Director of Exhibitions

Director of Exhibitions St. Louis, MO Job Details Full-time $76,000 - $80,000 a year 17 hours ago Qualifications Fabrication Contract management Budget management Exhibit development 7 years Museum Studies Bachelor's degree in construction management Bachelor's degree in interior design Project timeline management Interior Design Master's degree Team development Supervising experience Policy & process development Managing budgets in a finance role Bachelor's degree Mentoring Contracts Bachelor's degree in fine arts Vendor contract management Networking through strategic partnership building Contract negotiation Senior level Strategic partnerships Cross-functional collaboration Project leadership Leadership Construction Management Communication skills Cross-functional communication Managing media, arts or design teams Full Job Description Director of Exhibitions The Missouri Historical Society (MHS) is entering one of the most exciting chapters in its 160year history, with exhibitions at the center of that transformation. As one of the largest, oldest, and most visited historical societies in the country, we are investing in bold new ways to share the St. Louis story, including a 12,000 square foot history gallery (opening 2028), expanded programming and education initiatives, and new communications strategies to reach broader, more diverse audiences. At this important moment, MHS seeks a visionary Director of Exhibitions to shape world class, visitor centered experiences at the Missouri History Museum, leading everything from major gallery renovations to temporary shows and defining how millions of visitors connect with St. Louis history. Founded in 1866, MHS operates three locations: the Missouri History Museum, Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, and the Library & Research Center. Together, these sites connect St. Louis's past with its future through bold storytelling, innovative design, and deep community collaboration, resulting in some of the best attended and most awarded exhibitions in our history. The Director of Exhibitions will build on that record of excellence while helping lead the institution into its next decade of impact. Essential Functions Leads the full lifecycle of exhibition development, guiding the conception, planning, design, production, and installation of all temporary, permanent, and traveling exhibitions. Oversees a multidisciplinary team of designers, preparators, media developers, and contractors, fostering a collaborative, creative, and supportive work environment. Drives excellence in project management while maintaining and advancing an institution-wide exhibition schedule. Develops and manages the department's annual budget and exhibition-specific project budgets, monitoring spending, creating cost projections, and ensuring responsible and efficient use of institutional resources. Champions accessibility, sustainability, inclusion, visitor-centered thinking, and design best practices. Cultivates strong internal and external partnerships, working closely with teams in education, curatorial, public history, communications, collections, philanthropy, and facilities to create cohesive and effective exhibition experiences. Develops and strengthens departmental processes. Creates, evaluates, and refines policies and procedures for exhibition development, fabrication, installation, and maintenance. Serves as an institutional leader, representing the Missouri Historical Society at public events, exhibition openings, and professional gatherings. Stays engaged with emerging exhibit design practice outside of MHS, maintaining active regional and national connections to other exhibits leaders. Serves as a department head in MHS's Public History division, which encompasses much of the institution's public-facing work. Bachelor's degree relating to project management, design, or museum work (e.g., exhibition design, visual or fine arts, interior design, theater design, construction management, or museum studies). A master's degree in a related field is a plus but not required. Minimum of seven years of progressive experience in museum exhibitions or related creative disciplines, including at least three years in a leadership role. Demonstrated experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and managing large-scale or complex projects. Experience with exhibition design, fabrication, and installation workflows. Experience developing and managing departmental and project budgets exceeding $1 million. Demonstrated experience planning and managing multiple projects on tight, simultaneous timelines. Skills & Attributes Demonstrated leadership abilities that can be applied to mentor, motivate, and organize teams of creatives, builders, and storytellers. Ability to motivate both internal and external audiences. Outstanding problem-solving abilities. Ability to facilitate communication and collaboration between departmental teams. Demonstrated success planning and managing multiple projects on tight, simultaneous timelines. Proven ability to design and support accessible, engaging, and visitor-centered exhibition experiences. Ability to negotiate and manage contracts with fabricators, designers, and other external partners. Familiarity with museum ethics, policies, and best / emerging practices in exhibition content and design development, conservation, documentation, and accessibility. Familiarity with exhibit-related fabrication methods, tools, and design programs. Ability to think big picture and a desire to understand, promote, and deliver on the Missouri Historical Society's mission to protect, preserve, and share the St. Louis story. Flexibility, professionalism, creativity, and a passion for St. Louis history. Applicants should provide a résumé and a cover letter when applying.