PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM®
Position Description
DIRECTOR, EXHIBITS
Reports To:
Direct
Reports:
FLSA Status:
Status:
Sr. Director, Museum
Experience & Innovation
Department:
Division:
Exempt
Full-Time
Exhibits
Museum Experience &
Innovation
Grade:
Effective Date:
Hours / Week:
FY16
40
Background
Please Touch Museum, the Children’s Museum of Philadelphia (PTM) was founded in 1976 and was the
first children’s museum to focus exclusively on young children ages birth to seven. PTM is
multidisciplinary, providing exhibits and programs in the visual and performing arts, including theater,
music and dance, literacy, humanities, math and science. PTM’s exhibits are themed environments that
are hands-on and interactive helping children to learn, develop and practice the skills and social skills they
need to be ready for and successful in school and in future careers. The mission of Please Touch Museum
is to enrich the lives of children by providing learning experiences through play. In 2008 PTM moved to
Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, a National Historic Landmark Building built for the 1876 Centennial
Exhibition.
Position Summary:
The Director, Exhibits will embrace and helps move the Museum forward into the next phase of visitor
experience/exhibit creation. The Director has a crucial role in strategic and tactical development and
implementation of all exhibit and related strategies and experiences including the Museum collection,
historic carousel, Playhouse Theater and seasonal outdoor garden.
Core responsibilities include leading and managing a small in-house team staff; proactive maintenance and
continual improvements to the existing exhibits and experiences on the floor; oversight and project
management of all exhibit projects that may involve multiple contractors as well as in-house staff. The
position requires active museum-wide collaboration at all levels, especially with Marketing &
Communications, Programs, Visitor Services, Operations, Development. The Director must be adept at and
committed to working with professionals from diverse professional backgrounds and perspectives –
including scholars, scientists, subject specialists—and to working with and leading teams created for each
project. The Director is committed to using design as a strategic tool to create deep, wonderful experiences
for and with visitors.
Essential Functions:
 Plan, oversee and produce all new core and temporary and seasonal exhibition projects in collaboration
with other departments, advisors and subject specialists.
 Responsible for the aesthetic and technical application of exhibit design and production techniques.
 Assesses, develop and implement a plan for ongoing maintenance and future upgrades of existing
exhibits including all media used in exhibits and considers in all production techniques the safety and
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security
Oversees the development of a comprehensive plan that integrates collections into the exhibit
experience and supports the underlying narratives.
Oversees the development of comprehensive show seasons for PTM Playhouse Theater
Act as project leader to internal and external stakeholders to guide and facilitate work of design,
fabrication, interpretation, programming, marketing and communications, collections, development to
achieve plans on time and within budget.
Tracks metrics on audience engagement and capacity of total attendance participating in exhibit
activities; utilize findings to effectively present exhibits. Oversee the formative evaluation and pretesting of the new exhibits.
Oversees the financial planning and maintenance of department budget as well as expenditure of
resources throughout operational areas of responsibility, i.e. all galleries/exhibits, Museum collection
including historic carousel, garden and Playhouse Theater.
Ensures that the exhibits are installed on time and within the allotted budget.
Monitor standing contracts for services with periodic reviews and manage all exhibits contracts.
Supervises, recruits, trains and retains staff.
Ensures Museum meets and/or exceeds all criteria that keeps the institution in good standing as an
accredited Museum. Creates 5-year plan and oversees all aspects of re-accreditation process as it pertain
to collections and exhibits.
Assess and implement upgrades to collection displays employing new media.
Develop and implement a plan in coordination with the Curator of Collections for moving and installing the
collection.
Works with colleagues throughout the Museum to ensure and maintain timely knowledge of exhibits,
theater program and collections plans.
Provides support to programs and visitor services colleagues to continuously update training plans for
each exhibit area.
Supports the Museum in fund-raising efforts as needed.
Maintains contact with museum professionals and external stakeholders related to exhibit interpretation
and development.
Stays current in the latest exhibit design and interpretative techniques as well as in the area of theater and
creative drama.
Other duties as assigned.
Competencies Needed for Position:
 Project Management
 Attention to Detail
 Critical Evaluation
Minimum Qualifications:
 Bachelor’s degree required with emphasis on Liberal Arts field. Strong background in theater arts,
industrial design, humanities or sciences or related areas including, but not limited to early
childhood/elementary/secondary education, and/or art administration or museum studies Museum
Studies, Communications or related fields.
 Master degree in arts administration, museum studies preferred
 A minimum of 8 years’ experience with proven track record in managing exhibition development
including design, evaluation (formative, prototyping and summative), fabrication, budgets, graphic and
installation,
 Experience with children and families is preferred. Knowledge of best practice and innovative
approaches to visitor experiences.
 Demonstrated ability to work in highly collaborative, team-based situations, lead a team,
supervisory experience is a necessity.
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 Knowledge of museums and have successful, creative experiences at managing teams and projects
that meet financial, educational and time goals.
 Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a variety of individuals from scholars to educators to
fabricators and engineers.
 Extensive project management experience.
 Demonstrated success in leadership roles developing innovative, audience appropriate exhibits and
strategies.
 Ability to read design documents and diagrams.
 Through knowledge of exhibition planning process.
 Knowledge of best practice for working and using collections in exhibits for children and design
criteria for a young audience.
 Strong analytic thinking skills.
 Ability to prioritize, make independent decisions and work well under deadlines. Strong results
orientation with ability to focus on important issues and demonstrated drive to exceed performance
targets.
 Excellent planning and forecasting skills.
 Exceptional team leader skills in negotiating, listening and finding common ground to advance
Museum projects.
 Proven ability to lead a fast-paced visitor focused department and instill accountability for results
while creating a work environment that allows for creativity and innovation.
 Strong written communications skills to prepare persuasive proposals and presentations, plans and
reports.
 Skills in budget and project planning and management.
Please Touch Museum offers an excellent working environment; a comprehensive benefit package and
competitive salary. To apply for this opportunity, please mail your cover letter , resume,
accomplishments and salary requirements to: Director of Human Resources, Please Touch Museum, 4231
Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131: Email: employment@pleasetouchmuseum.org fax: 215581-3182 Office telephone: 215-581-3189 EOE
Posted: January 2016
Deadline: February 2016
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