Exhibit Technician

Job Overview

The Exhibit Technician promotes DCHS’s mission and vision by advancing the visitor experience through the maintenance of permanent and temporary exhibitions and interactives. Essential responsibilities include installation and deinstallation of exhibitions and troubleshooting the repair of interactive components with particular attention to exhibit technology and multimedia. This position benefits from a strong understanding of common fabrication skills such as carpentry, welding, and AV, while also requiring comfortability with software systems and/or familiarity with basic programs. While primary duties reflect essential functions of the position, it is not a detailed description of all aspects of the role.

This is a full-time, permanent position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation time, sick time, paid holidays, medical, dental, flex plan, and 403b retirement plan.
Primary duties

• Ensure exhibits and interactive components remain in good working condition
• Troubleshoot, design, build interactive exhibition components
• Maintaining and updating gallery media or touch-screen interactives
• Advance conservation and sustainability goals throughout the organization and community

Additional duties

• Conduct work in a safe and efficient manner for individuals, artifacts, and animals
• This position may be called to assist in AV needs for events and programming
• Work requires Tuesday-Saturday or Sunday-Thursday schedule to maintain coverage on the weekends
• Support DCHS strategic initiatives and operational activities

Skills and Abilities

• Will typically have experience fabricating with diverse materials and interest in IT work, preferably in a museum, aquarium, zoo, science center, historic site, or similar setting
• A strong mechanical aptitude and the ability to create innovative repair solutions using a variety of tools and technical skills
• Familiarity with computers and the Microsoft Office suite of programs.
• Ability to maintain, configure, and operate audio-visual infrastructure, including digital signage, media control systems is a plus

Qualifications

• Must possess or be able to acquire a valid Iowa, Wisconsin or Illinois driver’s license within 3 months of hire
• Must be capable of holding certification in First Aid, CPR
• Must be physically capable of extended periods of standing, walking, kneeling, bending, climbing, and heavy lifting up to 50 lbs with or without reasonable accommodations.

How to apply

To learn more, visit www.rivermuseum.org/join  Apply by emailing your resume, cover letter, salary requirements, and references to apply@rivermuseum.org or by delivering them in person to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is an outgrowth of the Dubuque County Historical Society, which also operates the Mathias Ham Historic Site, is home to the National Rivers Hall of Fame, and supports a national outreach program called RiverWorks Discovery.

 The Dubuque County Historical Society and its properties, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and Mathias Ham Historic Site, are committed to embracing diversity, practicing equity, and ensuring accessibility and inclusion. We continually strive to achieve a welcoming environment in all our spaces, where our staff and community feel reflected and valued for their unique perspectives and backgrounds. DEAI values guide and impact all the decisions the museum makes, both internal and external.

 We recognize that it is highly unlikely that any applicant is able to meet all of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if you are drawn to this position and feel your strengths would be an asset to the organization, we highly encourage you to apply.