SENIOR EXHIBITION DESIGNER

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

APPLY DIRECTLY TO OUR CAREERS PAGE: https://www.nelson-atkins.org/careers-internships/?gnk=job&gni=8a78879e…

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Museum Exhibition Designer to join our world-class museum.

As a Senior Exhibition Designer, you will play a pivotal role in creating engaging and innovative exhibitions that captivate and educate our visitors. Your expertise in design, storytelling, and spatial planning will be essential in bringing our collections to life.

In close collaboration with curatorial, education, design, installation and collections staff, the Senior Exhibition Designer organizes and leads design staff to create narratives in dimensional space, driving the design process from ideation through implementation for featured exhibitions, permanent galleries and public spaces throughout the museum and campus grounds.

Key Accountabilities/Essential Functions

1. Teams Management & Communication: Enjoys working with others to develop projects, resolve complex challenges and communicate specifications for gallery installations with associated project staff. In collaboration with the Design & Experience Division, ensures adhesion to cohesive design criteria, precision in plan drawings, and the development/maintenance of project schedules and budgets. Instrumental in managing scope to elevate the project toward the best possible visitor experience.
2. Supervision & Collaboration: Facilitates the implementation phase of projects through product research, bid process management, contractors/vendors selection and contract negotiation. Provides critical best practices and performs quality control activities during all phases of implementation. Contributes to the hiring/selection, training of exhibition designers and interns.
3. Conceptualization and Drawings: Exhibition Design works with project teams to develop space assessments, prototypes, design development/construction drawings to present the museum’s collection.
4. Organization: Maintains the museum’s project assets including drawings, inventories, timelines, and budgets.
5. Other: Completes special projects or tasks as assigned by Manager, Exhibition Design or requested by other divisions/departments and for the general support of the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Exhibition Design, Industrial Design, Interior design, Architecture, or a related field
• Minimum of 5- 7 years of experience in exhibition design
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in exhibition design
• Proficiency in design software such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff, contractors, vendors, and interns
• Ability to read and produce Architectural, Construction and Production Drawings
• Working knowledge of standard construction techniques, museum casework design, lighting, and graphics
• Proficiency with VectorWorks, SketchUp, CAD, Adobe Creative Suite, as well as efficient use of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)

Core Capabilities

• Leadership: Displays attributes that make people glad to follow. Provides a feeling of trust and has the ability to rally staff and build morale.  Develops high-performance teams by establishing a spirit of cooperation and cohesion for achieving goals.
• Strategic Thinking: Creates a vision for the future based on organizational strategy, financial outcomes, and stakeholder impact.
• Integrity: Demonstrating honesty and a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values.
• Change Management: Preparing, supporting, and helping individual staff members and team, in making organizational change.
• Analytical Thinking: Simplifies complex situations in a systematic, logical manner by identifying issues, making comparisons, setting priorities and assessing implications.
• Service Focus: Highly responsive and resourceful; strong propensity to provide excellent service and support internally and externally with a professional and approachable manner.
• Communication Skills: Ability to interact professionally with all levels of internal staff and with external stakeholders. Strong interpersonal communication skills; diplomatic and collaborative work style.

Benefits

• Competitive salary: Starting Salary Range: $69,100 - $80,000 per year
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision insurance, life insurance and long-term disability, wellness program
• 403(b) plan with generous match and core contribution
• Generous paid time off (vacation, sick and personal) and 10 calendar holidays
• Professional development opportunities

Join our dynamic team and contribute your creativity and expertise to shape meaningful and unforgettable museum experiences. Apply now with your resume, portfolio, and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this position. 

https://www.nelson-atkins.org/careers-internships/?gnk=job&gni=8a78879e…

Non-Discrimination
The Nelson-Atkins is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art conducts pre-employment background checks as part of our selection process.

Salary information is a general guideline only.  The Museum considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.