Director of Exhibition Design

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), in Salem, MA, is one of the largest and most dynamic art museums in the nation, committed to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful environment. Over the last 30 years, PEM has distinguished itself as one of the fastest-growing art and culture museums in North America. Founded in 1799, it is also the country's oldest continuously operating museum. At its heart is a mission to enrich and transform people’s lives by broadening their perspectives, attitudes, and knowledge of themselves and the wider world. PEM’s team is passionate about art, culture, and creating a memorable experience for everyone who walks through the doors. PEM’s growth in recent years has attracted a host of creative and innovative individuals.

PEM is seeking a qualified candidate to lead our Exhibition Design Department in the imaginative planning, design, and implementation of changing exhibitions, long‑term collection galleries and object rotations, as well as in public space enhancements throughout the museum’s campus. This role will lead and inspire a vibrant team of designers and fabricators to deliver original and thought‑provoking visual experiences in collaboration with exhibition project teams. The Director of Exhibition Design manages an annual exhibition budget (design costs) of one million dollars and a team of seven to eight staff. They play a pivotal role in shaping PEM's exhibitions by delivering original, innovative designs while ensuring the seamless integration of artistic vision, practical execution, and strategic planning.

PEM’s culture is forward‑thinking and collaborative, with staff regularly working across collections and departments, celebrating intersections, discovery, and immersive, out‑of‑the‑box visitor experiences. The Exhibition Design Department provides an artful design‑build function utilizing in‑house talent and contract providers. As the leader of this department, the Director will inspire and guide the team, managing their contributions to all exhibition projects while also serving as Lead Designer for selected projects each year. The department operates as a collaborative unit, requiring close coordination to balance in‑house fabrication capabilities with outsourced services to achieve outstanding and timely results.

This role requires an individual with excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across administrative, curatorial, marketing, interpretive, media, collection, facilities and security departments to achieve successful outcomes for PEM established goals and initiatives. The Director of Exhibition Design will also play a key role in the long‑term planning of the Museum’s exhibition program in relation to scheduling, process development, budgets, contracts, and design and production resources.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of PEM's exhibitions, combining creative vision with operational excellence in a role that intersects art, culture, and design innovation to create transformative and engaging visitor experiences. The role requires a leader with the ability to oversee complex logistics who can effectively manage schedules, balance competing priorities, and resolve challenges. They will expertly balance the diverse expectations of stakeholders with strong decision‑making and adaptability. By combining clear communication with a collaborative spirit, they will engage constructively across departments to foster an environment of creativity and teamwork. The Director of Exhibition Design will be ultimately responsible for delivering projects on time and within budget.

This position reports to the Chief Curator, who also serves as the Nancy B. Putnam Curator for Fashion and Textiles.

Exhibitions

The Director of Exhibition Design works closely with PEM’s exhibition managers, curators, and museum project teams to share in the production of a robust calendar of unique and highly acclaimed special exhibitions, circulating through approximately 30,000 square feet of gallery space. Ongoing collection galleries, occupying 55,000 square feet, rotate regularly and are often installed in thematic, multi‑disciplinary presentations. PEM is particularly celebrated for its groundbreaking exhibitions that explore both contemporary and historical themes with bold, interdisciplinary perspectives. Recent exhibitions include Salem Witch Trials: Restoring Justice, Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World, Gu Wenda: United Nations, The Great Animal Orchestra: Bernie Krause and United Visual Artists, Bats!, Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle, Power and Perspective: Early Photography in China, and Empresses of China’s Forbidden City, which exemplify PEM's commitment to presenting holistic narratives and experiences that resonate with diverse audiences.

• Bachelor’s degree in design‑related field required—Exhibit, Industrial, Theater, or Architectural Design. Advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of eight years experience in exhibition design as well as four years of management and administration experience in a design‑related capacity.
• Knowledge of a comprehensive design process for museum installations, including staffing and team coordination, scheduling and budgeting, and overall design phasing
  and document packaging.
• Strong working knowledge of various design software applications such as Vectorworks, AutoCAD, or REVIT, 3D Studio MAX, Rhino, Sketchup, Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel,
  PowerPoint, and Project), and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator).
• Well‑versed in Experiential and Universal Design concepts, their applications, and a working knowledge of ADA guidelines and a practiced dedication to compliance.

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