Job Listing: Lead Exhibitions Lighting Assistant (Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden)

LEAD EXHIBITIONS LIGHTING ASSISTANT 

Garden Overview

Mission

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s mission is connecting people to plants by inspiring communities to explore and conserve nature.

Vision

We are a Virginia garden of international significance leading in horticultural and educational excellence. We cultivate experiences that enhance each person’s relationship with the natural world.

Values

Responsibility, Innovation, Integrity, Hospitality and Inspiration

Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a non-profit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting education programs. This cadre of identified learners is just a fraction of the more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the ground of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected and appreciated.

Job Description:

The Lead Exhibitions Assistant proactively supports the installation and de-installation of seasonal exhibitions and provides lighting support for events with a primary focus on the Garden’s holiday light show.  This includes leading volunteers and staff assigned to support the installation and de-installation of the light show. It also includes providing any logistical or personnel support needed during run of show.   This position requires a flexible schedule and the availability to work outdoors, in all weather conditions, on evenings, and weekends.

Responsibilities:

• Support Director of Operations with conception, planning, installation, maintenance, and de-installation of lighting needs for Garden special events focusing on annual holiday light show.
• Oversee successful engineering, construction, installation, operation and strike of various lighting and A/V components, displays, form placement, and electrical testing.
• Maintain inventories of lighting and A/V materials and equipment; identify and assess inventory requirements, and make and/or recommend purchases, as appropriate.
• Performs or coordinates the troubleshooting and repair of technical equipment, including electrical infrastructure and hardware ensuring safe working conditions.
• Create detailed documentation and maintain records of lighting equipment, plan designs, and all special event exhibition information.
• Assist with coordination and installation of decorative items, including hallway garlands, large wreaths, and other interior and exterior display elements.
• Assist with supervising, leading, and coordinating staff and volunteers supporting fabrication, installation, and de-installation of light show.
• Ensure all materials are inventoried, organized, and properly stored or disposed of as required.
• Rigs and operates necessary lighting equipment.
• Participate in implementation of special events goals, planning, and production meetings
• Handle load-in and load-out procedures
• Ensure compliance with Garden policies, safety protocols and electrical codes
• Assist in training and supervising junior technicians, volunteers and other employees during installation of lighting equipment
• Ensures communication between various disciplines and departments about special event lighting plans and needs.
• Provide a wide variety of tasks needed to support the run of show of the annual light show, including providing support for operational and custodial needs during setup and run of show
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of and experience with elementary electrical functions and rigging safety and practices

• Skill working with and/or installing technical lighting equipment and projection systems
• Knowledge of color theory and lighting design principles
• Stamina necessary to complete physically active work outdoors on a regular basis
• Excellent volunteer management and group facilitation skills
• Technical proficiency with computers including Microsoft Office and experience with design/production software is preferred.
• Able to work safely from an elevated level on ladders, roofs and in trees
• Ability to productively switch between multiple tasks/types of work within a single day

• Good interpersonal, and communications skills

• Well-organized and detail-oriented
• Solution-oriented and able to work independently as well as in a team environment 

• Reliable mode of transportation
• Ability to work nights and weekends

Physical Demands / Working Conditions:

• Must be able to lift objects up to 50 lbs. repeatedly

• Must be able to move throughout the 82-acre Garden property, as needed. 
• Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions including heat, cold, wind, and

  humidity. 

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crawl, reach, push, pull, lift, grasp, feel, and utilize repetitive motions for prolonged periods of time. 

• Must be able to climb stairs and stand for continuous periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Must be comfortable working in immediate proximity to the general public in a safe and friendly manner.  

• Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, ensuring coverage for special events at the Garden, including GardenFest, outside the traditional work week/day.

Note: Duties described above, other duties, and physical demands have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Education and Experience:

• Associates degree or High school diploma; technical school training is preferred; a combination of experience and education will be considered.
• Experience in managing and installing light displays, exhibitions, or events preferred.
• Experience with electrical infrastructure is preferred.

• Familiarity with standard worksite safety practices.
• Prior experience in a botanical garden, museum, or cultural non-profit preferred.

Each Employee of Lewis Ginter:

• Must comply with provisions of the current Employee Handbook, all published personnel policies and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
• Must conduct herself or himself and perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals and families, and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
• Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to the security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
• Must report all mishaps, injuries, and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and to Human Resources.
• Must ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Please note: This position is represented by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO, to discuss the specific needs of your group, please reach out to 804-359-4058.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume HR@lewisginter.org