Apprentice Museum Exhibit Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

OVERVIEW:

The Lead Exhibit Fabricator/Carpenter for The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Inc. leads and facilitates work within the exhibit production shop to ensure high-quality exhibit builds. The lead is a member of the Exhibit Production & Facilities team and works closely with staff colleagues and contractors to fabricate, install, and maintain exhibit elements, interactive elements, environmental décor, thematic graphics, and special effects in exhibition spaces and throughout the facility and campus. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy shop environment, ensuring that skills are aligned with responsibilities, equipment and tools are maintained, and safety compliance is enforced. The role employs skilled craftsmanship to achieve the organization’s high standards of quality.

The Children’s Museum is building and sustaining an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates differences. We believe that collaboration and open dialogue among people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives best support our vision and mission.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Fabricates, remodels, repairs, installs, de-installs, and maintains exhibit and decorative elements throughout the Museum. Engages in fine carpentry, CNC millwork, mold making & casting, welding, scenic fabrication and/or construction. Employs an expert level of methods and techniques appropriate to each project in style, durability, quality, and safety.
2. Acts as production shop team leader to facilitate tasks aligned with fabrication builds working closely with the exhibit production manager to ensure quality and accountability in a safe, economical, efficient and resourceful manner. Orders necessary materials and coordinates the stocking of shop materials and supplies. Tracks production schedules and project budgets.
3. Works closely with exhibit project teams to be an accountable member of the exhibit build process from demolition to concept to implementation. Interprets exhibit designs and plans to implement the fabrication processes, utilizing skills required as they relate to environmental and interactive builds.
4. Develops drawings by hand and works with 2D/3D design software (SketchUp, Autodesk, etc.) to show fabrication methods or construction details as well as improve production efficiencies and accurate as-build documentation. Participates in redline drawing sessions and works closely with design colleagues to ensure complete construction drawing packages are developed within established deadlines and budgets.
5. Investigates and recommends exhibit finishes, fixtures, and equipment specifications. Suggests and implements strategic changes to meet deadlines and budgets while maintaining safety and durability standards.
6. Works with the manager and the ticketing system to manage and distribute exhibit maintenance tasks taking into consideration exhibit production schedules and priorities. Communicates progress and plans project windows for future work.
7. Travels for the exhibit production team as the point person for exhibit installations for travelling exhibits installed across US venues, as needed.
8. Completes training requirements for the role and for the organization. Participates in professional development opportunities to maintain and expand personal skillset.
9. Ensures effective fabrication equipment and tool operations to ensure safety for oneself and others within the shop and on job sites.
10. Works in concert with colleagues in facilities and associated contractors to assist where tasks align with knowledge, experience, skillset or strength. Ensures safe working conditions and communicates to ensure ongoing efficient coordination and use of shared workshop and storage spaces.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Three (3) years of experience in a professional three-dimensional production field, similar or related to production work at the Museum. Formal academic or technical training preferred as a carpenter, fabricator or instructor in museums, trade shows, theater, playground and/or amusement park environments.
2. One (1) year of experience working as a production/team leader or in a shop management role with the ability to refine and implement shop procedures, lead projects from concept to installation and manage time efficiently.
3. Demonstrated expertise in fabrication methods including, but not limited to fine carpentry, CNC millwork, mold making & casting, welding, scenic fabrication and/or construction.
4. Must provide representative examples (a portfolio) of work and reference list representing fabrication skills and projects implemented. Must reflect level of skill for various fabrication techniques as well as familiarity with design and project management software or processes.
5. Proven communication and listening skills that are effective across multiple audiences. Willingness and ability to give and accept clear, timely and constructive feedback. Ability to clearly and concisely relay information from formal and informal meetings to relevant parties within or external to the museum.
6. Experience with purchasing, construction cost management, project management and construction documentation desirable.
7. Strong collaboration skills to act as an ambassador for the team, serving as a main point of contact for fabrication shop volunteers, interns and special visitors, as needed.
8. Required to travel for exhibit installs and de-installs of traveling exhibitions as well as to occasionally preview future exhibits or participate in exhibit research trips.
9. Demonstrated personal initiative and the capacity to network with local partners and vendors to schedule tours, attend talks or demonstrations, learn about new products, tools & techniques and share out with others on the team.
10. Spanish fluency desired.

ADA REQUIREMENTS:

1. Ability to perceive space and colors and to make aesthetic assessments of installations, read documents, drawings of designs and fabrication diagrams, and view computer monitor.
2. Must be able to effectively communicate during complex installations involving coordinated team and group work, for installation of audio and ambient sound effects, for virtual, face-to-face, group and telephone work conversations.
3. Dexterity to perform extensive work in a production shop environment, to safely use tools, equipment and materials in carpenter and production shop environments and at production sites.
4. Must be able to lift large objects up to 40 pounds. Ability to kneel, sit, stand or crawl, work in small spaces, and climb to work on elevated platforms.  May be required to perform intricate operations with computer graphics equipment. Must tolerate dust in the indoor environment.
5. Ability to traverse facility and campus, work at production sites and in workshop areas. Ability to travel, via conventional transportation, to cities and locations outside of Indiana.