Writer/Content Developer

This is a union position. 

The Writer/Content Developer reports to the Director of Museum Experience and works as part of a team, this position plays a key role in developing new Carnegie Museum of Natural History [CMNH] exhibitions and updating core exhibitions with contemporary content. The Content Developer generates successful interpretive strategies for CMNH exhibition and creates engaging scientific content.  They maintain the “voice” of the museum through their composition of exhibition labels, multimedia, and interactive or immersive experiences. They conduct research and write while collaborating with colleagues and consultants to develop initial concepts into executable plans.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree required, plus 5 years of related experience. At least 3 years in exhibition development, or similar experience, required; specifically, the development of at least one medium to large exhibition from start to finish. Writing samples or label portfolio required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE: Experience with development of visitor-focused exhibitions. Requires exceptional organizational, communication and problem-solving skills. Must be adept at working on and leading teams. Deadline driven position – must be able to prioritize and use sound time management. Requires ability to work on multiple projects at once. Must be adept at Microsoft programs including Excel, Word. Preference given to candidates with experience using Adobe Creative Suite or other visualization software.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is primarily sedentary but will require some “on the floor” reviews of work and testing of prototypes. Requires ability to use computer to communicate, to perform research and to create documents. Must be able to communicate effectively with teams. Requires ability to focus for long periods of time while conducting research.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Exhibition Development

• Lead brainstorming initiatives during concept and schematic phases of a project.
• Create, update, and maintain storyline matrix to serve as project team’s primary organizational tool. Use storyline matrix to ensure that exhibition goals, objectives, and key messages are clearly established, reviewed, and evaluated when necessary.
• Serve as an audience advocate, striving to create “Wow!” exhibition experiences that make science engaging and compelling for broad audiences: ensure that exhibition is accessible and interesting to persons with varying interests, education, age, gender, backgrounds, and ability. 
• Conduct research and develop interpretive plans for assigned exhibitions. Includes literature review, benchmarking, visitor research, theme and topic development. Outline several different content strategies for review and discussion leading the exhibition team toward consensus. In collaboration, create mind-maps, bubble diagrams, and/or flow diagrams to communicate ideas and strategies.
• Research and interpret science information, images, objects, tools, and technologies. Develop exhibit content for delivery through text, images, interactives, video, audio and Apps. Write lively text for labels and scripts. This involves editing, revising, fact-checking, and proofreading as well as selecting and helping to secure specimens, artifacts, images, diagrams, video, and other educational resources.
• Deliver usable content to multimedia producers and graphic designers. Review work of multimedia producers and graphic designers for accuracy while also making judgements for quality bringing in Director of Museum Experience when needed.
• Purchase and/or acquire images and video for exhibition with due attention to copyright laws and requirements for reproduction. Commission and plan the digitization of items in the Carnegie’s collection to reproduce for exhibit projects.
• Use Microsoft Office and other digital media tools and equipment to create and manipulate text documents, spreadsheets, images, and other digital assets.
• Use Adobe Creative Suite, or other visualization software, to produce documents that communicate strategies and ideas and also to prepare image files to criteria set by graphic or multimedia designer.
• Facilitate the Carnegie’s content development process while handling multiple projects simultaneously and meeting tough deadlines.
• Propose ideas for new exhibition, or ideas that would amend or improve existing exhibition, to Director of Museum Experience.

Project management

• Plan for and lead the content development process of an assigned project so that it ignites a successful team collaboration between exhibit staff, scientists, educators, community partners, Interpreters, and other subject matter experts.
• Plan for projects to follow a (mostly) regular development process that contains all or some of the following phases of work: 1. Concept - 2. Schematic Design - 3. Detailed Design – 4. Production
• Work with Project Manager to schedule, track, and manage the exhibit and content development process in collaboration with Director of Museum Experience. Ensure all content deliverables from all team members are delivered on schedule and in proper formats. Confirm project schedule with Director of Museum Experience and Project Manager.
• At relevant times, work with Project Manager to invite collections staff, registrar, visitor experience staff, educators, marketing, conservation, outside contractors, and/or others to participate in teamwork.
• Report any issues that arise to Director of Museum Experience. 
• Arrange periodic reviews of work by Director Museum Experience.
• All costs associated with the content development of a project should be submitted to Director of Museum Experience or Project Manager for budget approval.  Content Developer must work with exhibit designers and project managers to ensure adequate project monies are allocated toward content related acquisitions. 

Benchmarking

• Stay current in content development field to pursue best practices, initiate relevant partnerships, and serve new audiences.

Collaboration

• Coordinate team’s review of your work and incorporate feedback; distribute exhibit content summaries, drafts, and updates for all projects.
• Build successful relationships with scientists, other subject matter experts, and community partners so that they understand and respect the specific needs of content created for a non-scientific audience in a gallery environment.
• Translate scientific voice into one that is accessible to visitors; curate the “voice” of the museum through exhibition labels and multimedia in consult with Director Museum Experience.
• Serve as primary point of contact between Science and Museum Experience teams for all questions about exhibition content and objects including for: experience/interpretive matrix, object list, object loans (internal and external), and related paperwork. Add Exhibition Designers and Preparators to conversations at relevant times to discuss/document object display specifications and mounts.
• Collaborate with contract or staff registrar and/or conservator to help facilitate the acquisition or loan of specimens, artworks, and facsimiles for display.  Determine what it is team wants to display, where team can get it from, and when they will need it.  Where appropriate, make inquiries with lenders or potential lenders.  Facilitate the exhibit designer making the official lending arrangements, paperwork, and assessments.

Communication

• Assess and incorporate outcomes and/or decisions, made by the Directors and team (as appropriate) into exhibitions and content documents. Support Project Managers in taking and digesting meetings notes when necessary.
• Work with team to create presentations that describe process and progress of project to senior staff, marketing, development, and others given attention to the time needed to incorporate feedback. With Director Museum Experience, determine when and how frequently these presentations need to happen and who should be included.  Schedule presentations and meet deadlines.

Other duties as assigned.