Job Description

IUMAA Exhibitions and Design Manager Location Bloomington, IN :

Department

IU MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY & ANT (BL-MAA-IUBLA)

Department Information

IUMAA takes aspects of the former museum and the Laboratory of Archaeology and combines them into 1 cohesive experience. With an impactful long-term vision focusing on purposeful storytelling, stewarding collections, and bringing these items to communities, the IUMAA thoughtfully houses and displays over 5 million artifacts that span across a broad range of the human experience. The IUMAA is accessible for research as well as teaching and is culturally connected to our broader community through partnerships with Indigenous communities, advisory boards, and other IUMAA community members.

Job Summary

The Exhibitions and Design Manager (manager) is responsible for managing the exhibition project timeline, team schedules, logistical and financial aspects of exhibits, and the execution of a captivating and innovative exhibition design. The manager will partner and collaborate with the museum curatorial team to design exhibit layouts and graphics and bring the interpretive plan to life within the exhibits physical space. The person in this position must bring a passion for creative and bold thinking and possess a blend of creative vision, organizational prowess, and a deep appreciation for culture, art, storytelling, and collaboration.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing the exhibition project timeline, team schedules, logistical and financial aspects of exhibits, and the execution of a captivating and innovative exhibition design.
• Partners and collaborates with the museum curatorial team to design exhibit layouts and graphics and bring the interpretive plan to life within the exhibits physical space, ensuring proper handling, security, and preservation of objects.
• Possesses a passion for creative and bold thinking and possess a blend of creative vision, organizational prowess, and a deep appreciation for culture, art, storytelling, and collaboration.
• Collaborates with the museum's curatorial team to conceptualize, design, and plan engaging exhibitions that align with the museum's mission, objectives, and interpretive plan. Develop innovative exhibition layouts and floorplans that maximize the use of space while ensuring a coherent and intuitive visitor flow and impactful visitor journey.
• Designs graphics, labels, signage, and interpretive materials that align with the exhibition's overall design aesthetic.
• Creates and manages comprehensive multi-year project timelines and budgets for exhibitions, ensuring all aspects of the project are effectively managed and delivered on time and within budget.
• Coordinates logistics, including transportation, installation, lighting, and technical requirements for exhibits.
• Collaborates with the Director of Curatorial Affairs, curators, and consultants on the development of the exhibit design to create visually captivating, innovative, and immersive exhibition layouts that enhance the guest experience.
• Works collaboratively with the curatorial team and the collections team to ensure that the object list, installation information, design concepts, and other needed logistics are in order and communicated clearly to the preparators and to internal/external stakeholders.
• Coordinates and enables clear lines for communication around exhibit content and learning objectives throughout the exhibit development, design, and production process to staff.
• Focuses on enhancing the visitor experience by ensuring exhibits are engaging, educational, and accessible to a wide range of audiences, including young people, adults, and individuals with disabilities.
• Works with the curatorial team and advisory committees to gather feedback through prototype sessions. Consolidates data into brief reports for the curatorial team, which are used as a tool internally to strengthen the impact of Exhibit designs.
• Gathers visitor feedback through visitor observation studies, visitor surveys, and timing and tracking reports of exhibits and museum spaces. Works with external partners to guide more extensive feedback surveys and reporting for exhibits being developed through grants or other funding sources.
• Partners with the Learning and Community Engagement department to meet the learning goals and work deliverables for part-time, practicum, or additional hourly staff assigned to the exhibitions department.
• Other duties as assigned.

General Responsibilities

• Conceptualizes, develops, and designs exhibition-level projects, including scheduling, scripting, graphic design, prototyping, and mount design.
• Manages projects for exhibits and other special projects (i.e. traveling exhibits) including logistics and workflow documents that facilitate both exhibition work and accurate record keeping regarding the use of artifacts, images, and other museum assets.
• Manages fabrication and installation, including physical construction of spaces and other exhibit elements in conjunction with the museum preparator; oversees lighting and installing of media elements.
• Supervises the creation of all photography for the museum. Determines policies and procedures as well as oversees the museum's photography work.
• Manages and mentors¿ volunteers, practicum students, and/or other support staff in exhibits and photography work; assisting in or spearheading grant work or other special projects like visitor evaluations to further the work of the museum's exhibition program; and maintains professional knowledge of the field.
• Provides process recommendations to supervisor and managers temporary employees.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in museum services or related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 2 years in museum services or related field

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Ability to work as a member of a team-based environment with strong collaborative skills
• Demonstrates ability to direct, coach, and motivate direct reports and/or young professionals
• Ability to build positive and effective relationships with museum colleagues, faculty, donors, and the broader IU and Bloomington communities
• Demonstrates experience and ability to achieve deliverables while working collaboratively and independently without close supervision within tight deadlines
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus.

Position requires activity for installing and uninstalling exhibits, safely moving artifacts, arranging exhibit furniture, reconfiguring exhibit cases, removing and replacing case fronts, and assembling moveable walls and glass case units. Weight of objects and packed items may be up to 50 lbs.

The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana

This is an in-person position.

Advertised Salary

Up to $65,000 per year based on education and experience.

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Multiple plan options for medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Health Savings Account with generous IU contribution
• Life insurance, LTD, and AD&D options
• Base retirement plan contribution from IU, subject to vesting
• Additional supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition benefit for IU classes
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing our online Benefits Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Career

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Educational Resources & Tech

Job Family: Museum Services

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission, as required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. See Indiana University's Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Campus Safety and Security

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

Contact Us

Request Support Telephone: 812-856-1234

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Work experience placement, Work at office,

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