DuPage Children’s Museum

Position Description

Position Title: Exhibit Technician

Status: Part-time, non-exempt, not medical benefits eligible (Under 30 hours per week)

Job Classification: Exhibits

Pay Range: $18 - $22 hourly

Job Summary:

The vision of DuPage Children’s Museum is that all children reach their full unique learning potential through equitable access to hands-on play and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) based experiences. The Exhibit Technician serves a critical role in advancing the vision by modeling best practices for maintaining, repairing, and fabricating exhibits. The ideal candidate is a flexible team player and creative problem-solver who maintains exhibits to ensure DCM visitors experience a high-quality learning environment at all times.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Respond to calls from the museum floor.

2. Perform maintenance, cleaning, and repairs on exhibits, which may require various construction techniques as well as painting, laminate, plastics (acrylic and sintra), mechanical, electrical, or finish carpentry work.

3. Perform regular preventative maintenance of exhibits and regular water tests.

4. Conduct regular inspections of exhibits to ensure that they are functioning correctly, are safe, and are visitor ready.

5. Perform work orders and enter information into a maintenance database.

6. Meet regularly with the Exhibit Manager to:

● provide information about any potential problem areas needing immediate or future attention;

● solve potential emergency situations;

● troubleshoot immediate problems identified by routine inspections and staff/visitor feedback.

7. Assist with preparation, inventory, or creation of exhibit supplies as required.

8. Maintain museum tools, shop, storage areas, and other resource materials in an appropriate and professional manner.

9. Assist with exhibit installation and deinstallation on and offsite.

10. May prototype new exhibit components; give and accept constructive feedback regarding prototypes and exhibit concepts.

11. May fabricate new exhibit components from drawings or approved prototypes.

Secondary Responsibilities:

1. May paint walls, perform room setups, other museum repair, maintenance, landscaping, and occasional other activities as needed.

2. Some travel may be required.

3. Other duties as assigned

Job Relationships:

● Supervised by Exhibits Manager

● Models a positive collaborative approach and works well as a team member with all staff, volunteers and vendors.

● Mentors and trains Exhibit Apprentice and Exhibit Volunteers.

● Behaves appropriately around children.

Education and Experience:

● Must be skilled in or have the ability to learn the proper use of power tools, machine tools and hand power tools.

● Experience with maintenance, repair and/or fabrication or equivalent experience is a plus. Prefer experience with woodworking, cabinetry, mechanical and electrical systems, finish carpentry, painting and laminate, fasteners and other building skills.

● Experience with CAD programming, small CNC routers, welding, electronics, arduinos, coding, and programming a plus.

● High school degree mandatory. Technical training and certification preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

● Demonstrate ability to creatively solve problems in an appropriate and professional manner.

● Demonstrated skills in organizing, determining priorities, and taking initiative; willingness and ability to work toward objectives, shifting priorities when needed.

● Ability to meet deadlines in the most efficient manner without compromising quality.

● Good communication abilities are essential.

● Ability to use online email and calendar functions required.

● Basic knowledge of google applications.

● Learning mindset: a desire to learn new methods and skills.

● Familiarity with pool operator guidelines or water pump and filtration systems a plus.

The following abilities are required for the position: (a) Heavy physical exertion and activity will be required; (b) Bend, reach, kneel, squat, walk and climb stairs and ladders; (c) Lift and carry large/bulky items weighing up to 75 pounds; (d) Display the dexterity and motor skills necessary to perform mechanical repairs and work on a variety of machinery; (e) Work outdoors for short periods of time in hot and cold weather; (f) Communicate appropriately, clearly and verbally with museum visitors and co-workers. (g) Use a keyboard and mouse to enter, retrieve or transfer words or data; (h) Tolerate dust, paint, cleaning solutions and plastic/latex.

Other:

● May be required to drive Museum vehicles to transport exhibits and supplies. In order to do so, employee must have a valid driver’s license and appropriate liability insurance.

● Fluctuating schedule depending on the museum needs. Evening and weekend hours are required.

Benefits:

DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) offers paid time off, an Employee Assistance Program, free family membership to the museum, and a 403b plan.

For full time employees (those scheduled to work 30 hours or more per calendar week) in regular (nonseasonal) positions, DCM offers an extensive medical and ancillary benefit package to include:

· Medical insurance through BlueCross BlueShield to include two PPO options and an HMO option. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family. Deduction cost sharing with each coverage option.

· Dental insurance through BlueCross BlueShield. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family. Deduction cost sharing with each coverage option.

· Vision insurance through BlueCross BlueShield. Coverage options are employee only, employee and child(ren), employee and spouse/domestic partner, and full family.

· Short Term Disability insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Benefits can be up to 60% of an employee’s salary (limitations exist for some preexisting conditions) and may cover day eight through week 13 of missing work and income due to an injury or illness.

· Group life insurance through UnitedHealthcare with a benefit of $25,000. This is an employee only coverage at no cost to the employee

· Supplemental life insurance through UnitedHealthcare. Coverage options for self, spouse, and child(ren) with varying coverage options. Evidence of insurability required above enrollee guaranteed minimum.

· Flexible Spending Account through Flexible Benefit Service LLC with medical, dependent care, transit, and parking enrollment options.

Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Paid time off
• Referral program

Work Location: In person