Exhibits Specialist

The University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute (BI), on the Lawrence campus, is one of the premier research and education centers in the U.S. in biodiversity science, biodiversity informatics, paleobiology, biogeography, and evolutionary biology. The KU Natural History Museum is the iconic public face of the BI and serves public audiences through its four floors of exhibits (50,000 square feet), including the famous Panorama of North America, flora and fauna of the Great Plains, vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, and live plants and animals. The museum receives about 30,000 visitors each year, including K-12 schools, families and adults, and university groups. The University of Kansas Natural History Museum’s exhibits inspire and inform visitors about natural history and related science topics.

The exhibits specialist position is a crucial part of the exhibits team that creates interactive displays and environments for museum visitors. The responsibilities include construction, installation, and maintenance of exhibits, as well as related administrative support. This position is a key staff member in a small department with responsibility for exhibit production and all exhibit-related elements used by visitors and in museum programming. This person should be creative, self-motivated, and curious about natural history and science, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Job Description

Develop and maintain exhibits (70%)

• Fabricate and install exhibits featuring natural history specimens and other elements, using a wide variety of materials and methods.
• Lead maintenance/repair of museum exhibits, as well as keeping the fabrication area in order (e.g., tools and equipment maintenance/repair).
• Produce prototypes and conduct materials research and testing.
• Construct exhibit structure and furniture, specimen mounts, etc.
• Assist with exhibit labels/graphics, including layout and design, production, and installation.
• Contribute to exhibit projects by generating design ideas and conducting subject research.
• Liaise with others to develop exhibits (e.g., faculty, staff, facilities and construction unit).
• Monitor exhibit environmental conditions and care for exhibits collections, including pest control.
• Oversee live exhibit care with other exhibits staff: e.g., develop and maintain protocols for plant and invertebrate animal areas, monitor and liaise with the university’s Animal Care Unit for vertebrates

Supervision, Management, and Administration (25%)

• Support the recruitment, supervision, and training of student staff (e.g., create schedule of work, monitor performance, and provide feedback).
• Work with other exhibits staff and associate director to produce a schedule of work for all exhibit projects and tasks to meet deadlines; prepare budgets and track expenses for projects; provide reports and perform other record keeping (e.g., collections).
• Source and work with outside vendors and contractors, including providing a scope of work and associated paperwork (e.g., contract, payment).

Other related duties (5%)

• Collaborate with colleagues on other informal science education initiatives, including generating items for other education and outreach projects (e.g., produce casts and models, props).
• Participate in exhibit prototype trial-testing with visitors.
• Other exhibit and museum-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field, such as industrial or graphic design, fine arts, architecture, museum studies, science communication, science education, or other related field and one year of professional experience working in an exhibit department or other interpretive development environment. Or an equivalent combination of education/experience (associates degree and three years, or a high school diploma/GED and five years)
• Previous experience that required the use of exhibit construction tools (e.g., hand tools, power tools) and methods (e.g., carpentry skills, technologies, electronics), as evidenced in application materials.
• Previous experience that required material (wood, steel, and plastics) uses (applications) and processes for construction (fabrication, welding, creating molds and casts), and graphics production, as evidenced in application materials.
• Experience that requires organizing time, prioritizing, managing multiple projects and deadlines, and working independently, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience that required communicating ideas visually through prototyping, models, sketches, and detail drawings for exhibit fabrication (plan, elevation, section, perspective), as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience troubleshooting designs with technical, mechanical, and electrical components, as demonstrated by previous work history.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and other programs, such as Adobe Creative Suite, as demonstrated by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in relevant field, such as industrial or graphic design, fine arts, architecture, museum studies, science communication, science education, or other related field.
• Three+ years of professional experience working in exhibit department or other interpretive development environment.
• History performing all aspects of exhibit/interpretive development from conception to completion, as evidenced by application materials.
• Problem-solving abilities for interpreting and translating ideas and activities into three-dimensional interactive experiences, as demonstrated in application materials.
• Knowledge of museum standards and practices, as demonstrated by work history.
• Experience in project management (e.g., planning, tracking), as evidenced in application materials.
• Knowledge of exhibit security, lighting, and conservation requirements, as demonstrated by work history.

Disclaimer: The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.