Creative Director

Cover letter and portfolio required with application.The Creative Director is responsible for defining and overseeing the overall creative vision for OMSI in collaboration with Brand Marketing and Learning Experience teams, leading the Creative Services and Exhibit Research & Development staff in conceptualizing and designing interpretive exhibits and learning experiences, and collaborating with internal and external clients to translate experiential and learning objectives into impactful, inclusive creative concepts, while managing budgets and timelines to achieve project goals.The Creative Director leads collaborative processes to establish design direction, and manages and facilitates clear processes, milestones, and deliverables for multiple diverse projects, ensuring deliverables meet internal and external client expectations, timelines and budgets. They manage internal and external resources to implement exhibit experiences in gallery halls plans and to support inclusive experience development including research, special design, graphics, technical writing, interactive development, electronics, mechanics, scenic production, audio-visual and lighting systems, artifact mounting and installation.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesLeadership:Leads strategic planning and implementation of OMSI initiatives aligning with our 5-year vision, 20-year vision, and the Equity Action Framework (EAF); Leads the Creative Services and Exhibit Research R&D teams to develop interactive experiences and exhibitions that deliver high quality learning experience outcomes, with an emphasis on guiding and providing critique to creative teams throughout visioning, concepting, prototyping, designing, and producing construction documentation for multiple and diverse projects; Collaborates with internal and external clients to establish creative direction and clear processes, milestones, and deliverables for multiple diverse projects, and ensures deliverables meet client expectations, timelines and budgets; Collaborates with the VP of Learning Experience to plan for, spend, and track monthly subdivision budgets with an expected annual expenditure of $600k, and ensures short- and long-term requirements are met through labor planning, forecasting, and reforecasting; Evaluates current practices and stays current with professional standards, exhibit theory, techniques, design processes, and technologies to meet the needs of diverse audiences, and plan for changing needs of the staff and public; Supports continual improvement of processes, tools, training, and best practices in interactive experience and exhibition creation and design while balancing resources;Provides grant proposal and sales project direction and input related to establishing project-specific creative direction and clear processes, milestones, and deliverables, including workforce estimates and feedback on budgets for proposals and projects;Ensures the proper documentation of learning experiences (e.g. goals, program curriculums, staff training guides, exhibit records) in support of transparency, collaboration, evaluation, succession planning, and dissemination;Co-Design and Facilitation:Creates, manages, and facilitates creative development and design processes with diverse community representatives, science experts, and internal and external partners to ensure learning experiences are relevant, inclusive, culturally sustaining, and deliver learning outcomes;Identifies, cultivates, and stewards mutually beneficial partnerships to support initiatives and projects;Ensures collaborative projects are designed with clear expectations and responsibilities for each party, and develops and maintains accurate records of partner engagement and contributions;Personnel Management:Manages staff and provides mentorship and coaching to enhance individual and organizational knowledge and capabilities;Oversees the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of staff; Fosters a collaborative team environment, with an emphasis on creating high quality experiences and exhibit products;Continuously identifies and assesses skill and knowledge needs, and allocates future personnel and external resources to meet the needs of strategic initiatives and projects;Prepares and facilitates the development and implementation of staff work plans, and provides regular 1-on-1s, check-ins, regular team meetings, and performance reviews.Working ConditionsThis position is exempt, paid salaried;This position is regular full-time scheduled for 40 hours/week;Requires working onsite at the museum location;Requires occasional travel around and outside of the Portland Metro area;Requires working on some weekends, holidays, and/or evenings to meet project deadlines or milestones;Physical Demands: 75% sitting, 20% standing, 5% lifting/carrying 40 lbs.;Vision Demands include:Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches of less)Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left or right while eyes are fixed on a given point)Depth and perception (three dimensional vision, ability to judge distance and spatial relationships)Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eyes to bring an object into sharp focus)Environmental Demands include:Work near moving mechanical partsFumes or airborne particlesNoise Levels include:Quiet (examples: library, private office)Moderate (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic)Loud (examples: metal can manufacturing department, large earth-moving equipment)Secondary ResponsibilitiesSecondary responsibilities include-but are not limited to-the following:Disseminates project findings via presentations and posters at conferences and professional meetings, publication or on-line posting, and workshops or webinars;Contributes to and/or participates in process improvements for projects and initiatives;Supports solicitation and stewardship activities in support of the Development team;Manages the implementation of grant-funded projects;Participates in prototyping of exhibition designs;Supports the VP of Learning Experiences with Exhibits business planning.Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesREQUIREMENTS:Business Practices:Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, with an emphasis on presentation, public speaking, and facilitation skills;Ability to lead and facilitate brainstorming, concepting, and mediating collaborative work sessions with diverse teams;Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and tasks, often with overlapping and time-sensitive deadlines;Ability to effectively express ideas and thoughts in written form, such as communication with partners, creative briefs, copy for exhibits and activities, and project proposals;Ability to pivot between individual and team work;Proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Office;Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem solving skills;Excellent attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy;Ability to adhere to confidentiality, protocol, and community agreements;Exercises sound judgment while upholding high integrity and ethical standards.Exhibit Creation and Strategic Expertise:Advanced knowledge of human-centered experience design and interactives;Ability to synthesize abstract concepts and learning goals into interactive exhibits, with an emphasis on accessibility, feasibility, construction, function, safety, durability, and user experience;Advanced knowledge of and ability to effectively use creative software-including but not limited to-Adobe Creative Suite products and 3D modeling software, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketchup, and Autodesk Fusion 360;Excellent writing, creative, and design palette/aesthetics, in support of the development and implementation of exhibits and interactives;Ability to maintain knowledge of exhibit history, trends, and industry;Ability to create and present engaging content with a population of learners of diverse ages and backgrounds in a culturally responsive way, with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability through a racial equity lens;Ability to translate scientific and educational research into personal and departmental practices;Ability to co-lead and contribute to the experience design process, working effectively with multiple departments.Strategic ExpertiseAbility to conceptualize and explain high-level, big-picture ideas and strategies, then apply them at a tangible, operational level in service of creative professionals as well as learners;Ability to translate scientific and educational research into personal and departmental practices, in support of short and long term strategic priorities.Supervision and Leadership:Ability to model and support a positive team dynamic with an emphasis on coaching and mentoring paid and unpaid staff using asset-based feedback;Ability to manage six-figure annual budgets, estimate labor time and costs for projects, and manage employee and vendor workloads across multiple and simultaneous projects;Ability to maintain and support professional relationships with community and industry partners.PREFERENCES:Excellent oral and written communication skills in a non-English priority language in Oregon.Education & Work ExperiencesREQUIREMENTS:Portfolio with examples of exhibit development experience and/or contributions;At least 5 years of cumulative experience with increasing responsibility:Demonstrated project management experience, with an emphasis on staff supervision, multiple project management, resourceful problem-solving and adaptability, process improvements, and budget responsibility;Experience leading teams in designing programmatic elements and/or interactive exhibits, with a focus on human-centered design;Demonstrated experience working in a fast-paced collaborative environment with stringent and overlapping deadlines;Experience working effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and talents in professional work environments, with an emphasis on collaborative projects and deliverables;Examples of effective project management and/or coordination in service of short and long term projects and deliverables;Examples of effective communication with a variety of internal and external stakeholders in a work environment, as well as fostering strong and lasting community partnerships and relationships.Minimum of 5 years experience with supervising and supporting the professional growth and development of staff and/or volunteers.PREFERENCES:Academic degree with a concentration in any of the following: user-centered design, product design, UX design, installation art, interior architecture, human factors design, or similar;Experience leading projects with programmatic elements or interactive exhibits;Experience working with volunteers.Additional Requirements/Preferences; Including Licenses and CertificationsREQUIREMENTS:Pre-employment checks, such as criminal background checks and reference checks.PREFERENCES:Valid driver's license.Benefits and Perks at OMSIMultiple health plans (OMSI pays 86% of employee premiums)2 weeks of vacation per year2 weeks of sick time per year12 personal / cultural days (PTO) per year403(b) retirement with employer match eligibilityFree annual OMSI Family MembershipReciprocal Employee Attractions Pass (REAP)Inclusion-centered professional development opportunitiesEmployee-led rewards and recognition programDiscounts on summer programs for employee's children