Exhibit Designer & Preparator - U-M Museum of Natural History

Posted on 2/6/26

Job Description

Exhibit Designer and Preparator

U-M Market Title: Exhibit/Display Coordinator

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Salary: $47,000 to $52,500.

Summary

The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, is seeking an experienced Exhibit Designer & Preparator to help us achieve our annual changing exhibit schedule through: layout and fabrication; employing knowledge of materials and collections practice to create mounts for specific specimens for display; and fabricating durable touchable items for hands-on elements. This position will also use creative problem solving for maintenance issues in the galleries.

From Research Stations (small, researcher-focused displays) to our Experimental Gallery, we aim to change out up to ten display spaces in the museum every year. Working collaboratively as part of the Exhibits team, this may include planning layouts for galleries or cases, designing exhibit elements, working with faculty, staff, or students to collect and mount artifacts, creating furniture or touchable items for hands-on activities, coordinating with or overseeing outside contractors, and making sure these projects are completed on time and within budget.

This position will be supervised by the Assistant Director for Exhibits.

This is an non-exempt, regular, full-time position.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving, and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Who We Are

About the Museum

The curiosity-inspiring University of Michigan Museum of Natural History (UMMNH) opened in its current location in 2019, and is embedded in an award-winning, state-of-the art Biological Sciences Building (BSB). When we moved from our former home (the Ruthven Building) next door, we made the strategic choice to put the science research and learning taking place in the building on display, and to highlight U-M STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine) research and learning taking place across the campus. As a trusted learning community partner, we welcome visitors of all ages and backgrounds and invite them to explore science with us and have their curiosity sparked. With changing and interactive exhibits, a landmark Planetarium & Dome Theater, two public hands-on labs, and all-new programs, UMMNH is an exciting and important STEMM educational resource and a destination for the public and our campus communities. Marketing, communications and public relations efforts are crucial to the impact of our museum as they lead to our ability to drive attendance, sales, and awareness as well as membership and fundraising materials and initiatives.

Why Work at Michigan?

Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care — that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.

Responsibilities

Exhibit Design Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated experience in exhibition and experience design—ability to design a small gallery in its entirety, making full use of the space and visitor kinesthetic experience, creating unique and appealing museum exhibit spaces that are visitor-centered and clearly convey content through materiality and design
• Proficiency in 3D drafting, able to draft basic construction/fabrication drawings to illustrate changes and additions or create new exhibit elements
• Excellent command of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Sketchup, or other similar programs
• Ability to work with outside vendors to coordinate production of exhibit elements

Exhibit Preparation: Project Management

• Consultation and collaboration with museum partners
• Strategic plan aligned project management
• Support AD for Exhibits in developing team action plan
• Manage project timeline and budget in collaboration with AD for Exhibits
• Provide expertise to team cross-functional planning and implementation
• Familiarity with Asana or other project management tools, ability to create plans for work and hit milestones to deliver products on deadline

Exhibit Preparation: Fabrication & Installation Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of exhibit fabrication techniques, tools, and materials, including casework, lighting, mount-making, model-making, etc.
• Knowledge of museum standards and best practices
• Knowledge of installation procedures and techniques; experience working to install collections following museum industry best practices for collections handling and security
• Able to successfully coordinate and communicate with external contractors and internal personnel regarding exhibit deliveries, moving collections, and installation
• Ability to read and understand construction and exhibit display drawings
• Ability to establish solutions for the repair of damaged exhibits and measures to prevent further damage

Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate is an energetic, enthusiastic individual with the ability to work both independently and as a collaborative team member on multiple time-sensitive tasks. They should be a resourceful technician and creative problem solver, in addition to demonstrating self-reliance and excellent attention to detail. Must be flexible and able to prioritize projects with interruptions for time-sensitive tasks.

This position requires three to five years’ experience in a museum or gallery setting, and demonstrated success in exhibit preparation and exhibit experience design.

A Bachelor’s degree is expected in experience design, studio art, museum studies, or similar field, or related job experience / apprenticeship in comparable trade or craft.

General

• Ability to work collaboratively with individuals and with teams—collegial and congenial
• Ability to manage multiple projects
• Basic office computer skills
• Excellent command of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Sketchup or other similar programs
• Significant experience in an area (or multiple areas) of fabrication -- wood, metal, plastics, molding/casting, etc.
• Advanced knowledge of exhibit fabrication techniques, tools, and materials

Physical Requirements

• Must possess the ability to work confidently while on ladders, scaffolding, and scissor lift (certification on self-propelled scissor lift is preferred or on-the-job training will be required)
• Must be able to work in both confined and public spaces in the museum
• Ability to consistently transport up to 75 pounds

Desired Qualifications

• Past experience working in a science museum
• Background or education in science / natural history field
• Previous specimen / artifact handling experience in a museum, knowledge of best practices in museum collections care
• Past experience designing and maintaining museum lighting plans

Work Locations

Onsite work is required for this position.

The annual pay rate for this position is $47,000 - $52,000. This is a full-time, non-exempt, 40 hour/week position.

Additional Information

As one of the world’s great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about LSA’s Mission, Vision, and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action Employer.