Exhibits Specialist

Title:                     Exhibits Specialist
Status:                  Full-time, salaried, exempt
Salary:                  $45,000 – 55,000 (commensurate with experience)
Benefits:               PTO (9 Paid Holidays + 15 PTO days), Health Insurance, Retirement /
401K Plan with Employee Match, Cell Phone Stipend
Reports to:           Director of Archaeology and Research & Director of Museum Operations
Direct Reports:    None
Dept. Oversight:  None
Location:              On-site at NMGL

Position Purpose / Summary:

The Exhibits Specialist facilitates the planning, development, curation, and execution of all temporary, traveling, and micro-exhibitions at the museum. This role blends project management, interpretive planning, exhibit writing, historical research, and cross‑departmental coordination to deliver engaging, accurate, and educational experiences. The position ensures exhibitions are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of scholarship, accessibility, and design.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Temporary Exhibit Development:

• Manages exhibition timelines, budgets, production schedules, and vendors.
• Coordinates cross‑functional teams and project meetings (collections, education, design, marketing, and leadership teams).
• Develops exhibit content including interpretive goals, exhibition narratives, and themes— writing all exhibition text and supplemental materials.
• Collaborate with collections staff to select objects and facilitate loans; coordinate object mounting, installation logistics, and environmental requirements.
• Liaise with community partners, scholars, and subject‑matter experts as needed.
• Ensures compliance with museum standards, AAM best practices, and accessibility guidelines.

Other Responsibilities:

• Develop and sustain a traveling exhibition program.
• Assist Collections and Publications teams as needed.
• Support events, public programs, and media inquiries as needed.

Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate would be a strong writer with excellent research and communication skills, as well as a collaborative, detail-oriented individual.
• A Bachelor’s degree in history, museum studies, public history, or a related field is required; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• Applicants should have 2+ years of experience in museum exhibitions, project management, or interpretive content development; with 3-5 years preferred.

Other qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Familiarity with museum standards, object handling, and accessibility guidelines.
• Experience with exhibition design software or project management tools and knowledge of digital storytelling, multimedia interactives, or UX design preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid office/exhibition‑floor environment.
• Occasional evening or weekend hours during installation periods or public programs.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. and work safely around tools, ladders, and installation equipment.

To Apply: Submit a Resume, Cover Letter, 2-3 Samples of Work*, and 3 Professional References via email to hiring@nmgl.org by June 7, 2026.

*Samples of work can include exhibit panels or links to online exhibits and can be supplemented with photos of full exhibits. Samples should demonstrate research and exhibit writing abilities.

Only applications with all required materials will be considered.

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About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes is an interactive museum dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. Featuring fascinating exhibit galleries, rotating temporary exhibits, and two historic vessels—the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and Museum Tug Ohio—we invite visitors to dive into thousands of years of Great Lakes stories. Operated by the Great Lakes Historical Society, the museum also publishes Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history.

• Mission: To preserve, share, and celebrate the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story.
• Core Values Statement: We steward the National Museum of the Great Lakes through our core values of Education, Partnership, Sustainability, Inclusivity, and Leadership.
• Vision: To be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations.