Exhibit Designer Exhibits Department

Status: Full time Schedule: Weekdays Reports to: Director of Exhibits

MISSION OF PORTLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM We collaborate to create transformative learning experiences through the arts and sciences.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW Portland Children’s Museum consists of three aligned entities: (1) the Museum, where exhibits and programs serve the public both on- and off-site, (2) Opal School, a tuition-based preschool and K-5 public charter school, and (3) the Museum Center for Learning, which documents and disseminates fresh approaches to education and provides professional development for educators. In this description, Museum, School, and Center refer to the specific entity, while Portland Children’s Museum (or, “the organization”) refers to the whole.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION In the Portland metro area, 47% of students are children of color. At Portland Children's Museum, we strive to have our guest and school families reflect that diversity, and for our staff and board to be equally diverse. We are committed to eliminating barriers to access and equity and see a diverse workforce as a key step toward this goal. We actively seek to recruit, hire, promote, and retain a diverse workforce—one that welcomes and engages people from every background. We value our staff members, volunteers, and board members and their individual backgrounds, which further our ability to serve and learn from the diverse families that enrich our community. We invite you to join us on our journey.

POSITION SUMMARY The Exhibit Designer is responsible for designing, fabricating, and installing temporary and permanent exhibits at Portland Children’s Museum. Working with every member of the Exhibits team, and guided by the strategic plan and our Reggio-inspired learning philosophy, the Exhibit Designer will realize projects through all stages of development: piloting, schematic design, design development, prototyping, construction, fabrication, installation, and maintenance. This position will work with the Director of Exhibits to ensure that projects are done on time and on budget, and will contract with outside vendors as needed. Through a collaborative approach with the Exhibits, Facilities, Museum Experience, and Teaching & Learning departments, the Exhibit Designer will serve the Museum’s mission to create transformative learning experiences through the arts and sciences.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Exhibit Development and Design (50%) Works in collaboration with Exhibits team members and other departments to execute new exhibits according to the organization’s Exhibit Development Process (attached):  Exhibit Identification: Serves on development teams to identify new exhibits, or renovations of existing exhibits. Contributes to a Statement of Intent that moves the project forward.  Idea Piloting: Works with other team members to pilot ideas from Statement of Intent to observe and document how children answer our invitation to interact with a material or activity.  Concept Design: Using the above information, translates best ideas from piloting into initial floor plans, elevations, sketches, and/or 3-D models to help the development team visualize possibilities and options.  Prototyping/Final Design/Fundraising: Works with fellow team members to prototype designs. Produces final design drawings and specifications sufficient to bid construction contracts and/or initiate in-house fabrication. Produces renderings and/or models to use in fundraising.  Construction Drawings: Once funds are raised and/or bids are awarded, produces construction drawings as needed for in-house or contract fabrication, and/or works with outside vendors to ensure that their construction drawings align with exhibit intent.

Exhibit Fabrication, Installation & Maintenance (40%)  Fabrication and Installation: Works closely with the Exhibit Fabricator to develop strategies for materials selection, prototyping, construction, and installation with minimal disruption to the visitor experience.  Construction of Exhibit Elements: Physically builds exhibits with the Exhibit Fabricator and assists with installation.  Supports Props Technician: Incorporation, selection, design, and/or fabrication of loose parts within the exhibit.  Evaluation and Maintenance: Once the exhibit is open, participates on evaluation teams to ensure that exhibit is functioning as intended. Discusses and designs improvements as needed. Assists with ongoing maintenance strategies to ensure that aesthetic, safety, and operational standards are maintained.

Exhibit Documentation (10%)  Documents and archives project files in an organized and timely fashion—before, during and after a project.

QUALIFICATIONS

Skills:  Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Architecture, or Exhibit Design, or equivalent experience.  Proficient in museum exhibit design, children’s museum experience preferred.  Experience in designing, fabricating, and maintaining water play exhibits preferred.  Ability to communicate clearly verbally, in writing, and in 2D and 3D visual formats.  Proficient with 3D visualization and computer modelling and software, such as: SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office.  Knowledge of construction methods, and experience designing, building exhibit and installing elements.  Knowledge of early childhood development sufficient to produce developmentally and culturally appropriate designs for children of all abilities.  Ability to read architectural floor plans and elevations as well as create space/plan layouts as well as conceptual diagrams.  Proven experience with managing personal work time, fabrication schedules, and budgets.  Experience working in a team environment.  Knowledge of materials that are aesthetically pleasing, durable, safe, and nontoxic for children.

Competencies:  Commitment to universal design and the well-being of children.  Well-developed spatial sensibilities.  Respectful and open to having many diverse voices inform and inspire the design process.

WORKING CONDITIONS  40+ hours per week. Must have flexibility to accommodate temporary shifts in schedules with some early morning, evening, and/or weekend work required.  Frequent work in a shop environment with power tools and heavy equipment and machinery.  Some lifting of more than 50 lbs. required, some overhead work.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume and a maximum 3-page design sample (PDF format only) to [email protected]. For the design sample, we ask that you provide concept drawings, process work, and finished photographs of projects that you’ve personally been involved with designing and/or fabricating. The deadline to apply by is Friday, May 5th.