Smm Inc
Experience Design Manager
Smm Inc, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, 55130
The Experience Design Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight for the creation of visitor experiences within the museum and for partner institutions, helping define the artistic vision, scale, and scope of design projects. The Experience Design Manager is a highly skilled and experienced designer, both in Graphic Design and 3D Design, whose primary role is to direct, lead, and support SMM’s team of staff designers, as well as external contractors, in the creation of outstanding exhibits and experiences. The Experience Design Manager works closely with Museum Experience directors, managers, project leaders, and other project staff to stimulate exhibit concepts and ideas, move projects through the various phases of exhibit design and production, and ensure that final design goals are achieved on schedule and on budget. In addition to leading museum staff and contractors in the design functions, this person performs all varieties of design tasks on projects as necessary. The position also functions as a Project Leader when appropriate.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Exhibit and Experience Creation for Onsite/Offsite/Online Delivery
Collaborate in the design, development, and articulation of overall experience vision and goal statements to guide project teams in decision-making and communication with stakeholders and clients.
Translate content and concepts into exciting, engaging, and relevant experiences that are physically and intellectually accessible to visitors of varying interests and abilities.
Produce presentational materials to communicate exhibit concepts and design factors such as digital models, elevations, floor plans, isometric projections, perspective sketches and develop graphic elements, including labels, environmental, and illustrative graphics.
Assist the Director of Project Management, Senior Director of Traveling Exhibits, and VP of Museum Experiences in responding to grant applications and Requests for Proposals.
Maintain exhibit style guides and other design resources, and collaborate with and/or mentor Experience Designers on design tasks.
Employ Universal Design principles across all design work, ensuring maximum accessibility in all work. Ensure that the Experience Design team is also following these practices.
Advocate for the role of the visitor as the ultimate client.
Direct and approve design direction for experience projects.
Team Management
Direct project teams and the experience design work group to plan and design effective visitor experiences for the Science Museum of Minnesota and external partners.
Lead, train, mentor, and supervise Experience Designers and other project team members. Support and encourage staff engagement—within the Division and across the Museum—in all aspects of the creation process. Develop and implement professional development plans for staff, ensuring that they align with strategic goals of the institution.
Develop and manage department resources and budgets while providing oversight and coordination of budgets managed by other cost center managers as related to experience design tasks.
Monitor team capacity and provide continuity and design oversight, as needed, across all active exhibit projects.
Hire, evaluate, recognize, discipline, and terminate experience design personnel.
Project Management
Work with Experience Development Manager, Project Managers, and Sr. Director of Exhibits to achieve project success, including hiring and managing contractors; establishing and scheduling project milestones, reviews, and completion dates; and supporting prototyping, final implementation, installation, and troubleshooting.
Facilitate communication between project team members, other museum staff, advisors, external clients and partners, and contractors to ensure that products created meet projects’ vision and goals. Manage conflict resolution and decision-making processes to maintain momentum and ensure projects fit budgets and meet deadlines.
Provide leadership, collaboration, and assistance with visitor experience offerings as part of cross-divisional work groups.
Maintain project management tools.
Serve as Project Manager when appropriate.
Planning
Through collaboration with internal and external constituents, assist in creating long-term goals and strategies that guide the design of exceptional learning opportunities for visitors.
Stay abreast of industry design trends, research new and emerging technologies as they may relate to exhibit design, and incorporate innovative design details into all projects.
Participate in museum-wide and Museum Experience Division planning efforts.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Competencies
Communication:
Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others and ensures that information is shared with others who should be informed.
Collaboration:
Develops, maintains, and strengthens partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
Customer Service:
Demonstrates an understanding of the SMM mission by ensuring that their own interactions with internal and external customers consistently support the mission.
Fostering an Inclusive Community:
Contributes to a museum environment, and people, that reflect and respond to the diverse needs and cultures of our community (internal and external).
Results Orientation:
Focuses on providing a best in class visitor experience through work outcomes by meeting personal and organizational work objectives.
Management:
Coaches and develops employees by providing feedback, development opportunities, and work direction while creating a sense of connection and belonging amongst staff and volunteers
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
No formal education necessary.
Experience:
8+ years relevant experience in a team-based environment designing products or experiences for museum audiences.
8+ years direct experience with and understanding of environments and operations of museums or similar industries.
8+ years experience with all aspects of experience design focusing on physical and digital interactive exhibitions.
5+ years experience working with clients or external stakeholders in the creation of exhibits or similar products.
Demonstrated technical proficiency using CAD software such as AutoCad, Vectorworks, Rhino, Sketchup, or similar software.
Demonstrated technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
Demonstrated technical proficiency in office organization software such as Google Suite or similar suite.
Creativity and problem solving skills in translating concepts and ideas into relevant content.
Knowledge and/or experience with User Interface (UI) and UX (user experience) design principles desired.
Proven ability to provide inspiration and leadership.
Experience managing a team and/or the workflow of others.
Experience with project management and conflict resolution.
Demonstrated knowledge of project or product development principles.
