Fast Facts

The Exploratorium is seeking a Production Manager: Outsource Specialist to oversee exhibit production operations, ensuring projects align with scope, budget, and timeline while collaborating closely with internal teams and external partners.

Responsibilities: Manage exhibit project production, including budget oversight, timeline development, and staff supervision while collaborating with project leadership and subcontractors.

Skills: Proficient in project management, technical drawings, CAD software, and workforce coordination, along with strong communication and organizational abilities.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in a technical field with three years of relevant leadership experience in a design/build environment; familiarity with outsourcing and subcontractor management preferred.

Location: This role is based in San Francisco, CA, with potential travel required for exhibitions.

Compensation: $93300 - $103350 / Annually

SUMMARY

The Exploratorium Exhibits group develops, designs, engineers, and produces interactive exhibits, architectural elements and visitor experiences that foster active engagement and learning - for our museum on the San Francisco Bay and our local community, as well as for partner organizations around the world. The Production Manager reports to the Manager, Production Group and is responsible for the day-to-day operation, administration, and supervision of exhibit and exhibition production on major projects. The Production Manager works with project leadership to integrate production with project management, design, and accounting.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Partner with project leadership to provide production management on major exhibit projects:
• Ensure deliverables being designed / developed are within the agreed-upon scope - otherwise flag for project management & help to strategize solutions
• Determine and execute production strategy, including how to best utilize in-house resources as well as outsourcing
• Create and manage detailed budget for exhibit development, engineering, and production pieces of the overall project; build and refine real-time estimates at the exhibit and gallery levels
• Build and iterate the exhibits portion of the project timeline, including regular scenario planning and course correction
• Supervise exhibits group staff in the production of high quality, hands-on science exhibits:
• Develop and maintain short and long-term schedules incorporating development, engineering, procurement, fabrication, finishing, and assembly in order to build and ship exhibits on time and within budget
• Assign development, engineering, fabrication and assembly tasks; monitor progress and troubleshoot as necessary
• Broker skill-sharing within and across project teams, facilitating nimbleness and efficiency in staffing
• As required by timeline, budget, and capacity, work with outsource partners to produce complete exhibits, including issuing RFQ’s (and collecting bids), editing/administering to contracts, gathering source assets, engineering review, and final QC check
• Work closely with production staff around procurement: ganging like parts for batch fabrication / finishing, vendor relations, inventory tracking, and maintenance of production database
• Identify and implement ways to support, streamline, and improve the exhibit production process
• Participate in engineering reviews and support engineering staff by helping to resolve production-related issues, exporting details from CAD models as required by outsource partners, etc.
• Anticipate, raise, and resolve questions / disputes at the intersection of engineering and exhibition design
• Possible travel in the US and internationally to install exhibitions or oversee contractors
• Perform additional duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field (design, architecture, construction, engineering, etc.) or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Three years of team leadership, management, or supervisory experience in a design/build setting (architecture, engineering, construction, fabrication, etc.). Significant experience in technical product and/or project management considered
• Demonstrated experience with outsourcing processes and management of subcontractors.
• Ability to read, check, and suggest changes to working drawings including fabrication, mechanical assembly, and electrical schematics
• General understanding of electronics, mechanism assembly, and use of machine shop equipment
• Demonstrated proficiency with Gantt charts (Smartsheet); relational databases (FilemakerPro); Excel & Word; CAD (Autodesk Inventor preferred); and web-based collaboration tools like Basecamp, Jira/Confluence, and G-suite
• Strong ability to work both independently and in a group
• Excellent communication, administrative, managerial and organizational skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

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

• Ability to move from place to place, work at a computer for long periods of time, use general office equipment, lift and carry up to 50 pounds short distances
• Ability to travel domestically and abroad up to several times a year

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience managing multiple production subcontractors across a range of disciplines—including engineering, woodworking, metal fabrication, plastics, electronics and plumbing—preferably in the context of exhibit fabrication for science museums or similar
• Proven ability to oversee high-volume, multi-material builds remotely while maintaining quality and schedule is essential
• Experience managing contracts, tracking deliverables, milestone payments and coordinating both engineering and fabrication teams
• Familiarity with reviewing and overseeing engineering deliverables—such as technical drawings and specifications is strongly preferred
• Availability for regular travel to subcontractor sites to support production milestones, troubleshoot issues, perform quality control checks, and ensure alignment with project goals and standards

APPLICATION DEADLINE

This position is open until filled

HOW TO APPLY

This is a fixed-term (October 2025 – April 2029), full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt non-union position that includes benefits. The salary range for this role is $93,300-$103,350 DOE. Please, no phone calls in regards to this job. To apply, please visit the Exploratorium job page.

The Exploratorium is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity, inclusion and respect. We welcome and strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Exploratorium

Piers 15/17, San Francisco, CA 94111

Website: https://www.exploratorium.edu/about/jobs. No phone calls, please

The Exploratorium is committed to an inclusive workforce.