POSITION SUMMARY

The Associate Design Director provides design direction and leadership for all indoor and outdoor installations, exhibitions, and core galleries at the Autry Museum, ensuring design work is inspiring, surprising, meets the needs of each project and supports the museum’s mission. This includes coordination of resources, project workflow, and review and approvals management. The position requires supervisory and managerial experience, substantial design, presentation, and construction experience, and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse vendors, museum teams, and senior leadership.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Management

• Collaborate and problem solve with various departments to provide an engaging, approachable, and cohesive learning experience for visitors that also meet the museum conservation standards
• Oversee the maintenance of site-wide exhibition design and aesthetic standards
• Direct, organize, and mentor the Design Staff
• Work closely with Head Preparator on budget development and project timelines

Exhibition Content and Development

• Provide leadership and oversight for the development, design, planning and implementation of new exhibitions and core gallery renovations including modifying content and experiences to better meet Autry goals and resources
• Participate in the planning of infrastructure work as it relates to museum interior spaces, such as electrical, lighting and HVAC renovations/upgrades
• Enhances the curatorial, interpretive, and educational vision for exhibitions and core galleries through the layout of artworks, including the manipulation of walls, spaces, color, lighting, digital elements, and the thoughtful and innovative integration of interpretive elements, such as in-gallery activities
• Partner with various departments to identify and provide an integrated and cohesive learning experience for visitors. Develop, manage, and maintain the immediate and sustained value of the visitor experience through environmental design and visual communication
• In collaboration with Head Preparator and Production Manager and Exhibition Designer, select, approve, contract, and collaborate with contractors, vendors, and other contributors to the design and development process

Exhibition Design

As lead exhibition designer on select projects you will:

• Collaborate with team members to shape the narrative framework of the exhibition; partner with curatorial lead to conduct reviews of images and content research; assist media specialist to conceive and produce media content and interactives as needed; review interpretive copy for labels and scripts 
• Establish and manage the conceptual and stylistic direction for furniture, casework, environments, and 2-dimensional graphics for galleries and exhibition spaces
• Communicate design presentations clearly, persuasively, diplomatically, and professionally in a team setting
• The Autry Museum reserves the right to add or change duties at any time

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA in design, studio arts, or museum studies
• MA in interior design, exhibit design, architecture, or museum studies; or comparable experience
• 8-10 years of experience in exhibition design for cultural institutions with at least 2-3 years of experience in a leadership role preferred
• Experience with development, design, operation, and maintenance of exhibitions, galleries and wayfinding systems
• Fluency in Adobe Creative suite, Vectorworks, and hand-rendering
• Ability to communicate design presentations clearly, persuasively, diplomatically, and professionally in a team setting required
• Knowledge of the principles and benefits of Universal Design, Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design, and ADA Standards for Accessible Design is strongly preferred
• Knowledge of local building codes, or the ability to locate and respond to the relevant information
• Project management experience including completing projects on time and on budget
• Supervisory and mentoring experience required   
• Experience with prototyping
• Commitment to sustainable practices

WORKING CONDITIONS

Requires use of computer, physical mobility and stamina. Involves: long periods of standing, walking, or sitting; frequent stooping, and bending. Extended work hours as needed.

COVID-19 PROTOCOL

We take the health and safety of our colleagues, visitors, and their families very seriously. To that end, we have concluded that the best way to ensure the safety of everyone is to require that all staff be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Please know that in order to become employed by Autry Museum you must provide satisfactory proof that you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 once you receive a formal job offer. If you cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccination or require other reasonable accommodation you will need to complete an Exemption Request Form by no later than the first week of employment; if approved, you will be required to provide a weekly proof of a negative COVID-19 test result.

More information will be provided as we move along in the recruitment process.
 

ULTRA GENEROUS BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Best-in-class healthcare insurance plans:
  • 2 Medical HMOs - Value Network and Full Network
  • 2 Medical PPOs - Traditional and High Deductible PPO with Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • 2 Dental Plans
  • 1 Vision Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for medical and dependent care costs
• One of the best PTO policies in the sector, including very generous paid vacation, paid holidays, paid sick time, and paid bereavement leave.  
• A 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions up to 5%.
• Employer-paid Life and AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) insurance. Additional Voluntary Life Insurance also available.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• Pet Insurance.
• Identity Theft insurance.

Please note you must be a California resident - we are not a multi-state employer.