Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary:

This role is a contributing member of the team responsible for the ideation, design, planning, fabrication, installation and maintenance of exhibits at the South Carolina Aquarium. It requires a highly hands-on approach, involving a wide range of skills including carpentry, painting, sculpting, scenic work, interpretive theming, storytelling through exhibitory, installation, concrete work, modeling and computer design. The position plays a key role in enhancing the visual and experiential quality of all public spaces within the Aquarium. On occasion, may be required to work before or after normal operating hours.

South Carolina Aquarium Mission :

Leading the way to connect people with water, wildlife and wild places.

Key Responsibilities :

• Contribute to exhibit ideation, research, planning, and execution of experiences at the Aquarium.
• Engineer and build interactive exhibits for the overall guest experience.
• Fabricate artificial environments such as rocks, trees and waterscapes.
• Collaborate with Animal Care, Life Support, Facilities, and Education teams on projects.
• Take part in the design, installation, and removal of the Aquarium’s annual holiday light show.
• Support exhibit installations, occasionally outside standard operating hours.

Essential Functions:

• Adhere to the Aquarium policies.
• Support leadership toward achieving Aquarium goals and priorities.
• Supports the VP of Exhibits and Creative on exhibit planning and budgeting.
• Ability to take abstract concepts and learning goals and create interactive exhibits, with an emphasis on feasibility, construction, functionality, safety, durability and user experience.
• Support staff in providing the highest quality experience possible for Aquarium visitors.
• Supports Aquarium promotions as it relates to the on-floor experience.
• Participates in prototyping of exhibit designs.
• Perform exhibit walk-through’s along with other Exhibit staff.
• Perform guest research and observations.
• Ensures the proper documentation of learning experiences (staff training guides, exhibit records) in support of collaboration, evaluation, succession planning and dissemination.
• Ensures collaborative projects are designed with clear expectations and responsibilities for each team.
• Supports solicitation and stewardship activities in support of the Advancement team.
• Uphold cleanliness and efficiency in the workplace to facilitate safety.
• Maintains workshop equipment properly.

Job Preferences:

• Academic degree with a concentration in any of the following: exhibition design, museum studies, product design, interior design, installation art, interior architecture or similar.
• 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 or similar CAD-based software.
• Experience working within a larger exhibit team and volunteers.
• Strong interpretation background.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficient in all MS Office products including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook.
• Technology literate.
• Committed to the role of the Aquarium in the public display of live animals, the education of the public and the conservation of natural resources.
• Demonstrated ability and knowledge of the procedures, techniques and materials used in the care, maintenance and display of plants and animals.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Goal oriented with proven ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and tasks, often with overlapping and time-sensitive deadline.
• Ability to lead, prepare and facilitate brainstorming, concepting and mediating collaborative work sessions with diverse teams.
• Excellent attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy.
• Planning and estimating skills.
• Reading and understanding schedules, floor plans, elevations, renderings, finish schedules and architectural plans.
• Identify and source external vendors.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five years’ experience with exhibit design, fabrication, museum services or similar.
• Preferred understanding in aquatic life support system design and maintenance.
• Preferred understanding of guest-centered attractions.

Licenses & Certifications Required:

• Valid Driver’s License

Supervision of Others:

• No direct employees
• Volunteers as needed

Physical Requirements:

• Requires average walking, standing, bending, stooping, and crouching, climbing ladders, sitting, kneeling, balancing, pushing and pulling, crawling, working with tools, computer tasks and phone usage; should be able to lift/carry at least 50 lbs.; requires driving Aquarium vehicles.

Hazardous Requirements:

• Average exposure to minor or severe cuts; falls; falling objects; hazards to eyesight, hearing and sense of smell; and tight spaces. Often requires use of personal protective equipment due to exposure to chemicals, hazardous materials, ozone, and handling of animals.

Working Conditions:

• This position is regular full-time scheduled for 40 hours/week:
  • Requires working on-site at the Aquarium location.
  • Requires occasional travel around the Charleston metro.
  • Requires working on some weekends, and/or evenings to meet project deadlines.

• Environmental demands include:
• Must be able to wear all appropriate PPE gear including dust mask, respirator, eye and ear protection, etc.
• Working with or near materials that may produce fumes.
• Working with or near equipment with moving mechanical parts.
• Working around loud noise level.
• Requires work in both an office environment and outdoors, sometimes in extreme weather including both hot and cold, throughout back-up areas, roof top, basement, warehouse, and workshop.
• Requires occasional travel.
• Requires weekend and early mornings and late evenings work as needed.
• Requires carrying a cell phone and radio.
• Requires contact with internal clients, outside vendors, and Aquarium visitors.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not construed to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel classified.

The Aquarium is an "at-will" employer, and as such, employment with the Aquarium is not for a fixed term, or definite period and may be terminated at the will of either party, with or without cause, and without prior notice.

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