Curiosity towards the scientific endeavor desired.
Experience and proficiency in Spanish, Hmong, or Somali language desired but not required.
Certifications:
No certification necessary.
Work Environment:
Office environment with frequent group work and conversation, consultations in exhibit production shop, and on-line meetings. There is some flexibility for remote work. Occasional travel off-site and out of town for project meetings required.
The salary range for this role is: $75,246 - $80,000 per year
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Exhibit and Experience Creation for Onsite/Offsite/Online Delivery
Collaborate in the design, development, and articulation of overall experience vision and goal statements to guide project teams in decision-making and communication with stakeholders and clients.
Translate content and concepts into exciting, engaging, and relevant experiences that are physically and intellectually accessible to visitors of varying interests and abilities.
Produce presentational materials to communicate exhibit concepts and design factors such as digital models, elevations, floor plans, isometric projections, perspective sketches and develop graphic elements, including labels, environmental, and illustrative graphics.
Assist the Director of Project Management, Senior Director of Traveling Exhibits, and VP of Museum Experiences in responding to grant applications and Requests for Proposals.
Maintain exhibit style guides and other design resources, and collaborate with and/or mentor Experience Designers on design tasks.
Employ Universal Design principles across all design work, ensuring maximum accessibility in all work. Ensure that the Experience Design team is also following these practices.
Advocate for the role of the visitor as the ultimate client.
Direct and approve design direction for experience projects.
Team Management
Direct project teams and the experience design work group to plan and design effective visitor experiences for the Science Museum of Minnesota and external partners.
Lead, train, mentor, and supervise Experience Designers and other project team members. Support and encourage staff engagement—within the Division and across the Museum—in all aspects of the creation process. Develop and implement professional development plans for staff, ensuring that they align with strategic goals of the institution.
Develop and manage department resources and budgets while providing oversight and coordination of budgets managed by other cost center managers as related to experience design tasks.
Monitor team capacity and provide continuity and design oversight, as needed, across all active exhibit projects.
Hire, evaluate, recognize, discipline, and terminate experience design personnel.
Project Management
Work with Experience Development Manager, Project Managers, and Sr. Director of Exhibits to achieve project success, including hiring and managing contractors; establishing and scheduling project milestones, reviews, and completion dates; and supporting prototyping, final implementation, installation, and troubleshooting.
Facilitate communication between project team members, other museum staff, advisors, external clients and partners, and contractors to ensure that products created meet projects’ vision and goals. Manage conflict resolution and decision-making processes to maintain momentum and ensure projects fit budgets and meet deadlines.
Provide leadership, collaboration, and assistance with visitor experience offerings as part of cross-divisional work groups.
Maintain project management tools.
Serve as Project Manager when appropriate.
Planning
Through collaboration with internal and external constituents, assist in creating long-term goals and strategies that guide the design of exceptional learning opportunities for visitors.
Stay abreast of industry design trends, research new and emerging technologies as they may relate to exhibit design, and incorporate innovative design details into all projects.
Participate in museum-wide and Museum Experience Division planning efforts.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Competencies
Communication:
Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others and ensures that information is shared with others who should be informed.
Collaboration:
Develops, maintains, and strengthens partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
Customer Service:
Demonstrates an understanding of the SMM mission by ensuring that their own interactions with internal and external customers consistently support the mission.
Fostering an Inclusive Community:
Contributes to a museum environment, and people, that reflect and respond to the diverse needs and cultures of our community (internal and external).
Results Orientation:
Focuses on providing a best in class visitor experience through work outcomes by meeting personal and organizational work objectives.
Management:
Coaches and develops employees by providing feedback, development opportunities, and work direction while creating a sense of connection and belonging amongst staff and volunteers
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
No formal education necessary.
Experience:
8+ years relevant experience in a team-based environment designing products or experiences for museum audiences.
8+ years direct experience with and understanding of environments and operations of museums or similar industries.
8+ years experience with all aspects of experience design focusing on physical and digital interactive exhibitions.
5+ years experience working with clients or external stakeholders in the creation of exhibits or similar products.
Demonstrated technical proficiency using CAD software such as AutoCad, Vectorworks, Rhino, Sketchup, or similar software.
Demonstrated technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
Demonstrated technical proficiency in office organization software such as Google Suite or similar suite.
Creativity and problem solving skills in translating concepts and ideas into relevant content.
Knowledge and/or experience with User Interface (UI) and UX (user experience) design principles desired.
Proven ability to provide inspiration and leadership.
Experience managing a team and/or the workflow of others.
Experience with project management and conflict resolution.
Demonstrated knowledge of project or product development principles.
Curiosity towards the scientific endeavor desired.
Experience and proficiency in Spanish, Hmong, or Somali language desired but not required.
Certifications:
No certification necessary.
Work Environment:
Office environment with frequent group work and conversation, consultations in exhibit production shop, and on-line meetings. There is some flexibility for remote work. Occasional travel off-site and out of town for project meetings required.
The salary range for this role is: $75,246 - $80,000 per year
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)