Science Project Manager Jobs in New Jersey (NOW HIRING)

The Role
As Exhibitions Project Manager at Liberty Science Center (LSC), you oversee the logistics, teams, and timelines of physical exhibition installations. This includes tracking budgets, contracts, licensing, and the approval process, as well as coordinating communication within and among internal departments and external vendors and partners. Responsibilities include collaborating effectively across teams to oversee new projects and renew existing exhibitions and contributing to the coordination of other institutional initiatives. The Exhibitions Project Manager reports to the Vice President of Exhibitions.

What You’ll Bring
You are someone who finds satisfaction in creating systems to create and maintain order, are highly organized, and an adept multi-tasker, able to adeptly track the moving parts of multiple projects of varying scales. You are an especially strong communicator, with interpersonal skills that support relationship building and cross-disciplinary collaboration. You are able to focus on the details and set priorities as you keep the bigger picture and mission-driven goals in mind. You are a skilled creative problem solver and able to diplomatically diffuse points of tension that invariably arise in the execution of complex projects. Your sense of humor, perspective, and flexibility make you a valuable member of a collaborative team.

What You’ll Do

These key responsibilities will be dynamic and essential functions:

• Work closely with project teams including content developers, designers, media specialists, and contractors to bring multi-faceted exhibit projects to fruition on schedule and within budget.

• Oversee details and logistics for all phases of exhibition development, production, fabrication, installation and post opening to ongoing and upcoming special exhibitions, temporary installations, traveling installations, and other digital and physical exhibition projects.

• Participate in review of bid packages and contracts for project vendors (fabrication, multimedia, etc.).

• Coordinate project schedules, meeting agendas, and workflow for internal and external teams.

• Track project budget and process invoices

• Manage and maintain exhibition project documentation which includes contract management, licensing, and the approval process.

• Review exhibition design drawings and consultant coordination documents which may include data, lighting, electrical, and architectural coordination.

• Oversee quality control through production.

• Develop deliverables for staff, designers, fabricators, media producers, and other external vendors and partners.

• Help produce and document standards and processes for project management best practices applicable across a range of projects.

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

• Support other exhibition development, research, administrative, and project management responsibilities as assigned.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs)

• Demonstrated experience of organization and project management across multiple simultaneous projects

• Leadership that supports a collaborative work environment

• Experience managing external partnerships or contractors

• Innovative problem solving

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Demonstrated success as a project manager of a creative or technical team.

• Experience with budget management

• Fluency with digital project management tools and software, including MS Word, Acrobat, PowerPoint and Excel

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong exhibition coordination, production, or project management experience in a museum, science center, or related context.

• Minimum of 5 to 8 years relevant professional experience.

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

• Certification in project management.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position manages design staff, interns, freelancers and external vendors.

Classification and Schedule
This is a regular full-time exempt position and is benefits eligible. All FT employees must be available to work a schedule that takes LSC business needs into consideration.

Physical & Environmental Demands
An Exhibition Project Manager 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.

Compensation & Benefits
The budgeted compensation for this position is $65,000-$75,000. 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:

• A range of excellent health, dental, and vision insurance options

• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care

• Life and disability coverage

• 2 Retirement Savings Plans

• 3-4 weeks of paid vacation (level dependent)

• Paid sick time

• 6 days of flexible paid time off

• Pet insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• Commuter benefits for parking and transit

• 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.