Director of Exhibit and Facility Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Position Timeline:  Accepting applications through August 12, 2026.  Tentative start date for position is October/November 2026.

Mission: The Children’s Museum of South Dakota sparks imagination and learning for all children and their grown-ups through play, creativity, and discovery.  

Vision: CMSD seeks to transform the world by inspiring generations to love learning and to believe that life is full of possibilities.  

Job Summary:

Our Director of Exhibits and Facility Operations creates a meaningful, high-quality experience for all guests by establishing a safe, secure, sustainable, well-maintained, and playful environment at the Museum.  This position provides strategic leadership for the conceptual development and comprehensive management of our exhibits, fostering creativity and ensuring that our exhibits and loose parts provide an engaging and enriching hands-on learning experience.  This role oversees the stewardship and evolution of the Museum’s facility operations, maintenance, custodial, grounds, safety, technology, and capital improvements to ensure an exceptional guest experience.

Key Responsibilities:

Collaborative Leadership:

• Lead, motivate, empower, and supervise team members, engaging them in our mission, developing their professional skills, and promoting a high-performing culture.
• Advocate for the importance of play and leverage our learning framework to create meaningful experiences.
• Provide thought leadership and drive strategic decision making to influence progress towards short-and long-term goals for the organization and department.
• Commit to lifelong learning, innovation, and professional development.
• Foster strong cross-departmental collaboration, working together to ensure that the Museum experience is positive for all guests.
• Develop and manage department budget, ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources.
• Maintain positive relationships with vendors, service providers, community leaders, stakeholders, and external partners of the Museum, inviting and inspiring them to be part of the mission.

Exhibits and Facility Strategy, Management, and Analysis:

• Steward and execute the Museum’s comprehensive capital improvement plan for exhibit and facility improvements, aligning priorities with organizational goals and budget capacity.
• Lead multiple exhibit and facility projects simultaneously from planning through execution, coordinating internal teams, vendors, design, budgets, timelines, fabrication, installations, and operational impacts.
• Manage and evaluate the exhibit lifecycle, using observation, guest feedback, operational insights, industry research, and learning framework to identify opportunities to refresh or phase out exhibits and loose parts to strengthen accessibility, engagement, relevance, and learning outcomes.
• Ensure exhibit and facility environments are welcoming, accessible, functional, and reflective of the Museum’s standards for playful learning, hospitality, and guest experience.
• Champion a culture of proactive maintenance and rapid response to safety, exhibit, and facility needs.
• Oversee facility operations, including custodial, maintenance, and groundskeeping.
• Manage and maintain technology systems, equipment, and infrastructure to ensure staff have the tools to operate effectively, partnering with outsourced service providers where appropriate.
• Oversee the Museum’s safety, security, and risk management, including emergency preparedness, response plans, and insurance.

Qualifications:

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required.
• Proven strong leadership and management skills with success in talent development and performance oversight.
• Proven proficiency managing multifaceted projects and leading operational systems. 
• Prior experience related to exhibits, maintenance, or facility operations in a public-facing building is preferred but not required.  
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of how young children learn through hands-on play.
• Prior experience designing interactive, hands-on environments, exhibits, or activities that engage young audiences is encouraged but not required.
• Ability to balance long-term planning with hands-on operational leadership.
  
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to establish rapport with diverse families, staff, stakeholders, and partners.
• Understands limits of own experience and knowledge and values diversity of thought in others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Team player with ability to collaborate and cooperate.
• Strong organization and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Resilient, adaptable, and flexible.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Shows a passion for and commitment to our mission, vision, and values.

What We Offer:

• Salary Range: $78,000 to $96,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.  This is an exempt position.
• Comprehensive benefit package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement benefits, and paid time off.
• Additional benefits include an Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) Reciprocal Membership, discount onsite at Café Couteau and Play Central Toys and Books, professional and career development, and a playful environment.

Work Environment:

• Flexible hybrid work options are available for this role, with majority of work being conducted onsite.
• In-person meetings, outreach, or events will be required.
• Some evening, weekend, and holiday work will be required.
• This role requires an active, hands-on approach, including standing and walking for extended periods and performing physically demanding tasks that require the whole body, such as lifting, balancing, bending, moving objects and handling materials to ensure a clean and safe environment for visitors.
• This position reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Deputy Director to advance strategic initiatives, capital planning and budget projections, and operational priorities.

How to Apply:

Please complete our online application, which will require a cover letter, resume, and list of three professional references. 

The Children’s Museum of South Dakota celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment where employees of all race, color, religion, marital status, age, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, and veteran status feel welcome.