Exhibits Fabricator opportunity, MOHAI, Seattle, WA

Greetings!

The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle, WA is hiring an Exhibits Fabricator.

Here are the details:

Museum Vision and Mission:
MOHAI is treasured locally and respected nationally as a vibrant resource where history inspires us to build a better future. To serve our region, we bridge the past, present, and future by collecting, preserving, and sharing stories through compelling, innovative exhibits and community engagement.

Position: Exhibits Fabricator
Reports to: Curator of Exhibits
Location: Lake Union Park’s historic Armory building & McQuaid Resource Center at Georgetown
Classification: Non-Exempt; Full-time; Hourly
Schedule: Monday - Friday, with occasional evenings and weekends
Rate of Pay: $28 - $35 per hour
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance and participation in a 403(b) savings plan

Position Description:
The Exhibits Fabricator is the lead staff responsible for the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of exhibits at MOHAI, in coordination with the Interpretive Services team. This position involves: construction, installation, and repair of permanent and temporary exhibits and displays, including interactives; ongoing stewardship of all exhibit-based visitor experiences in the museum; management of two exhibits workshops; and supervision of temporary fabrication crews. This position is a member of the Interpretive Services team and reports to the Curator of Exhibits.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for exhibit fabrication, production, and installation.
• In coordination with the Exhibits team, work on the design and development of all MOHAI in-house and traveling exhibits, including developing and detailing fabrication methods and materials for exhibit components.
• Ensure that all interactions are culturally responsive, respectful, and based on a foundation of MOHAI’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
• Oversee gallery preparation, including carpentry, painting, rigging, lighting, A/V, and temporary wall systems.
• Fabricate exhibit furniture, casework, wall systems, fixtures, and mounts as needed.
• Working with other team members, participate in installation and de-installation of exhibit experiences, ensuring proper handling and coordinating necessary transportation.
• Supervise part-time production and installation crews.
• Manage the exhibits workshops at the museum and the resource center.
• In coordination with the Exhibits team, develop annual and long-term exhibit fabrication workplans and budgets.
• Purchase and maintain supplies and shop materials, including paint, tools, and hardware.
• Move and store exhibit fixtures and objects, including operation of stock picker, box truck, and heavy lifting as needed. Occasional work with Collections Resources team to move and transport artifacts.
• Exhibits maintenance, including troubleshooting A/V and computer interactives. Cleaning and repair of exhibits as needed.
• Working with the Facilities team, carry out museum maintenance directly related to visitor experiences, including lighting, signage, and repairs.
• Opportunity to serve on IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Committees.
• Attendance at museum-sponsored events may be required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience with exhibits fabrication and installation, preferably in a museum environment.
• Technical education in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Carpentry, lighting, and fabrication skills, and experience with woodworking and metal working tools and equipment.
• Ability to diagnose A/V and computer-related exhibits problems.
• Knowledge or experience working around museum artifacts and familiarity with collections care standards.
• Knowledge of safety regulations in cabinet & machine shop environments, including safe use of power tools.
• Comfortable with MS Office software including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Very organized, flexible, able to multi-task, meet deadlines, and work as part of a team.
• Creative problem-solver.
• Ability to lift and move heavy objects up to 50 pounds, walk regularly throughout the day, and safely work from lifts, ladders, and platforms.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and ability to drive a stock picker and box truck.
• Willingness to work some nights and weekends as required.
• Bilingual and multilingual skills valued.
• Enthusiasm for MOHAI’s exhibits, programs, and mission.

Find yourself checking many of these boxes but doubting whether you should apply? If you meet some of the requirements and you share MOHAI's values and support our mission, we encourage you to apply. As part of our ongoing commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we’re invested in building teams with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Museum Overview:
For 70 years, MOHAI has been dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing, and teaching the diverse history of Seattle, the Puget Sound region, and the nation. With a collection of nearly 4 million artifacts, photographs, oral histories and archival items, and an expansive schedule of exhibits and programs, MOHAI is the region’s premier history center. MOHAI operates a dramatic and award-winning museum in Seattle’s vibrant South Lake Union neighborhood and a resource center in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. MOHAI also hosts the Bezos Center for Innovation, focusing on the history and future of innovation in the Puget Sound region. MOHAI is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and has been selected by USA Today as one of the Top Ten History Museums in the nation. For more information, please visit mohai.org.

To Apply:
Please e-mail letter of interest, resume, and three references to Human.Resources@mohai.org.
No phone calls, please.

MOHAI is a 501(c)(3) organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team and an organizational culture that fosters inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We encourage candidates of color to apply.

Position announcements can be found here: About — MOHAI