Museum of Science is hiring: Current Science Exhibit Content Developer in Boston
Museum of Science, Boston, MA, US
Job Description
Museum of Science, Boston
www.mos.org
Innovation and creativity come from the unique perspectives of a diverse staff. We value your perspective.
Who We Are
As science and technology increasingly shape our lives, the Museum of Science strives to equip and inspire everyone to use science for the global good while keeping up with the pace of change. Among the world's largest science centers and New England's most attended cultural institution, we engage nearly five million people a year – at Science Park and in museums around the world, in classrooms, and online.
The Museum's singular location connecting Boston and Cambridge puts us at the junction of some of the world's most influential academic institutions and industries, local and state government, schools, and the public. Trusted by each sector, we are ideally positioned to convene, inspire, and create meaningful experiences for all. Come join us on our mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone and living our vision for a world where science belongs to each of us for the good of all of us.
What You'll Accomplish
- Co-lead teams in collaboratively creating the overall vision for the visitor experience in assigned exhibitions. Define goals, messages, narrative arcs, and visitor experience descriptions for exhibitions, including those that involve large or complex development plans to integrate products across Museum channels. Establish appropriate educational objectives for assigned projects, in consultation with internal and external content and audience experts, ensuring exhibitions and contingent deliverables meet pedagogical and affective goals and reflect the Museum's mission, vision, and values.
- Lead content development for assigned projects, with an emphasis on exhibitions related to current science communication; ensuring the development of coherent and engaging exhibition experiences that integrate text, audio, and tactile supports across physical and digital interactives, artifacts, and media elements. In collaboration with the lead designer, other members of the development team, and various internal and external experts, develop engaging interpretive strategies to convey accurate content and achieve intended educational and experience goals.
- Develop visitor experiences that are universally accessible, engaging, and inspiring, including through regular and direct interactions with specified target audiences for assigned projects (as defined by the project team, in consultation with the broader Museum community), including visitors with disabilities, bilingual visitors, and visitors of all ages.
- Conduct independent research, and engage a variety of internal and external experts, to develop a working knowledge of exhibit content and audiences, and make decisions about goals, messages, and experiences for assigned projects. Stay current on developments in informal science education and exhibit development and share knowledge with colleagues to enhance the Museum's ability to innovate and advance our field.
- Participate in the design and implementation of an effective program of formative prototyping and testing of exhibit components as an integral part of project development. Use results of front end, formative, remedial, and summative evaluation to develop appropriate goals, improve components and the overall direction of exhibitions based on visitor feedback, and to assess their ultimate success.
- Communicate effectively in writing. Establish a tone, style, and hierarchy for content delivery that achieves the goals of an exhibition. Write clear and accurate copy for print, digital, and audio labels, scripts, and captions for assigned projects. Write and iterate based on feedback: exhibit descriptions, new exhibit proposals, federal and other grant proposals, progress reports, content for educator guides, websites and other digital products, and other materials related to each assigned project.
- Coordinate and oversee the content development work of interns or other support staff assigned to relevant projects. Serve as a mentor for staff external to exhibits who are supporting exhibit projects, as well as contingent deliverables that span museum channels.
- Liaison with other Museum departments on matters concerning the scientific and educational content of assigned projects to ensure accuracy in exhibits and to share relevant information and resources across working groups, including those responsible for providing publicity, producing publications, creating contingent products online or for schools, and/or training programmatic staff and volunteers.
What We're Looking For (Competencies)
Technical Chops: Facility with word processing and spreadsheet software, as well as audio and video editing software. Demonstrated experience developing at least 4 major educational products that integrate multiple engagement strategies to achieve articulated goals (e.g., exhibition, programmatic, multimedia, and/or curriculum products)
Communication: Demonstrated ability to accurately communicate STEM topics for a non-technical audience, orally and in writing. Ability to synthesize complex concepts into experiences and narrative arcs that connect people meaningfully to STEM topics.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: Demonstrated experience translating ideas into concrete learning experiences/environments that are cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally accessible.
Advisory and Diplomatic Skills: Demonstrated ability to collaborate, including as a leader, with a multidisciplinary team.
Curiosity & Learning: Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research using the internet, print media, and direct consultation with relevant experts.
How We Work-Our Values
Everyone: We are everyone's museum. We pursue equity and celebrate every person for who they are. We foster an inclusive environment in which we value and respect diversity.
Service: We serve our colleagues and community. We hold ourselves accountable to be a trustworthy public resource, and to support a sustainable, just and evidence-based future.
Learning: We love learning. We are curious about the world and want to share our joy and wonder with others. We value open minds and recognize that everyone has more to explore, discover and create.
Connection: We find strength in connections. We collaborate across communities, organizations and disciplines to make science relevant and accessible to all.
Boldness: We dream big. We boldly push ourselves forward, pursuing new ideas and challenges. We experiment and learn from our failures as we seek to inspire purpose, spark imagination and encourage hope.