwork abilities as well as time management skills. They are willing to lead and can work effectively within financial, time, and space constraints. Additionally, they demonstrate proficiency in integrating feedback and maintaining a visitor-focused approach.
Required Qualifications:
Associate's Degree or 3+ years of professional work experience
5+ years of exhibit design experience in museums, with substantial experience from concept to completion on various project scales
Skilled in conceptual design, design development, and interior design
Able to read and interpret blueprints, hand sketch, and create floor plans
Advanced understanding of design styles, concepts, and construction processes; knowledgeable in materials and fabrication techniques, including large-scale printing
Creative problem-solving skills; practical and critical thinking abilities; capable of analyzing large quantities of information and discerning important details
Capacity to understand creative and logistical constraints, construction processes, schedule management, and design priorities; adept at handling creative constraints effectively
Strong people and communication skills to listen, ask questions, receive and analyze feedback, dialogue, and seek assistance; ability to resolve disagreements and negotiate needs
Excellent time management skills to work on multiple projects simultaneously, make proactive progress, and deliver on time; adept at organizing, prioritizing, negotiating, and delegating tasks
Ability to shift rapidly between working in isolation and team collaboration; productive in an open office environment; capable of concentrating and progressing on short and long-term priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic work setting
Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), and Google Workspace
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree or 5 + years of professional work experience
Degree in graphic design, interior design, set design, architecture, exhibit design, industrial design, or equivalent
Supervisory experience leading design work at a museum or similar institution.
Lift training and usage. Familiarity with ADA codes and local/state/federal building regulations regarding public spaces.
Working knowledge of CNC machines and 3D and large-scale printing is a plus.
Experience in 3D modeling/industrial design (Blender, SketchUp) is a plus
The Adler Planetarium is dedicated to complying with its obligations as an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department by email at recruiting@adlerplanetarium.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
