Museum Vision and Mission: MOHAI is treasured locally and respected nationally as a vibrant resource where history inspires us to be our best, individually and collectively. By collecting and preserving artifacts and stories of our diverse history, MOHAI highlights our regional tradition of innovation and imagination. Through compelling exhibits, scholarship, education, public programs, and community engagement, MOHAI bridges the past, present, and future.
Position: Exhibits Fabrication Manager
Reports to: Chief of Exhibits and Interpretive Services
Location: Lake Union Park’s historic Armory building & MOHAI Resource Center at Georgetown
Classification: Non-Exempt, Hourly, Full-time
Schedule: Monday – Friday, with occasional evenings and weekends
Rate of Pay: $25 – $29 per hour
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision and life insurance and participation in a 403(b) savings plan
Position Description: The Exhibits Fabrication Manager is the lead staff responsible for the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of exhibits at MOHAI, in coordination with the Exhibits and Interpretive Services team. This position involves: construction, installation and repair of permanent and temporary exhibits and displays, including interactives, in collaboration with the Exhibits team; ongoing stewardship of all exhibit-based visitor experiences in the museum; management of two exhibits workshops; and supervision of temporary fabrication crews. This position is a member of the MOHAI Interpretive Services team and the museum’s extended Management Team.
Key Responsibilities:
- Responsible for exhibit fabrication, production, and installation.
- Work in coordination with the Exhibits team in the design and development of all MOHAI in-house and traveling exhibits, including developing and detailing fabrication methods and materials for exhibit components.
- Fabricate exhibit furniture, casework, wall systems, fixtures and mounts as needed.
- Oversee gallery preparation, including carpentry, painting, rigging, lighting, A/V, and temporary wall systems.
- Supervise installation and de-installation of exhibit experiences, including proper handling, and coordinate necessary transportation.
- Supervise part-time production and installation crews.
- Manage the exhibits workshops at the museum and the MOHAI Resource Center.
- In coordination with the Exhibit Designer, develop annual and long-term exhibit fabrication workplans and budgets.
- Purchase and maintain supplies and shop materials, including paint, tools, and hardware.
- Move and store exhibit fixtures and objects, including operation of stock picker, box truck, and heavy lifting as needed. Occasional work with Collections Resources team to move and transport artifacts.
- Exhibits maintenance, including troubleshooting A/V and computer interactives; cleaning and repair of exhibits as needed.
- Working with the Facilities team, carry out museum maintenance directly related to visitor experiences including lighting, signage, and repairs.
- Ensure that all interactions are culturally responsive, respectful, and based on a foundation of MOHAI’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
- Opportunity to serve on IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Committee.
- Attendance at company-sponsored events may be required.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- At least five years of experience with exhibits fabrication and installation, preferably in a museum environment.
- Technical education in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Carpentry, lighting, and fabrication skills, and experience with woodworking and metal working tools and equipment.
- Ability to diagnose A/V and computer-related exhibits problems.
- Knowledge or experience working around museum artifacts and familiarity with collections care standards.
- Knowledge of safety regulations in cabinet & machine shop environments, including safe use of power tools.
- Comfortable with MS Office software including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Very organized, flexible, able to multi-task, meet deadlines, and work as part of a team.
- Creative problem-solver.
- Ability to lift and move heavy objects up to 50 pounds, walk regularly throughout the day, and safely work from lifts, ladders, and platforms.
- Valid Washington State driver’s license and ability to drive a stock picker and box truck.
- Willingness to work some nights and weekends as required.
- Bilingual and multilingual skills valued.
- Enthusiasm for MOHAI’s exhibits, programs, and mission.
Find yourself checking a lot of these boxes but doubting whether you should apply? If you meet some of the requirements and you share MOHAI’s values and support our mission, we encourage you to apply. As part of our ongoing commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we’re invested in building teams with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
Museum Overview: For 70 years, MOHAI has been dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing, and teaching the diverse history of Seattle, the Puget Sound region, and the nation. With a collection of four million artifacts, photographs, oral histories and archival items, and an expansive schedule of exhibits and programs, MOHAI is the region’s premier history center. MOHAI operates a dramatic and award-winning museum in Lake Union Park in Seattle’s vibrant South Lake Union neighborhood and a Resource Center in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. MOHAI also hosts the Bezos Center for Innovation, focusing on the history and future of innovation in the Puget Sound region. MOHAI is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. For more information, please visit www.mohai.org.
To Apply: Please email letter of interest, resume, and three references to Human.Resources@mohai.org. No phone calls, please.
MOHAI is a 501(c)(3) organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team and an organizational culture that fosters inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We encourage candidates of color to apply.
