Director or Fabrication +7yrs Exp

Director of Fabrication Job Description

Process Curiosity

Department Role

The Director of Fabrication manages all new exhibit and environmental fabrication projects at Process Curiosity. This role is responsible for ensuring schedules are met, materials are on hand, fabrication team is on task, and questions are addressed. The Director will work alongside Creative Directors, Engineering Director, and Project Manager to coordinate projects flow through the shop. They will ensure interactive goals are achieved, high quality standards are met, and aesthetics are accomplished.

Function

The primary functions for the Director of Fabrication are shop management, leading exhibit fabrication, contributing to exhibit design, and learning from past projects what better solutions and methodologies can be applied. Each of these is expanded below.

The Director will also be a strong leader, manager, and collaborator who is able to:

• Use extensive museum / science center background to help understand end user needs and use that knowledge to create high quality immersive interactive experiences.
• Personally participate in fabrication of complex, high-visibility, or high-risk exhibits.
• Lead by example in woodworking, metalworking, assembly, finishing, and integration.
• Oversee build quality and ensure alignment with engineering drawings and design intent.
• Troubleshoot fabrication and interactive challenges in real time on the shop floor.
• Support installation teams as needed, including on-site problem solving.
• Ensure proper use, maintenance, and safety of all shop tools and equipment.

Principal Responsibilities

• Manage timelines and budgets for fabrication projects.
• Coordinate work among shop staff, project managers and engineering team to create, maintain and communicate fabrication schedules.
• Coordinate installations with Chief Operations Officer and project management.
• Maintain positive relationships with cross-departmental teams.
• Coordinate fabrication with external vendors as needed.
• Oversee physical maintenance and inventory of the shop.
• Oversee team’s participation in maintenance of Process Curiosity projects.
• Set and monitor safety, scheduling and maintenance standards to ensure a safe, open and collaborative environment for all relevant staff.

Fabrication

• Understand and be able to supervise building with metal, wood, plastics, AV, and electronics.
• Assign fabrication tasks to staff and monitor quality and timeliness of execution.
• Ensure building techniques used are appropriate for high touch, family audiences.
• Estimate, communicate, and manage the timelines for fabrication, fixes, and routine maintenance.
• Coordinate communication among shop staff and designers to determine fabrication techniques.
• Work with clients to support maintenance of existing exhibitions through design and fabrication of solutions for maintenance issues.

Design

• Work with experiential designers and design engineers to ensure that designs are buildable, dependable, and maintainable.
• Manage execution of exhibit fabrication.
• Give design input and manage prototyping during exhibit design phases
• Help create and implement long-term improvements to resolve exhibit repair issues and improve overall maintenance routines.

Audience Focus

• In collaboration with the directors of engineering and creative director, use observations and prototype testing to inform exhibit design and fabrication decisions.
• Establish and maintain routines for gathering input from colleagues about exhibits that need to be iterated, fixed or maintained.
• Supervisory Responsibilities

Qualifications

This position requires operational expertise, experience with exhibit design and fabrication, a willingness to collaborate with team members and other departments, and a contestant drive for improvement in all systems.

Education: A BA or BS in a field relevant to design and fabrication or museum studies is desirable but not required.

Relevant Experience and Skills

• A minimum of six to eight years’ experience contributing to the design, fabrication and maintenance of museum exhibits. Some supervisory and budget management experience. Other relevant knowledge and skills include the following:
• Experience as a collaborator or lead in the design and the fabrication of interactive science exhibits.
• Demonstrated commitment to taking a visitor-centered approach to exhibit development and design.
• Ability to plan and organize the activities of others.
• Ability to get ideas accepted and to guide a group or individual to accomplish complex, multistage tasks.
• Demonstrable experience working with teams of museum designers, educators, researchers and fabricators with the ability to harness team creativity.
• Strong communications skills with the ability to express ideas.
• Knowledge of and interest in science, technology, engineering and math.
• Lead the team on installations when needed.

Customer Service

• Ability to communicate effectively with persons outside the organization, represent the organization to customers, the public and other external audiences, through writing, telephone, Zoom, or in-person.
• Ability to actively listen to what others are saying, take time to understand points being made, ask questions as appropriate and be a responsive, reflective participant in complex discussions.
• Ability to provide up to date information to supervisors, co-workers, and other internal personnel.
• A science center, natural history museum, or children’s museum background is required.

Compensation

• Commensurate with education, skills and experience; includes an excellent Process Curiosity benefits package.
• Anticipated salary range: $75,000 to $85,000.

Benefits

• Process Curiosity strives to be an inclusive and equitable place to work. We work to foster diverse voices and perspectives, empower staff as problem solvers, and support professional growth for all.
• Process Curiosity also offers generous benefits and perks for all regular full-time employees. These currently include:
• Health, dental and vision insurance options
• 401k matching plan
• Paid PTO
• 8 paid holidays off
• Flexible work schedules

How To Apply

Please send cover letter, and resume to info@processcuriosity.com. Please include job title in subject line. No phone calls.

Process Curiosity 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 support a drug-free workplace.

Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $75,000 - $85,000