Assistant Exhibits Preparator 2024 - Missouri History Museum

COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY

The Missouri Historical Society commits to a process of listening attentively to one another and leveraging best practices and resources across our organization to promote a culture of inclusion where individuals from all racial and ethnic identities; ages; nationalities; social and economic statuses; sexual orientations; gender identities/expressions; religious, political, and ideological perspectives; and abilities are able to be engaged, feel valued, and thrive. click here for the full Commitment to Racial Equity

One of the leading historical societies in the country, the Missouri Historical Society is in the midst of a transformative decade with exciting exhibit projects under development and on the horizon. We believe public history has the power to build stronger communities and first-class exhibits are an essential part of that work. In the years ahead, we will be expanding our efforts to share more history with more people than we ever have before.

Founded in 1866, the Missouri Historical Society operates three locations - the Missouri History Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, and the Library and Research Center. Together our locations serve as the confluence of historical perspectives and contemporary issues to inspire and engage audiences in the St. Louis region and beyond. We do that by telling local stories that focus on the history of this region and its people. This approach has led to the best attended and most awarded exhibits in MHS history.

Position Summary:

The Assistant Preparator will contribute to how we connect visitors to their shared past and to one another. We seek an experienced, creative, detail-oriented, and teamwork-oriented museum professional to help facilitate exhibit production and installation on our biggest projects which serve our largest audiences, ranging from short-term temporary exhibits to a series of landmark signature gallery projects planned for the next five years.

The Assistant Preparator will service exhibits at all MHS locations including the Missouri History Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, and Library and Research Center. As a site-supervisor over a crew of other preparators, they will help lead exhibit installations alongside the assigned Exhibit Designer and Exhibits Registrar on specific projects. The Assistant Preparator is expected to closely collaborate with all members of the Exhibitions Department, as well as the Exhibitions Registrar, Lighting Technician, and other MHS staff as necessary.

The Missouri Historical Society seeks to hire a temporary full-time preparator for a term of two years, with the option for a 1-year extension, to help develop some of our most ambitious projects.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Co-leads assigned gallery turnovers at MHM alongside the Exhibition Designer and Exhibition Registrar
• Perform project management duties associated with gallery turnover and maintenance
  • Coordinates with Exhibition Designers and Exhibition Specialist to ensure necessary material costs do not exceed allocations based on project needs
  • Coordinates equipment rentals necessary for the install or deinstall of exhibit elements including trucks, forklifts, LEED certified dumpsters, etc.
  • Maintains the proper inventory, storage and care of installation equipment and supplies
  • Ensures all necessary installation supplies and hardware are ordered and onsite in time for gallery turnover
• Reviews all design packages as distributed by Exhibition Designers and offers feedback as necessary. Specifically, reviews in detail all installation packages for a thorough understanding of Designers expectations before gallery turnover begins.
• Assists the installation of small or community projects at MHS and off-site locations as necessary Coordinates with the Exhibitions Specialist on project specifications
• Assists the Exhibitions Carpenter with fabrication of exhibit elements as necessary
• Assists the transfer of exhibit elements to and from offsite storage sites and other MHS locations
• Assists in maintaining offsite storage sites which includes organizing and inventorying exhibit elements, etc.
• Performs regular gallery walkthroughs as part of a larger team tasked with ensuring the safety and quality of our visitor experiences
• Performs regular gallery maintenance at all MHS locations as necessary
• Attends large exhibit team meetings as schedules allow
• Research emerging best practices regarding fabrication and installation materials and products
• All other duties as necessary

Skills

• Dependable, reliable, and self-sufficient
• Excellent leadership skills
• Excellent time and project management skills
• Excellent organizational, administrative, and communication skills
• Advanced exhibit installation experience
• Moderate to advanced art or artifact handling experience
• Moderate to advanced understanding of exhibit designs and/or fabrication plans
• Moderate experience with general fabrication techniques
• Moderate experience using lifting tools or machinery preferred
• Ability to juggle many simultaneous tasks as well as to delegate tasks effectively
• Ability to adapt or learn new skills through creative problem solving to accomplish complex physical projects.
• Ability to routinely handle objects of up to 50 pounds or more

Education and Experience:

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required; Associate degree in construction management or a related field is preferred
• Minimum 2 years of museum level exhibition installation experience, preferably in a nonprofit museum and/or equivalent public sector
• Site supervision experience preferred, especially in a nonprofit museum and/or equivalent public sector

Deadline to Apply: Open until filled.

Please upload cover letter and resume when applying.

*External job boards: Please click this link, to apply.

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Services Provided On A Non-Discriminatory Basis