Employment

The San Diego Natural History Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Senior Director of Public Programs

The San Diego Natural History Museum is seeking an experienced and creative museum professional to direct the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy for public programs, exhibitions, and community partnerships that strengthen the Museum’s mission to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment. Reporting to the Vice President of Research and Public Programs, the Senior Director of Public Programs collaborates with colleagues across the institution and stakeholders in the community to conceptualize, develop, and implement public programs (exhibitions, education programs, films, etc.) that are relevant, engaging, and accessible for a diverse audience. In short, this position will champion and cultivate a visitor-centered culture at the museum.

Responsibilities

• Vision and Strategy: Shapes a vision and strategy for public programs, exhibits, and community partnerships that engage the general public with the Museum’s collections and exhibitions. Identifies measureable outcomes, success criteria, and planning and assessment tools. Is a part of an education and exhibition leadership team that establishes priorities for the division. Stays current with educational and exhibition practices and scholarship through a network of colleagues in the field, other disciplines, and literature reviews.
• Program Development and Implementation: Conducts research on opportunities for traveling exhibitions, external education programs, and film festivals. Brainstorms with curators, educators, and other external partners to conceptualize and shape program content, themes, format, and structure. Identifies and schedules speakers, presenters, and other services.
• Cross-Divisional Communication and Collaboration: Works closely with marketing colleagues to identify opportunities to highlight programs and partnerships, and to develop and implement key messages, strategies for outreach and promotion, and internal communications. Works closely with Visitor Services and Security colleagues to create a seamless customer service experience for adult and family audiences. Communicates public program strategy to colleagues across the institution at all-colleague meetings, exhibition meetings, and project meetings, and through email and printed material.
• Leadership and Staff Development: Supervises the Director of Binational Education, Exhibits Department staff, and various interns, work-study students, and contract or temporary employees. Provides inspiring leadership through coaching, mentoring, and professional development, sharing new research and models with colleagues. Builds excitement and shared sense of program ownership with staff by soliciting colleague opinions, encouraging involvement and creativity, and building momentum for future plans.
• Research and Evaluation: Leads cross-departmental team review of programs to evaluate and improve processes, content, communication, staffing, and other issues. 
• Administration, Budgets, and Reporting: Works with direct reports to develop, plan, and track annual budgets and revenue for public program areas. Works with VP Rapp to prepare reports, conveying metrics, narratives, and/or budget. Assists with the preparation of grants and the cultivation of funders and stakeholders.
• Special Projects: As a senior member of the Public Programs Division, this individual is frequently called upon to assist with special projects and initiatives. Serves as project leader for key departmental and institutional strategic initiatives. 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field and/or 7+ years museum experience
• Proven record of strategic thinking, creative visioning, and inspiring leadership
• Solid understanding of traveling exhibition acquisition, execution, budgeting and logistical problem solving
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with a variety of audiences
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively within the Museum and community
• Experience in museum evaluation and research
• Thorough familiarity with informal science learning best practices
• Knowledge of emerging technologies in museums
• Sincere interest in education and the natural history of our region
• Spanish language skills not required but considered a plus

Please send resume and cover letter to hr@sdnhm.org.  No phone calls or drop-ins please.

Image & Media Acquisitions Coordinator Exhibits Department

The Image & Media Acquisitions Coordinator will support development of the Coast to Cactus in Southern California Exhibition with a focus on research, acquisition and tracking of images, videos, sound recordings and similar media for individual and environmental components of the exhibit.  This temporary position reports to the SDNHM Exhibit Developer and will interact routinely with the exhibits team, the research and education departments, and external vendors.

Duties include:

• Working with the exhibit team to identify and locate visual resources for reference in designing components and environments;
• Research and secure at appropriate resolution photographs, imagery, videos, audio clips, etc. per design requirements;
• Negotiate usage rights, prepare licensing agreements for resources;
• Maintain database of resources and agreements;
• Maintain hard copies of signed agreements and support material;
• Support general exhibit development with other tasks assigned by SMNHM Exhibit Developer

Supervisor:  SDNHM Exhibit Developer | Duration:  18 months starting July 2013

Requirements:

• 2-3 years experience with image research, acquisition and tracking;
• Experience with negotiation and documentation of usage rights and licensing agreements, preferably in museum or educational setting;
• Experience using Excel, PastPerfect, Piction or similar databases;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; 
• Familiarity with science-based content an advantage

Send resume and cover letter to hr@sdnhm.org. No drop-ins or phone calls please.  Review of submitted applications will begin April 29, 2013.

April 9, 2013

Print Production Artist and Web Designer

The San Diego Natural History Museum is seeking an experienced Print Production Artist and Web Designer for our Visual Media Department. Candidates must be able to take direction and work in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment. Complete knowledge of the production process for print design required-you will be preparing files for offset printing. Software skills in Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Word and Power Point (Mac platform) are necessary. In addition to the print production work, candidates must be able to develop, design, update and maintain web pages for our museum websites in our CMS.  

 Required skills:

• Minimum Two years’ experience
• Photo color correction and manipulation
• Proof for spelling, grammar, text formatting, layout accuracy and consistency
• Revise existing files (client edits, resizes, etc.)
• Complete minor layout projects
• Create collateral comps for clients/printers
• Maintain project file archives
• HTML and CSS coding
• Experience using Content Management Systems (CMS)
• High level of proficiency in Illustrator, PhotoShop, InDesign and Adobe Acrobat

Desirable Skills:

• Flash, JavaScript, PHP/MySQL
• Ability to create and incorporate audio/video, animation (Flash).
• Understanding of both Windows/Mac platforms and various web browsers.

This is a full-time, 40 hr/week position. Please send resume (with 2 website examples) along with 5 non-returnable samples (laser prints are ?ne, no CDs). Please, no phone calls or drop-ins. Mail or email cover letter, resume and samples to: 

• hr@sdnhm.org , or
• San Diego Natural History Museum  Attn: Human ResourcesP.O. Box 121390, San Diego, CA 92112-1390.

April 9, 2013

Building Operations Lead

The San Diego Natural History Museum seeks a Building Operations Lead who will, in addition to custodial duties, will assist the Building Engineer with all duties relative to the physical operation of Museum facilities both on site and off site.   Candidate must be available nights and weekends.  Previous experience is preferred.  Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.

Responsibilities Include:

1. Supervision/Oversight of In-House Building Operations

• Oversee building operations; directly supervise building operations staff.
• Guide and direct daily Building operations.
• Oversee scheduling and payroll. Staff special events.
• Provide training, counseling, and coaching for building operations staff.

2. General cleaning and operations of the Museum

• Painting, electrical, plumbing, flooring, light construction, fire system and HVAC operations and maintenance, entry systems, furniture moving, interface with vendors and inspectors, management of recycling program.

3. Fire Alarm System

• Maintain proper operational effectiveness and functionality of all fire systems and components; respond to alarms as necessary; conduct required training as needed.

4. Setup for special events

• Coordinating set up with building ops team as well as special events staff
• Attending weekly special events meeting to ensure collective understanding of event details

Required skills:

• 2 years Building Operations experience important + 1 year as Supervisor/Manager or Lead
• Working knowledge of all building oriented functions
• Knowledge of cleaning equipment, products, techniques, and standards.
• Skill in both verbal and written communication.
• Skill in coordinating the work activities of assigned staff.
• Skill in using cleaning products and equipment.

Send resume and cover letter to hr@sdnhm.org. No drop-ins or phone calls please.

March 1, 2013