Vice President of Learning Experiences [Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, Portland, OR]

Founded in 1944, OMSI is ranked as one of the nation’s top ten science museums. OMSI is a world-class tourist attraction and educational resource that features five exhibit halls and eight science labs offering 219,000 square feet of brain-powered fun through hundreds of interactive exhibits and hands-on demonstrations. This multi-attraction complex features a big screen Empirical Theater, the Pacific Northwest’s largest planetarium, and a submarine. OMSI also offers a variety of camps and classes, as well as one of the largest outreach programs in the nation, taking innovative science and technology education “on the road” to students, teachers and the public in five Western states.

OMSI recently developed an ambitious 20-year vision: collaborating with partners, we will ignite an education transformation at the intersection of science, technology, and design, and weave a thriving innovation district into the fabric of Portland that spreads opportunities across the Northwest. Our five-year strategic priorities include increasing our statewide impact, reimagining and reinvesting in museum experiences to improve visitor experience, planning for future campus development in Portland’s Central Eastside, and continuing to build partnerships and support to increase contributed revenues to the museum. Across these priorities, we are committed to engaging community and providing trailheads for deeper learning experiences both within and outside the museum.

The Vice President of Learning Experiences will join the OMSI team at a pivotal time in the organization’s history.  Science literacy is crucial to maximizing the opportunities and addressing the challenges our region faces, to our economic health, and to our children’s future. OMSI is a center of excellence in science teaching and learning and a desired destination for the community.

The Vice President of Learning Experiences will help innovate, shape, and bring to life OMSI’s strategic vision. OMSI is a matrix organization, and a successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to lead a collaborative culture, where information flows freely, where development of strong relationships and informal networks are supported, where people are empowered, and where people are encouraged to develop interpersonal skills. The Vice President of Learning Experience will lead cross-functional teams in coordination with other senior leaders to deliver multiple projects in support of OMSI’s strategic plan. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future and impact of OMSI.

• Lead strategies to deliver science learning outcomes for diverse audiences through exhibit and program experiences in OMSI’s exhibit halls that change regularly, engage learners of different ages, and support repeat visitation for members, school groups, and the public.
• Conceive and lead future experiences and offerings to meet the needs of communities OMSI serves in the museum and through other programming channels and partnerships in support of OMSI’s strategic plan.
• Expand external resources by building and leveraging community partnerships in support of the museum’s strategic plan.
• Manage and oversee the associate vice president of exhibits and the exhibits team in developing strategies and processes to research, develop, produce and evaluate interactive science learning exhibits and experiences for OMSI, partners, and third party sales projects.
• Manage and oversee program directors for guest engagement, space science, outdoor education, classes and traveling programs, strategic partnerships and programs, and volunteer services to develop innovative programming, develop business plans and budgets, align programs to best practices in the field of informal science education and Next Generation Science Standards, and ensure programs are achieving financial and mission-based outcomes.
• Collaborate with COO, senior leaders, project managers, and other staff across OMSI to ensure strategic projects are tied to OMSI’s strategic objectives, support mission-based and financial outcomes, and are appropriately prioritized and resourced. Participate in OMSI-wide strategic planning processes.
• Represent OMSI in a variety of settings with donors, members, partners, and community members, and nurture relationships on behalf of OMSI at the local, state and national level. Make presentations to internal and external clients.
• Coach staff on an on-going basis to build skills and organizational capacity. Manage organizational change.
• Lead high standards of scientific accuracy, educational appropriateness, and accessibility for exhibits and programs produced by OMSI in support of science, math, technology, and engineering education. Maintain high standards of program quality, customer service and satisfaction.
• Develop and manage budgets to ensure a strategic and efficient use of resources. Develop models including projections. Support funding and grant proposal development.