Exhibition Developer

Exhibition Developer

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County was the first museum in L.A. to open its doors 109 years ago and is poised for an exciting new era as it plans for the future. Having recently completed a new strategic framework, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County-including NHMLA at Exposition Park, La Brea Tar Pits and museum in mid-Wilshire, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall-is looking forward to new building projects and campaigns, exhibitions, community outreach, and innovative audience engagement.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County values and endeavors to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within its organization and communities. Candidates who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), neurodiverse, gender, a person with disability, a veteran, and/or a part of the LGBTQAI+ community are welcome and encouraged to apply.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is seeking an Exhibition Developer for our Education, Exhibitions & Community Engagement department. The Exhibition Developer works closely with the Director and Senior Manager of Exhibition Development at the Natural History Museum. It is an exciting time as we embark on new journeys of becoming a museum of, for, and with L.A.

Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Lead Developer of Exhibition Content- As part of a creative leadership team for a project, create content-rich exhibitions utilizing interpretative strategies and inclusive practices. Leads collection, image, and content research with a cross-departmental, interdisciplinary team of content experts, designers, and educators.
  
• Storyteller- Shapes the narrative framework of the exhibition; Selects exhibition stories and the objects and specimens that tell those stories, setting cognitive and affective goals for the project. Writes primary exhibition documents and interpretive copy for exhibition labels, as well as scripts for interactive media and experiences.
  
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Advocate- Ensures that exhibition team members support engagement as it relates to IDEA content and institutional initiatives. This includes the effectiveness and considerations of language, appealing to diverse audiences, and decolonizing museum practices. Practice community-based partnerships and first-person voices to integrate diverse voices and relevance into exhibitions.
  
• Excellent Communicator and Collaborator-Writes primary exhibition documents and label copy. Gives regular presentations to team members and other Museum staff. Facilitates one-on-one and group interviews with internal and external content experts and consultants. Participates in and/or leads prototyping workshops.
  
• Visitor Advocate- Advocates for the visitor's experience with an eye toward accessibility; stays abreast of current theory and practice in the fields of informal learning environments and experience design; participates in visitor research and evaluation of current and upcoming exhibitions.
  
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director, Exhibition Production, dependent on organizational needs.
  

This position has the following requirements:

• B.A./B.S. (M.A./M.S. preferred) degree from an accredited institution in Science, Education, Museum Studies, History and/or Anthropology or equivalent experience.
  
• Specific interest and experience in one or more areas of knowledge that relate to science, culture and/or history would be ideal.
  
• 5+ years' experience working in a museum setting or related field; background in cultural and/or natural science-related content a plus.
  
• Excellent Communication Skills: Finely-tuned writing skills with ability to communicate difficult content in an accessible and compelling way.
  
• Portfolio of projects that showcase strong visual thinking and original conceptual ideas for museum engagement.
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a history of inspiring a collaborative team environment.
  
• Familiarity with design, interactive and digital media and their uses in interpretative strategies.
  
• Confident and clear public speaker.
  
• Strong organizational skills and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines, while maintaining high standards of quality.
  
• A sense of humor with a balanced perspective and approach to day-to-day work.
  
• Additional language skills a huge plus
  

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is especially interested in candidates whose background and experience have prepared them to contribute to our commitment to engagement and inclusion at culturally diverse audiences in museums and in sciences.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience and commitment working with a diverse community. Salary range for this position is $74,813 - $80,444 based on experience plus excellent benefits. This is a full time, regular, exempt position.

A cover letter, current resume, and list of 3-4 references are required for all applicants. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Interested candidates please visit www.nhmlac.org/careers-our-museums and click the link of the position for which you are interested or go directly to the online application.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.