Museum of Flight
Creative Director, Exhibit Design and Production
Museum of Flight - Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Work at Museum of Flight
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Overview
Creative Director, Exhibit Design and Production
Job Category : Exhibits Requisition Number : CREAT001431 Apply now Posted: March 19, 2025 Full-Time Locations
Seattle Campus The Museum of Flight 9404 East Marginal Way South Seattle, WA 98108, USA
The Museum of Flight is working on an experience master plan to reimagine all aspects of the visitor journey and the range of exhibits and offerings available. We are looking for an accomplished industry professional, with a background in exhibit and experiential design to lead a team of talented designers, writers, developers, producers and preparators as we embark on this next stage of the Museum’s evolution. This person will collaborate closely with multiple internal and external stakeholders to bring our vision to life. We invite you to join us! Summary
The Creative Director of Exhibit Design and Production supports the mission of The Museum of Flight by leading the creative vision, design, and production of physical and digital exhibits and experiences, and is part of the Museum’s Experience leadership team. Playing a pivotal role in shaping the Museum’s visitor experience, this position blends strategic thinking with artistic leadership and story development skills ensuring that exhibits and experiences are engaging, informative, and aligned with the Museum’s mission and experience vision. Similarly, this role is responsible for directing writers, artists, designers, and producers in all phases of the project from concept to completion. The Creative Director works closely with cross-functional teams, including Curatorial, Experience, Marketing, and Education, to bring innovative, inclusive, and cutting-edge exhibits and experiences to life. From concept to execution, this role oversees the work and budgets of the Exhibits Creative and Fabrication teams, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet our high standards. Additionally, the Creative Director plays a key role in the Museum’s Experience Master Planning and Design process, ensuring that exhibits are seamlessly integrated into the overall Museum experience. Following is a summary of the essential functions for this job. Other duties may be performed both major and minor, which are not mentioned below. Specific activities may change from time to time. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. Oversee the design and production of exhibits and related experiences in use in public spaces, ensuring they are welcoming, engaging, contemporary, safe, accessible, and aligned with the Museum’s mission. Collaborate with Experience, Curatorial, Marketing, and other teams to meet the needs of diverse audiences. Lead the Exhibit Design and Production teams in creating innovative exhibits and learning experiences that keep the Museum at the forefront of design and fulfill its mission. Manage the work, resources and budgets of the Design and Production departments, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet quality, safety, and sustainability standards. Determine whether to utilize in-house or external resources based on Museum priorities and capabilities. Act as the primary point of contact between the exhibit teams and the broader Museum, ensuring design objectives are aligned across divisions and leading cross-divisional teams as needed for new or existing exhibits. Identify galleries in need of refurbishment, develop plans, and collaborate with the Vice Presidents of Experience and Marketing and Finance to allocate resources and make improvements. Hire, train, and develop a diverse team of design and production professionals to meet Museum objectives and exceed expectations. Foster professional development and ensure the team is equipped with the latest design and production technologies. Continuously evaluate and improve exhibit design and production processes, working with senior leaders to enhance team effectiveness. Represent the Museum’s Exhibit Design and Production team to internal and external stakeholders, building partnerships and positioning the Museum as a leader in the field. Support the Visitor Services Program to ensure a welcoming and comfortable environment for all guests and staff. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
Education & Experience Bachelor of Science or Arts in Graphic Design, Environmental Design Production, or similar disciplines. Additional course work is preferred. A combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of degree. Ten (10) years’ museum exhibition design or production experience. Five (5) years’ experience in a senior role leading complex teams and projects. Knowledge Thorough knowledge of exhibits field and procedures plus broad in-depth understanding of a functional area’s interrelationship with other museum’s departments and spaces. Knowledge of creating 3D and graphic designs. Working knowledge of SketchUp, CAD, Adobe CS, and/or other computer-assisted design software. Knowledge and experience with producing and fabricating graphics and structures. Working knowledge of building and safety codes, regulations, and best practices. Knowledge of creating products that utilize the principles of universal design and/or take into consideration the needs of audiences traditionally underrepresented in STEM (including people with disabilities, cultural/ethnic groups, genders, etc.) Skills Strong Excel skills to track budgets. Solid project management skills and competency in using project software (MS Project, Smartsheet, Asana, Primavera, etc.) to define and manage project work. Demonstrated skills in developing and managing six-figure budgets. Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office software, such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Strong organization skills and attention to detail. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Abilities Proven ability to lead and work within complex, highly collaborative teams. Proven ability to integrate findings from research and evaluation studies into design revisions and iterations. Ability to lead work efficiently to complete tasks and projects. Detail oriented, including timely and effective decision making. Willingness and ability to learn database software or computer programs. License & Certification None Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. On-site attendance is essential to perform some duties of this position. This position works in an office environment with long sedentary periods and repetitive wrist and arm movement. The ability to focus, bend, carry reach to the side, front and overhead, push, pull, walk, stand, twist and squat are occasional requirements in a normal office setting. This position will encounter exposure to shop equipment in a construction environment, working around a variety of sharp tools that require strict adherence to safety guidelines during the assembly phase of producing an exhibit. The Museum of Flight offers full-time employees a generous and comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, a 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% match after 1 year of service, Employee Assistance Program, as well as company paid life insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and long-term disability. Paid-Time Off
Our paid time-off plans include 2 weeks of accrued sick (80 hours) leave and 4 weeks of vacation (160 hours) per year, 10 paid holidays, and 2 floating holidays. Compensation
The salary range for this position is $96,000 to $154,000 depending on experience. Should you receive an offer, please expect that it can fall anywhere within this range. A multitude of factors will determine a fair salary based on the following: scope of role within the organization, years of relevant experience, specific skills, and evaluation of capability to execute in role successfully (among other critical factors). The Museum of Flight is committed to reflecting the diverse community around us. We continue to listen, learn, and implement change so that we can become a more inclusive organization that addresses bias and inequity, and better serves our communities. We highly encourage persons of color, members of marginalized communities, women, non-binary, and LGBTQIA+ individuals to apply. Prior to hire and once an initial offer of employment has been made, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. The Museum of Flight is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. This organization participates in E-Verify.
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Job Category : Exhibits Requisition Number : CREAT001431 Apply now Posted: March 19, 2025 Full-Time Locations
Seattle Campus The Museum of Flight 9404 East Marginal Way South Seattle, WA 98108, USA
The Museum of Flight is working on an experience master plan to reimagine all aspects of the visitor journey and the range of exhibits and offerings available. We are looking for an accomplished industry professional, with a background in exhibit and experiential design to lead a team of talented designers, writers, developers, producers and preparators as we embark on this next stage of the Museum’s evolution. This person will collaborate closely with multiple internal and external stakeholders to bring our vision to life. We invite you to join us! Summary
The Creative Director of Exhibit Design and Production supports the mission of The Museum of Flight by leading the creative vision, design, and production of physical and digital exhibits and experiences, and is part of the Museum’s Experience leadership team. Playing a pivotal role in shaping the Museum’s visitor experience, this position blends strategic thinking with artistic leadership and story development skills ensuring that exhibits and experiences are engaging, informative, and aligned with the Museum’s mission and experience vision. Similarly, this role is responsible for directing writers, artists, designers, and producers in all phases of the project from concept to completion. The Creative Director works closely with cross-functional teams, including Curatorial, Experience, Marketing, and Education, to bring innovative, inclusive, and cutting-edge exhibits and experiences to life. From concept to execution, this role oversees the work and budgets of the Exhibits Creative and Fabrication teams, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet our high standards. Additionally, the Creative Director plays a key role in the Museum’s Experience Master Planning and Design process, ensuring that exhibits are seamlessly integrated into the overall Museum experience. Following is a summary of the essential functions for this job. Other duties may be performed both major and minor, which are not mentioned below. Specific activities may change from time to time. