Museum Exhibits Preparator/Arizona Museum of Natural History Full Time

The current vacancy is a full-time position at the Arizona Museum of Natural History (AZMNH).

A Museum Exhibits Preparator is responsible for:  the design, fabrication/construction, installation, and repair of interpretive and educational exhibits at City of Mesa museum facilities, purchasing and maintaining inventory, tools, and materials, as well as proficiency in carpentry and other trades skills.  Responsibilities include:  producing conceptual sketches for engineering, planning projects and presentations, technical drawings, models, prototypes, displays, educational devices, props and environments; researching new materials and techniques to ensure the safety of exhibits; determining exhibit layout (examples:  floor plan, traffic flow); and coordinating and approving aesthetic aspects of the exhibit (examples:  colors, placement, lighting, graphics, and signage).  The work involves:  displays, cases, stands and accessories for permanent, changing, and traveling exhibits; involves trades work (examples:  carpentry, fabrication, welding, metal working, masonry, electrical and painting); and coordinating with skilled trades workers to meet City building code standards.  Incumbent uses such materials as:  wood, acrylic, fiberglass, glass, Styrofoam, fiber optics, plaster, concrete, or other materials necessary to prepare and display museum exhibits.  A Museum Exhibits Preparator is responsible for project management for planned exhibits, including coordination of completion with outside contractors, scheduling and overseeing meetings with exhibit team members, and developing timelines to complete exhibits, providing illustrative and to-scale construction drawings and sketches for fabrication of special items.  Must be able to lift and move heavy objects up to 100 pounds, using an aid to assist, and at heights of 12 feet.  Heavy lifting, climbing, and strenuous physical activities are essential functions of the position.  This position may exercise oversight responsibilities and functional supervision over temporary agency personnel, interns, and/or volunteers; and performs related duties as required.  

This classification can be designated as a non-classified, non-merit system, at-will position based on Grant Funded assignment.  The Museum Exhibits Preparator is supervised by a Museum Exhibitions Coordinator and differs from the Museum Exhibitions Coordinator class by the coordination responsibility for managing the overall Exhibitions function.  Persons in this job class will be involved in individual work assignments, or in design-team work, technical drawings, and ongoing exhibit research.  Work is reviewed for accuracy, feasibility of completion, and overall results achieved.  During the design and installation of new exhibits, duties may require evening and weekend work.  This class is FLSA exempt-professional.

Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.     

Qualifications & Requirements

Employee Values:  All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City’s shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity. 

Minimum Qualifications Required.  

Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following disciplines: Anthropology, Archaeology, Natural Sciences, History, Studio Art, Industrial Design, or closely related field.  Two years of full-time experience in exhibit design, preparation, installation, fabrication, or related area.  Proficiency in the use of computer-aided design (CAD); and other computer software programs such as:  word processing, spreadsheet, and production management applications.

Special Requirements.  

Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver’s License by hire or promotion date.  Must meet the qualifications to wear a tight-fitting respirator by passing a medical evaluation and a quantitative fit test in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.134 by hire or promotion date and maintain certification. 

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications.  

One year of experience in another trade, such as welding, masonry, acrylic fabrication, painting, or electrical work is highly preferred.  

Link to Job Descriptionhttps://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4335.pdf (Download PDF reader)

Additional Details