Exhibition Director 

The Exhibition Director at The Lawrence Hall of Science is responsible for overseeing the implementation of The Lawrence’s Institutional Interpretive Plan, ensuring a strategic, comprehensive, and coordinated approach to exhibition engineering, development and maintenance. This role includes long-range planning, budget oversight, and managing all aspects of exhibition production, while working with internal teams and community partners to bring these experiences to life.

Key responsibilities include the development and execution of long-term project timelines, management of the production studio team, and collaboration across departments to enhance both the museological and visitor experience throughout our interactive science center exhibition environments. This role involves implementing creative solutions to produce impactful interactive exhibit experiences within budgetary constraints. The Exhibition Director will work closely with programmatic and academic staff to ensure exhibitions are engaging, inclusive, and aligned with The Lawrence’s mission.

In addition to ensuring smooth exhibition operations, this position is responsible for maintaining strong training and safety protocols. The Director must ensure that exhibition elements and programmatic activities are delivered on time, within budget, and with proper documentation, all while managing the demands of a complex organization serving a wide array of audiences and stakeholders with sometimes competing timelines. This includes projects that range from internally developed exhibitions, working with external fabricators, contracting traveling exhibitions, and installing community-driven creative and artistic works.

We seek candidates who have demonstrated capacity to create inclusive work environments, work effectively on diverse teams, and serve the diverse communities with whom we currently work and want to attract. We are committed to hiring and retaining racially and gender diverse, culturally competent leaders at all levels of the organization who reflect the demographics of our community and continually deepen their skills and competencies. Candidates with experience in creating bilingual exhibitions and a proven track record of improving exhibition department operations and outcomes will be strongly considered. The ideal candidate will have strong team leadership experience, project management expertise, exceptional stakeholder relationship skills, and a persuasive ability to advocate for a visitor-centered approach across all aspects of exhibition and production studio operations.

The First Review Date for this job is: 06/05/2025.

Leadership & Vision

• Provide clear strategic direction and engineering leadership for the exhibits department, ensuring that all exhibition and production studio initiatives are in harmony with the organization’s overarching mission and strategic priorities.
• Lead the implementation of the Public Engagement Interpretive Plan in partnership with the Public Engagement Leadership Team. Ensure that all exhibit offerings are engineered to be cutting-edge and incorporate the latest trends and advancements in the industry.
• Efficiently prioritize tasks and projects to maintain alignment with strategic goals, ensuring a balanced focus on both immediate needs and long-term objectives.
• Serves as a member of the Public Engagement Leadership Team and member of the institution-wide Program Leadership Team.

Management & Supervision

• In collaboration with the Shop Superintendent (Research and Development Engineer 3) determining work assignments within the Exhibition & Production Studio team and overseeing completion of work within interpretive planning timelines and budgets.
• Foster a culture of creativity, curiosity, and continuous improvement within the exhibitions and production studio team. Inspire and motivate team members to think creatively and take informed risks in the development of exhibits.
• Lead with empathy and support of others, while adhering to high standards of performance.
• Ensure properly prepared plans, reports, contracts, evaluations and assessments in order to achieve goals, and maintain accurate records and accountability within the department.
• Select, train, guide, supervise, direct, evaluate, and, as required, take corrective action with professional and support staff responsible for designing, maintaining, and fabricating exhibit elements. Develop performance metrics and provide expert advice, mentoring, and ongoing feedback to staff members to ensure successful completion of goals. Actively support staff growth and professional development, and departmental commitment to equity and diversity.

Collaboration & Relationship Building

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including within the Public Engagement Group including, programs, business services, guest services, facilitation, volunteers, and other partners across the Learning Group, Strategic Communications and Facilities & Security to engineer cohesive and integrated exhibit experiences that enhance visitor engagement and learning.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with external partners, including artists, designers, educators, and community organizations, to enhance the quality, relevance and reach of exhibits.
• Work in partnership with the Executive Director of Public Engagement to develop and secure funding strategies for exhibits including grant opportunities, sponsorships, and other financial resources to support exhibit engineering initiatives.

Exhibition Development & Project Management

• Operates as a project manager for exhibition engineering projects, including managing the planning, design, and execution of all exhibits, ensuring they are educational, engaging, and accessible to a wide audience.
• Serve as primary leader responsible for the timelines and delivery of exhibit development projects. Ensure projects are engineered on schedule, within budget, and are of quality.
• Design and produce exhibits that are both innovative and reflective of the local Bay Area community, reflecting current scientific and cultural trends. Ensure that exhibits are relevant and resonate with the target audiences of Lawrence Hall of Science.
• Continually evaluate and improve existing exhibits through deliberate iterative practices, while planning for future developments. Use feedback and data-driven insights to optimize exhibit offerings and curatorial innovation.
• Maximize impact, efficiency, and engagement by innovating within available resource constraints. Identify and implement creative solutions to challenges, leveraging resources effectively for strong engineering solutions.
• Develop and execute policies which support the educational goals, programs, and mission of the institution, prioritizing accessibility, scientific accuracy, relevance, fiscal stewardship, and project timelines.

Visitor Experience

• Focus on enhancing the visitor experience, ensuring that exhibits are interactive, engaging, and impactful. Design exhibits that captivate audiences and provide meaningful learning experiences.
• Shares the senior manager on duty role with other Public Engagement managers and directors, and also operates as a primary senior manager on Saturdays
• Regularly interact with visitors on the science center floor to gather insights and feedback. Use this engagement to inform improvements and ensure that exhibits meet visitor expectations
• Use visitor feedback and data analytics to continually improve and expand exhibit offerings. Implement changes and innovations that enhance visitor satisfaction and engagement.
• Professional Development and other duties assigned.

Required Qualifications 

• At least five years of experience in developing, engineering, and managing exhibits within a science center, museum, or related environment, successfully leading projects from concept to completion.
• Demonstrated capacity to employ future-oriented and innovative approaches to exhibit development in alignment with organizational strategic goals.
• Proven ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously, effectively managing deadlines and budget constraints while ensuring high-quality execution of exhibit initiatives.
• Skilled at building and maintaining relationships with internal teams, external stakeholders, and community partners, fostering collaborations that enhance the institution’s mission and reach.
• Strong ability to develop and manage exhibition budgets, ensuring financial accountability and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Proven experience in leading and inspiring diverse, creative teams, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and professional development.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to craft reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals, as well as effectively present information and respond to inquiries.
• Strong conceptual and analytical abilities to assess challenges, evaluate results, and identify alternative solutions to enhance exhibit performance and visitor engagement.
• Proven track record of building consensus with senior leaders, staff, and community partners to gain support for exhibit initiatives and align them with broader organizational strategies.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills with keen attention to detail, thriving in a fast-paced, project-oriented environment while managing a team and ensuring high-quality exhibit execution.
• Maintains open and transparent communication within the team, ensuring that all members are informed and aligned on project goals. 
• Fosters a culture of accountability by setting clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, and regularly assessing team performance to ensure project objectives are met and exceeded.
• Bachelor’s degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Masters’ or advanced degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Candidates with experience working in science centers, interpretive centers, museums, zoos, aquariums, theme parks, and design firms are encouraged to apply.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience, including senior-level experience in exhibition development, project management, budgeting, fabrication and installation.
• First Aid, CPR certification desirable and/or willingness to be certified.