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. Oversee the design and production of exhibits and related experiences in use in public spaces, ensuring they are welcoming, engaging, contemporary, safe, accessible, and aligned with the Museum’s mission. Collaborate with Experience, Curatorial, Marketing, and other teams to meet the needs of diverse audiences. Lead the Exhibit Design and Production teams in creating innovative exhibits and learning experiences that keep the Museum at the forefront of design and fulfill its mission. Manage the work, resources and budgets of the Design and Production departments, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet quality, safety, and sustainability standards. Determine whether to utilize in-house or external resources based on Museum priorities and capabilities. Act as the primary point of contact between the exhibit teams and the broader Museum, ensuring design objectives are aligned across divisions and leading cross-divisional teams as needed for new or existing exhibits. Identify galleries in need of refurbishment, develop plans, and collaborate with the Vice Presidents of Experience and Marketing and Finance to allocate resources and make improvements. Hire, train, and develop a diverse team of design and production professionals to meet Museum objectives and exceed expectations. Foster professional development and ensure the team is equipped with the latest design and production technologies. Continuously evaluate and improve exhibit design and production processes, working with senior leaders to enhance team effectiveness. Represent the Museum’s Exhibit Design and Production team to internal and external stakeholders, building partnerships and positioning the Museum as a leader in the field. Support the Visitor Services Program to ensure a welcoming and comfortable environment for all guests and staff. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
Education & Experience Bachelor of Science or Arts in Graphic Design, Environmental Design Production, or similar disciplines. Additional course work is preferred. A combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of degree. Ten (10) years’ museum exhibition design or production experience. Five (5) years’ experience in a senior role leading complex teams and projects. Knowledge Thorough knowledge of exhibits field and procedures plus broad in-depth understanding of a functional area’s interrelationship with other museum’s departments and spaces. Knowledge of creating 3D and graphic designs. Working knowledge of SketchUp, CAD, Adobe CS, and/or other computer-assisted design software. Knowledge and experience with producing and fabricating graphics and structures. Working knowledge of building and safety codes, regulations, and best practices. Knowledge of creating products that utilize the principles of universal design and/or take into consideration the needs of audiences traditionally underrepresented in STEM (including people with disabilities, cultural/ethnic groups, genders, etc.) Skills Strong Excel skills to track budgets. Solid project management skills and competency in using project software (MS Project, Smartsheet, Asana, Primavera, etc.) to define and manage project work. Demonstrated skills in developing and managing six-figure budgets. Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office software, such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Strong organization skills and attention to detail. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Abilities Proven ability to lead and work within complex, highly collaborative teams. Proven ability to integrate findings from research and evaluation studies into design revisions and iterations. Ability to lead work efficiently to complete tasks and projects. Detail oriented, including timely and effective decision making. Willingness and ability to learn database software or computer programs. License & Certification None Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. On-site attendance is essential to perform some duties of this position. This position works in an office environment with long sedentary periods and repetitive wrist and arm movement. The ability to focus, bend, carry reach to the side, front and overhead, push, pull, walk, stand, twist and squat are occasional requirements in a normal office setting. This position will encounter exposure to shop equipment in a construction environment, working around a variety of sharp tools that require strict adherence to safety guidelines during the assembly phase of producing an exhibit. The Museum of Flight offers full-time employees a generous and comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, a 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% match after 1 year of service, Employee Assistance Program, as well as company paid life insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and long-term disability. Paid-Time Off
Our paid time-off plans include 2 weeks of accrued sick (80 hours) leave and 4 weeks of vacation (160 hours) per year, 10 paid holidays, and 2 floating holidays. Compensation
The salary range for this position is $96,000 to $154,000 depending on experience. Should you receive an offer, please expect that it can fall anywhere within this range. A multitude of factors will determine a fair salary based on the following: scope of role within the organization, years of relevant experience, specific skills, and evaluation of capability to execute in role successfully (among other critical factors). The Museum of Flight is committed to reflecting the diverse community around us. We continue to listen, learn, and implement change so that we can become a more inclusive organization that addresses bias and inequity, and better serves our communities. We highly encourage persons of color, members of marginalized communities, women, non-binary, and LGBTQIA+ individuals to apply. Prior to hire and once an initial offer of employment has been made, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. The Museum of Flight is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. This organization participates in E-Verify.
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