Traveling Exhibits Manager

Minnesota Children's Museum•Saint Paul, MN

7d•$78,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Traveling Exhibits Manager leads all aspects of the museum’s traveling exhibits program, including sales, marketing, financial management, operations, and customer relationships. This role is responsible for generating revenue through exhibit bookings, managing budgets and forecasts, maintaining strong client and licensor partnerships, and overseeing the maintenance, fabrication, and logistics of exhibits on tour. The Manager ensures a high-quality experience for host institutions while supporting the long-term sustainability and growth of the program. We currently have 14 exhibits in our own portfolio, and two exhibits that we manage for other museums. There are three rental periods each year: Spring (January – May), Summer (May – September) and Fall (September – January). The Traveling Exhibit Manager is responsible for renting all of the exhibits out for each period, supervising the team of installation technicians, customer service and satisfaction for each host’s rental period. Typical customers include children’s museums, science museums, and other cultural organizations. The Traveling Exhibit Manager also works with the Traveling Exhibits Props Specialist and the Traveling Exhibits Operations Lead to coordinate logistics of shipping, installation/de-installation, and maintenance of the exhibits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, business administration, marketing, arts administration, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
3–5 years of relevant professional experience in museum operations, traveling exhibits, sales, or project management
At least 2 years of supervisory or team leadership experience, including coaching and performance management
Demonstrated experience in sales, client relationship management, or business development with revenue targets
Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding sales or earned revenue goals
Experience developing and managing budgets, financial forecasts, and expense tracking
Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including logistics coordination and timelines
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including contract negotiation and professional correspondence
Experience working with CRM systems and maintaining accurate records
Experience working directly with customers/clients to prioritize and troubleshoot issues as they arise

Nice To Haves

Experience working in or with museums or other cultural organizations
Experience developing marketing strategies, branding, and promotional materials (print and digital)
Familiarity with touring exhibit logistics, including shipping, installation, and on-the-road troubleshooting
Proficiency with Salesforce, including reporting and pipeline management

Responsibilities

Drive revenue by marketing and booking traveling exhibits to new and returning clients.
Collaborate with Marketing and Communications department to develop and execute marketing strategies to strengthen brand identity and maximize bookings.
Oversee creation and distribution of marketing materials, including exhibit catalogs, website content, and trade show assets
Identify and pursue sales leads; build and maintain relationships with prospective and current clients.
Negotiate, draft, and execute contracts.
Develop and manage annual budgets and financial forecasts for the traveling exhibits program.
Track and project revenue across current and future fiscal years.
Analyze profit and loss statements and cash flow scenarios.
Monitor expenses, reconcile budgets, and analyze variances.
Ensure timely receipt of all client payments prior to exhibit delivery.
Provide strategic oversight of exhibit maintenance, component and prop fabrication, and tour logistics, with execution led by the Traveling Exhibit Operations Lead and Exhibit Props Specialist.
Supervise and support the Operations Lead and Props Specialist to ensure exhibits remain in excellent condition and meet quality standards.
Ensure host museums receive a high level of customer service throughout the duration of each exhibit rental.
Guide staff in troubleshooting and resolving exhibit issues, ensuring proper documentation of repairs and updates.
Oversee planning and prioritization of annual refurbishment work for exhibits on tour, in coordination with operations staff.
Review host museum condition and final reports to evaluate exhibit performance and customer satisfaction, and identify opportunities for improvement.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date sales, client, and communication records in Salesforce.
Track sales activity and pipeline data.
Share relevant sales and customer insights with internal teams.

Benefits

Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) for Health Insurance
Employer paid: Basic Life Insurance, Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Long Term Disability
Dental and Vision Insurance
403B and Roth Retirement savings plans with employer match
Pre-tax options for: health spending, dependent care, and transportation
PTO & Floating Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
Free family admission to museum

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