OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA (OMCA) MISSION

We inspire understanding and empathy with stories and experiences of California’s art, history, and natural environment to build more equitable and connected communities.

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA (OMCA) VISION

We envision a just and vibrant future where our communities value and honor one another and the world around us.

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Design Director is responsible for the development and execution of a dynamic, community-centered, cohesive design strategy for the Oakland Museum of California, supporting multiple functions and departments and working across multiple design platforms. The Design Director maintains a knowledge of current design, brand, and marketing trends, and works to support design’s role in audience engagement across physical and digital-first platforms. Learning the expression of  OMCA’s mission and values in  exhibition and collection presentations, campus signage and wayfinding, this position works as a strategic partner in stewarding the Museum’s visual identity (brand) in marketing and communications, programming, and fundraising materials. The position also leads and manages processes and resources necessary to implement OMCA’s design strategy, providing creative direction for OMCA’s design studio, and overseeing spatial design, graphic design, video content, and graphic production for the full organization. The Design Director supervises the Design Studio staff and collaborates with senior leadership and teams throughout the Museum.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following reflects OMCA’s definition of essential functions for this position, but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. OMCA may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. 

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Museum’s mission, values, vision, and core commitment to the visitor experience, community engagement, and institutional relevancy for the future
• Contribute to and support the OMCA strategic plan, annual priorities, and institutional initiatives such as diversity advancement
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect, a spirit of collegiality, cooperation, and openness to many perspectives
• Participate in a culture of ongoing learning, collaboration, innovation, creativity, and community engagement
• All positions will have core functional responsibilities, cross functional team activation and learning and development as a core function of each role.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Design Leadership and Administration

• Responsible for design vision and planning processes that explain creative services, design processes, and staffing in support of a creative and responsive design studio, culture, and function.
• Actively engage in and maintain an awareness of design approaches, practices, and ethics in the museum field that support OMCA’s continued leadership in exhibition design and other design platforms.
• Foster, coordinate, and manage effective collaborations with the Design team and with other departments and teams.
• Facilitate, conduct and or/participate in creative discussions, cross-functional teams, and project critiques.
• Partner on cross-departmental teams to align and innovate design, curatorial, and interpretation collaborations. Oversee the evaluation, hiring and management of outside design consultants when necessary, including artists, designers, printers, photographers, etc. to ensure quality of execution.
• Direct and supervise the day-to-day activities of the design staff including priority setting, coaching, professional development and performance management.
• Participate in OMCA’s management training and performance management and staff development programs.
• Work in a healthy and flexible management style that understands and adjusts to staff needs and complex projects that support strategic priorities and sustainable workloads.
• Serve on and advise leadership and senior planning committees and teams as needed.
• Balance multiple projects and priorities in support of OMCA’s mission and goals.
• Deliver excellent customer service from the entire design studio, including vendors and contractors.

Creative Direction and Visual Identity (Brand) Stewardship

• Lead and inspire a high-volume design studio to conceptualize and design visitor centered experiences and materials through a range of media and platforms.
• Direct and oversee the creative output of the studio across 2d, 3d, video and graphic production to create a cohesive creative and brand experience.
• Oversee OMCA’s visual identity (brand) and its application to all facets of the museum experience. Serve as brand steward in strategic collaboration with the Marketing, Communication and Visitor Experience department, which leads strategies for communications to external audiences.
• Regularly review and update as needed brand guidelines and best practices.

Lead Designer for Exhibitions and Campus Projects

• Lead the design, the spatial experience and overall look and feel of select exhibitions, and provide design oversight and guidance for exhibitions designed by other Design Studio members.
• Lead the implementation of a cohesive design strategy for OMCA’s portfolio of exhibition projects and the three permanent collections galleries.
• Collaborate with curator and experience developer to define how exhibition content becomes an experience, advancing the role of design in supporting interpretation, and designing for social cohesion and a dynamic visitor experience.
• Design exhibit components, interactives, and participatory experiences to meet experience goals and communicate the “big idea” of the exhibition.   
• Produce scale drawings for preparators and contractors. 
• Work with project manager and project team to create an appropriate budget and schedule that ensures a high quality exhibition within institutional parameters and goals. Direct and oversee the creative output of the design office (includes graphic design and media production for exhibitions and marketing) in support of the project.
• Direct and oversee the production of exhibits for quality, constructability, schedule and budget.
• Provide design leadership for the  and the museum's public spaces, including wayfinding and other campus projects, such as furniture and visitor amenities, in collaboration with Visitor Experience and Facilities teams. 

EXPERIENCE

• Ability to display the competencies of strategic thinking, development of self and others and ability to deploy and align organizational strategies and objectives
• Deep understanding of the museum field across multiple types of institutions
• 10+ years related experience within the museum field. 
• 5+ years supervisory/lead experience
• B.A. degree in relevant field
• Experience designing for and collaborating on marketing led projects
• Experience working within a brand initiativesAdobe Creative suite, 2d and 3d CAD, Vectorworks
• Ability to communicate overall design in 3d using sketches or 3d renderings
• Create and present clear and compelling decks for projects and initiatives
• Knowledge of graphic design principles
• Experience designing for a wide range of ages and abilities and an understanding of their needs
• Experience designing for 2d and 3d exhibits and interactives
• Experience with innovative construction techniques and materials
• Experience with conservation requirements, ADA, universal design, fire codes, and general building codes
• Experience working with structural engineers
• Experience creating an overall and line item budget early in the project
• English language proficiency in both spoken and written form
• 3d Design, Architecture, or related knowledge required

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The environment may include:

• Museum environment involves both indoor and outdoor working conditions
• Ability to travel between OMCA locations, and other travel as required by position responsibilities

EEO STATEMENT

The Oakland Museum of California is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, accessibility and equity. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ability/disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We highly encourage our diverse community to apply for available employment, internship, fellowship and volunteer positions at the Museum, as we aim to ensure our staff reflects the diversity of our visitors and surrounding community. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, OMCA will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

COMPENSATION: $135,400