Museum Freelance Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Role
As Exhibition Developer at Liberty Science Center (LSC), you develop the concepts and content that drive dynamic, interactive exhibitions that interpret STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concepts. You are an advocate for a diverse range of audiences that visit LSC, creating means of access to ideas and experiences that make science learning resonate. The responsibilities include collaborating effectively across teams to develop new projects and renew existing exhibitions for Liberty Science Center and supporting traveling and temporary exhibitions. The Exhibition Developer reports to the Vice President of Exhibitions.

What You’ll Bring
You are an experienced interpreter, with a passion for storytelling and scaffolding information and content for learners of all ages and stages. You have an insatiable curiosity about all things STEAM and are eager to learn and share. You can synthesize complex concepts into experiences, narratives, and environments that connect people to science topics through interactions, conversation, and shared experience in memorable ways. You are especially interested in new technologies, immersive experiences, and hands-on interactive exhibitions. You are empathetic and deeply interested in people as end users. You are a skilled researcher, an effective communicator, and a storyteller. Your sense of humor, flexibility, and generous nature makes you a valuable member of a collaborative team. A creative thinker, you are able to think big but can also focus on the details and easily navigate multiple projects.

What You’ll Do

• Conceptualize and develop engaging exhibitions that represent the latest scientific research and understanding, lead to compelling experiences, and ensure the success of LSC’s informal education mission.

• Research educational, scientific, and technological content for exhibitions.

• Write and edit content and exhibition panel copy and multimedia scripts, etc.

• Conduct visual media research and negotiate visual media acquisition.

• Identify exhibition objectives and topics; write story lines and treatments.

• Work with external advisors, contractors and experts to help develop content, assure content accuracy, and other support.

• Serve as content development lead, as assigned, for all phases of exhibition. development, production, installation and post opening.

• Procure artifacts and in-kind donations when needed to support exhibitions.

• Coordinate with exhibit designers on the development of exhibit ideas and environments.

• Work with graphic designers and outside illustrators on preparation of interpretive and instructional graphics.

• Collaborate with multimedia designers on scripting and production of video and multimedia.

• Design and conduct exhibition prototyping and visitor evaluation studies.

• Review exhibition design drawings and graphics for content accuracy and oversees quality control through production.

• Prepares and provides project marketing content and presentations for prospective funders and other externals.

• Work closely with other Liberty Science Center staff as part of a cross-disciplinary exhibition team.

• Prepare and deliver oral and written presentations to communicate the projects to external partners.

• Edit and/or write documents for other departments (Exhibit Operations, Marketing, STEM, website, External Affairs etc.) as needed.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs)

• Excellent research capabilities

• Demonstrated experience interacting and interviewing a range of specialists, scientists, and field experts

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Experience designing and conducting visitor evaluations

• Demonstrated organization and project management skills across multiple simultaneous projects

• Work style that supports a collaborative work environment

• Innovative problem solving

• Knowledge of new technology, multimedia and film production is a plus.

• Proficiency with content management tools and software including MS word, Acrobat, PowerPoint, Excel

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of exhibition development experience in a science museum, arts and culture center, or science journalism

• BA/BS (MA/MS preferred) degree in science, math, engineering, science education, social sciences or a field related to informal teaching and learning
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position manages interns, freelancers and external vendors on a per project basis.

Classification, Location & Schedule
This is an exempt position and is bonus and benefits eligible. All employees must be available to work a schedule that takes LSC business needs into consideration. The expectation is that this role will work five days per week in the office in Jersey City for the first three months, after which point a hybrid work schedule may be discussed with your manager.

Physical & Environmental Considerations
An Exhibition Developer at LSC must be able to perform the following with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Prolonged Sedentary Work: Sit and use a computer for extended periods to research, write, and other administrative work

• Continuous Mobility: Frequent walking, standing, bending, and stooping across large galleries or outdoor installation spaces

• Repetitive Motion: Substantial and continuous movements of the wrists, hands, and fingers for extensive keyboarding and mouse operation

• Fine Motor Skills: High manual dexterity to handle fragile artifacts, mount graphics, use hand tools, and operate digital media tech

• Visual Acuity: Excellent close vision and color perception to evaluate lighting, proofread gallery text, and verify object placement, as well as to read blueprints or architectural drawings and to use a computer monitor for extended periods

• Varying Environments: Navigating hard gallery floors, construction zones, or outdoor sites

• Environmental Tolerance: Ability to work safely around dust, noise, and active heavy equipment

• Phase-Based Stamina: Extended hours and high physical activity during tight installation deadlines

LSC’s Work Culture at a Glimpse
LSC prides itself on fostering a culture that enables all employees to experience a sense of pleasure, passion, and purpose while in the workplace. We believe in embracing and driving change, inspiring fun and learning, and creating a positive and family friendly team spirit. Our differences as individuals (race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education and lifestyle) are an asset and contribute to our ability to drive innovation. Lastly, at the heart of our work culture is the commitment to delivering a “wow factor” through our exceptional customer service to not only our guests but also one another.

Work Location
Liberty Science Center is located in a beautiful state park in Jersey City, New Jersey, with easy access to free parking, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and the NJ Path train. LSC is a pleasant 15-minute commute from lower Manhattan.

Travel
This position may require up to 10% travel.

Compensation & Benefits
The budgeted compensation for this position is $75,000-$85,000. The final salary is commensurate with abilities, education, certifications, and experience. In addition to compensation for salary, you will receive compensation in the form of generous benefits, including, but not limited to:

• Medical, dental, life, vision, and pet insurance

• 403(b) defined contribution retirement plan with an employer match

• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays

• Long-term disability coverage

• Flexible spending accounts (pre-tax income for eligible health and/or dependent care expenses)

• Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)

• Free parking

• 25% discount in the on-site store

• 15% discount in on-site cafeteria

• LSC family membership

To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume highlighting why this role and this organization are a good fit for you.

Liberty Science Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative environment with the best employees. We provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service, marital status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

We know that you may not check every single box in this job description. If you are passionate about our mission and interested in this role, we encourage you to apply even if your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every requirement listed.

If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.

To find out more, visit lsc.org or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.