Are you a creative problem solver? This hands-on exhibit maintenance role could be for you!
The Role
This post is a key role for the organisation overseeing the charity’s main method of engagement with the public, our exhibitions. This role has responsibility for ensuring the upkeep and highest standards of our exhibition and visitor experience at all times. The post holder is responsible for the ongoing planned and reactive maintenance of the exhibition and will require the successful candidate to be very hands on. They will need to gain in-depth knowledge of the exhibition in order to ensure its successful operation.
The post holder will line manage the workshop Technician and work closely with other teams to ensure the exhibition is maintained to the highest standard. The Technical Exhibit Officer is expected to have high standards and attention to all aspects of the exhibition ensuring that even the smallest of issues are spotted and corrected, ensuring the visitor experience is not impacted. This is a key role in supporting a fun, memorable, educational, accessible and inspiring visitor experience for all.
The Technical Exhibit Officer reports to the Head of Visitor Experience to create and plan workloads around the busy school holidays to ensure that we are constantly improving the exhibition whist making sure they are suitably maintained to make it through each busy period.
This role requires a great problem solver. The exhibition is formed of many exhibits of different types, style and construction and therefore resolving a broken exhibit takes creativity and general knowledge of many different areas.
Key Objectives
To ensure the highest quality visitor engagement with the exhibitions
- To minimise downtime of the exhibition.
- Organising work plans to fit around school visits and peak times to maximise workshop productivity.
- Ensuring the exhibition is ready for operation on a daily basis.
Key Responsibilities
- Taking a hands on approach in the repair of exhibits
- Research and design into ways of adapting exhibits to improve reliability
- Create and maintain an extensive planned preventative maintenance schedule for the exhibition and implement its delivery ensuring downtime is minimised
- To have a thorough in-depth understanding of the exhibition
- Make regular inspections of the exhibition and equipment used, updating and maintaining records
- Research, procurement and stock maintenance of exhibition consumables and spare parts. This includes being considerate of our environmental impact and reusing or recycling materials where possible.
- Line manage the technical staff including delegating, coaching, mentoring and training to ensure effective and timely performance to achieve tasks
- Communicate changes to exhibits to the wider team including those who also run the centre in times when the workshop team are not on site.
- Liaise with external exhibition contractors where need
- Work closely with the wider operational team to ensure good communication between teams and minimum disruption to the visitor experience
- To support other teams in the development and production of displays and props
- Maintain orderliness of exhibition work spaces and other relevant areas. This involves regular housekeeping activities, reorganising storage and keeping relevant updated inventories
- To report any faults that cannot be immediately dealt with, to the appropriate member of staff, and to organise further repairs or maintenance
- To set and follow high standards of health and safety at work including working at height and manual handling. This includes being responsible for the training of direct reports, especially with regards to health and safety at work and ensuring external contractors comply with H&S procedures
- To advise, assist and be a part of the new design process for exhibitions
- To make sure work is carried out to meet agreed deadlines and to agreed standards
- Have knowledge of specific software & operation of exhibits and willing to learn how they work
- Assist with general DIY, carpentry and painting jobs which involves working with a range of tools and materials
- Act as a Duty Manager as and when required
Job details
Hours: 37.5 hours per week / full-time
Work pattern: 5 days per week. These will normally be covered during office hours however a flexible working pattern will be required, to include weekends on occasion and bank holidays. Occasional out of hours work will be required and planned well in advance for larger project work or supporting other areas of the charity which will be compensated by time off in lieu.
Salary: £28,500 – £30,000 per annum depending on experience
Contract: Permanent
Line manager: Head of Visitor Experience
Responsible for: Maintenance Technician
Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays. Option to buy/sell some leave and gain additional days for continuous service after four years. Please note, the post holder is expected to work some weekends, bank and public holidays.
Location: Winchester Science Centre, Winchester, SO21 1HZ
Application deadline: Wednesday 8th January 9am
Interviews: Friday 17th January 2025
Ready to apply?
If you feel you're the right person for this role, then we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your application through our recruitment portal. No recruitment agencies, thank you.
You will be asked to submit your contact details and answer a few questions so we can get to know you. Please keep your responses concise, this is your opportunity to really stand out. After answering these questions, please upload your cover letter and CV.
Need information in a different format or would like to apply in an alternative way? Just get in touch with Laura via hr@wonderseekers.charity, or book a phone call with her by calling the office on 01962 863 791.
We can't wait to receive your application.
