Director of Exhibits [Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History]

Posted September 22, 2014.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History seeks a Director of Exhibits to oversee all exhibition planning and implementation at both the Mission Canyon campus and the Sea Center located on Stearns Wharf.  The Director will be responsible for managing the overall scheduling, budget, exhibition development processes and staff of the Department; overseeing the design, installation/de-installation and maintenance of both changing exhibits and permanent galleries upgrades as needed; and will be charged with the implementation of the Museum’s master plan for exhibits which envisions comprehensive gallery change outs in some spaces, revitalization of core permanent galleries and integration of the gallery and out of door experiences at both campuses.

The Director will work with staff from all areas of the Museum and will often lead interdisciplinary teams comprised of staff and external advisors and consultants.  The Director will also be a member of the Museum’s management team which works with the President/CEO to set and implement long and short range goals for the Museum.

The Director of Exhibits will be a full time exempt employee and will report to the Chief Operating Officer.

A detailed job description is available on our website www.sbnature.org.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker who is comfortable being hands on in the day to day activities of the exhibits shop and in the galleries. He or she will be experienced in overall exhibition project management, budgeting, negotiating contracts with outside design and fabrication trades, and facilitating the work of content specialists.

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years’ experience managing complex exhibit projects. They will have successful supervisory experience; have a good strategic sense; know how to work with a team to develop consensus on the Museum’s desired look and feel; and they will have the expertise to implement that vision at a tactical and practical level.