EXHIBIT TECHNICIAN

The Exhibit Technician is a core member of a team dedicated to ensuring all visitors to the Children’s Museum of Houston (CMH) and Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center (FBCDC) have the best possible experience. The Exhibit Technician is part engineer part artist who fabricates, assembles, maintains, and installs exhibit components for CMH and FBCDC plus assists to ensure all exhibit components are operating safely and are in good working condition. He/She/They works along with other exhibit staff to determine the most effective and efficient production of one-of-a-kind experiences that ensure a wonderful, whimsical experience for families and a safe and productive working environment.

This specific position is uniquely divided in responsibilities between the CMH and FBCDC campuses. This position will be the primary staff member responsible for maintenance, ordering materials and hardware, and installing museum components at that location. The other half of the time, this position will report to the CMH campus to fabricate and refurb exhibit elements in the FAB shop for FBCDC, help with exhibit development, and in general, help full-fil duties of the exhibits department.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Fabrication, Maintenance, and Exhibit Change-outs

• Review daily maintenance reports and perform daily morning walkthroughs of assigned exhibit spaces and take necessary steps to ensure that it meets the museums standards of operating condition and safety. For the FBCDC position this would include all the exhibit spaces at that space and on the CMH days filling in where help is needed.
• Work to repair, maintain and enhance current exhibits according to museum policies, procedures, and approved specifications.
• Work with other Exhibits staff to engineer, fabricate, assemble, and install exhibit components for museum permanent and temporary exhibitions.
• Adhere to all exhibit related and other applicable schedules and timelines. This includes the ability to manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines.
• Work with Manager of Collections and Changing Exhibits to install and dismantle temporary exhibits and seasonal changes at both CMH and FBCDC.
• Assist in monitoring the control of tools and equipment on a daily basis. This would apply to both campus locations for this position.
• Work with the Director of Exhibit Design and Production, Director of Exhibit Development and the FAB shop Foreman on exhibit component design, fabrication, maintenance and change-out for all exhibits.
• Will require occasional weekend work on a rotating schedule, shared by the other technicians.
• Driving box trucks and operating lift gates safely during exhibit installs and change-outs.
• Operate forklifts, scissor lifts, and single person lifts (training will be required and provided). Ladder work can be required daily, depending on projects, and technicians are expected to be comfortable working above 6ft on a ladder.

Quality Control and Safety

• Work with Exhibit staff and other assigned staff to implement 0-defect tolerance procedures according to the established museum policy.
• Work to maintain tool and equipment inventory, order, and cleanliness of assigned area within the fabrication shop. For the FBCDC technician, this would apply to hardware and tools stored in the backroom, storage area.
• Maintain fabrication shop in neat and safe order according to OSHA and museum standards.
• Work with outside contractors and volunteers to assure quality control and safety standards as needed.
• Attend mandatory safety and other trainings as required.

Please note that duties in addition to the ones listed above may be assigned.

The following are Essential Functions of the job & may not be altered without changing the basic purpose and objectives of the position:

EDUCATION REQUIRED

• High School or equivalent degree

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• 1-2 years in some aspect of fabrication
• Experience working in a science center and/or children’s museum a plus

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Basic fabrication skills (carpentry, electronics, metalworking, etc.)
• Basic MS Office ability
• Valid Texas Drivers’ License

Preferred

• Bilingual
• One or more of the following additional experience levels:
  1. Intermediate fabrication skills (carpentry, electronics, metalworking, etc.)
  2. Scenic design
  3. Digital fabrication skills (CNC, laser cutter, etc.)
  4. Programming/coding skills, esp. Arduino

PHYSICAL DEMAND

Manual Effort Applied Percent of On-the-Job Time

(Check one) Manual Effort is Applied (Check one)

__ Negligible Lifting up to 1 lb __ Rare Up to 15% of work time

__ Very Light Lifting over 1 lb & up to 5 lbs __ Occasional Over 15% & up to 40%

__ Light Lifting over 5 lbs & up to 25 lbs ­__ Frequent Over 40% & up to 70%

X Average Lifting over 25 lbs & up to 60 lbs _X Continuous Over 70% of work time

__ Heavy Lifting over 60 lbs

WORKING CONDITIONS (check all that apply)

__ Office conditions for some of work time

__Weekend work required

__ Inside Gallery/Shop conditions for majority of work time

_X Some weekend work required – rotating schedule with other technicians

__ Outside conditions for majority of work time

_X Some weeks require work over 40 hours

X_ Requires work time both indoors and outdoors – outdoor temperatures can be extreme, especially in the summer heat.

X_ Fabrication shop conditions for majority of work time – standing for 70% or more of a work day – a lot of walking

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Inside of Greater Houston Metropolitan Area

__ No travel required

X_ Travel is a routine, regular part of job; less than 25% of working time

__ Travel time is equal to or greater than 25% and less than 50%

__ Travel time is equal to or greater than 50%

Outside of Greater Houston Metropolitan Area

X_ No travel required

__ Travel is a routine, regular part of job; less than 25% of working time

__ Travel time is equal to or greater than 25% and less than 50%

__ Travel time is equal to or greater than 50%