Exhibition Technician

Job Category: Museum Curator

Full-Time

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18^th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.  

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

The Exhibition Technician supports the hands-on fabrication, installation, and maintenance of museum exhibitions. Working as part of a collaborative production team, this position focuses on task-based assignments within defined areas of responsibility, following established methods, processes, and standards.

Primary Duties:
• Construct, assemble, finish, and install exhibition elements such as temporary walls, display decks, display cases and interiors, and case furniture using a variety of materials and methods.
• Assist with cold-lamination, mounting, trimming, and installation of exhibition graphics including wall panels, signage, murals, and floor graphics.
• Support casework and surface finishing, including sanding, painting, and application of fabric or specialty materials to panels and risers.
• Participate in the installation, re-lamping, and basic maintenance of gallery lighting and related components.
• Load, unload, and transport tools, materials, and exhibition elements to and from galleries and storage.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and basic supply levels in the exhibition technician’s shop.
• Assist with the setup, maintenance, and seasonal installation of interior museum decorations such as holiday displays.
• Support tracking and handling of exhibition props, materials, and casework stored on-site and off-site.
• Follow established procedures and safety protocols; proactively ask questions and share observations to improve work quality.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of exhibition production and maintenance.

This is a non-exempt position, eligible to receive overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This position may be subject to overtime during high peak times, etc. as directed and approved by the supervisor.

Required Education and Experience:
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 4 years of experience directly related to the position, such as working in a museum exhibition production shop, a commercial exhibition shop, a commercial cabinet shop, or similar comparable experience.
• At least 1 year of experience using commercial woodworking/metalworking power tools, power hand tools, and mechanical hand tools. (A four-year degree that includes College or University Studio art experience may be considered equivalent.)

Preferred Qualifications:
• Previous museum exhibition design, detailing, production, finishing, and installation experience.
• Experience working with and assembling low-voltage LED lighting components, AV components and controls inside cabinets and display cases.

Key Skills / Competencies:
• Must have a valid VA driver’s license.
• Must possess basic carpentry math skills and experience, including measuring, estimating, marking, squaring, leveling, sawing, drilling, shaping, fastening and finishing.
• Must be able to work as part of a team or individually, with limited supervision and meet deadlines, follow instructions, and adapt to changing priorities.
• Must be proficient in the English language, spoken and written, to comprehend construction drawings, field notes, MSDS documents, and tool and equipment operators’ safety manuals and procedures.

Physical and Environmental Demands:
• Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shifts) climb or balance and frequently (2-5 hrs/shift) does the following: Work in high, precarious places; Exposure to fumes or airborne particles; stand, walk; sit; talk or hear; reach with hands and arms; lift up to 50 pounds with assistance and up to 25 pounds without assistance; and constantly use hands/fingers, handle or feel.
• Must be able to carry 50 pounds, use freight elevators, walk up and down stairs, work on ladders, scaffolds, aerial work platforms and dock levelers.
• Must be able to work in noisy production shops, paint spray booths, and other production and maintenance areas for prolonged periods while standing, bending, reaching, and wear Personal Protective Equipment (eye protection, hearing protection, dust masks and safety shoes) and other PPE as directed.

Typical Work Schedule:
Typically, a regular, full-time, 40 hours per week position, but candidates must be able to work non-standard hours, including overtime, early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.

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Equal Opportunity Employer
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