Exhibit Preparator

Oregon Historical Society • Portland, OR

4h • Onsite

About The Position

The Exhibit Preparator assists the exhibits production team in the timely preparation, construction, installation, and de-installation of museum exhibitions as assigned, including temporary, traveling, and permanent exhibits. This is an on-call, as needed position.

Requirements

• Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of employee or others.
• Minimum high school graduate or GED equivalent.
• Three-to five years of experience in finish grade carpentry and/or cabinetry and/or exhibition production, with minimum of three to five years in museum environment preferred.
• Must be highly skilled in use and care of hand and power tools, and working with a variety of materials – wood, glass, plastic, paint, metal, and adhesives.
• Position requires knowledge of appropriate methods of exhibiting collection materials, including mounts and lighting.
• Must be familiar with construction and material standards to produce exhibits that ensure safe, secure, and appropriate exhibit environments for visitors and collection materials.
• Knowledge of safe work practices for hazardous materials and understanding of MSDS literature is required.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Has general computer job skills including logging on to systems, ability to communicate by email, ability to compose documents, enter database information, create presentations, download forms, and preserve/backup important data.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms; required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds unassisted.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Must use proper care and handling of fragile and/or large objects.
• Ability to move heavy objects with mechanical assistance (moving jack, van, etc.)

Nice To Haves

• Three to five years in a museum environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assists exhibition production team in transitions between exhibitions, including preparing gallery by spackling and painting, light carpentry, sanding, and moving exhibitry.
• Installs/deinstalls exhibition components including but not limited to, walls, floors, display cases, text panels, photographic murals, vinyl wall treatments, and object mounts.
• Constructs and assembles exhibit components and furnishings, including but not limited to props, temporary walls, furniture, fabrication of custom object mounts, as directed by Exhibit Production Manager and/or other museum staff.
• Coordinates and cooperates with OHS staff, contractors, other temporary help, and vendors to meet exhibit deadlines.
• Handles collection materials during retrieval, installation, and storage with equal concern for object and human safety regardless of monetary value of item under the supervision of the Exhibits Production Manager or museum collection staff.
• Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance.
• Works collaboratively in a team environment with a spirit of cooperation.
• Displays excellent communication skills including presentation, persuasion, and negotiation skills required in working with coworkers, visitors and volunteers and including the ability to communicate effectively and remain calm and courteous under pressure.
• Respectfully takes direction from supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• All employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Employees may request an exception from vaccination because of a disability or sincerely held religious beliefs from the HR department. New employees must submit proof of vaccination or a valid exception request by their first day of work.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED