The Bell Museum seeks a full-time audio/visual professional to meet the continual evolution of planetarium technologies and processes in support of implementing engaging programming in the planetarium and other immersive spaces that support the Bell’s mission and help to realize its vision for a hopeful future where all are inspired by nature and empowered by science.
The Planetarium Technical Coordinator will maintain the operational status of the planetarium, coordinate technical support for public and private events, and provide planetarium presentation and production support. This position also assists in developing contracts and budgets for planetarium equipment acquisition and maintenance, leads planetarium maintenance, and supports programmatic activities.
This position reports to the Planetarium Manager, and is part of the Public Engagement and Science Learning team. As a whole, the PESL team is responsible for public-facing interpretive efforts including exhibitions, gallery carts, hands-on learning in the Touch and See Lab and beyond, activities on the Learning Landscape, arts experiences, public science events, planetarium shows and astronomy programming, school programs, and youth camps. This position works closely with teams across the Bell, including Visitor Services, Marketing and Communications, and Operations, to create effective learning experiences and a welcoming and inclusive environment that meets the needs of diverse audiences.
We are looking for individuals to join our team who are inspired by our mission to ignite and sustain curiosity for nature and the universe. We believe that difference is a strength and are looking for candidates that reflect and respect diversity. We encourage you to apply for the position even if you do not believe you meet every qualification.
Responsibilities: (These examples do not include all possible responsibilities of the work, and do not limit the assignment of related responsibilities.)
Planetarium Technology Coordination (60%)
Maintain operational status of planetarium through regular inspection, maintenance, and testing of audiovisual equipment/computer and technical systems, seats, screens, etc.
Act as a primary contact and escalation point to directly address planetarium technology issues of moderate difficulty that can be resolved through a combination of standard procedures, research, and creative problem-solving.
Create, implement, and maintain disaster recovery, backup and archive strategy to mitigate future issues.
Maintain and update technical manuals to allow planetarium staff to troubleshoot malfunctioning systems, solve and report minor problems, and know when to report complicated problems.
Generate and maintain documentation of systems including hardware and software assets.
Actively research new emerging trends in planetarium technologies and keep up to date on the latest releases of planetarium software and hardware.
Assist Planetarium Manager on the design and implementation of technology upgrades.
Coordinate and oversee the work of contractors and vendors, including contracting and scheduling equipment repair and installation.
Coordinate a routine for maintaining order and cleanliness of planetarium equipment, furniture and storage areas.
Maintain supply inventories, anticipate needs, and order consumable supplies and equipment.
Maintain hardware and software and research new technologies for accessible programming.
Production support (15%)
Assist Production Coordinator on technical production processes, workflows, technology, and hardware/software support.
Prepare digital fulldome content from hard drive to dome.
Provide technical consultation and support for public programs, private events, internal meetings, and other projects that require theater equipment expertise.
Contribute to planetarium show production, including content generation, script and visual review, and asset sourcing.
Assist as driver in presentations for live audiences.
Internal and external relations (25%)
Provide hardware and software technical support of immersive technology venues outside of the planetarium including production workstation and laptops, DigistarLite, and the exhibit panorama.
Build relationships within the University to provide technical support of content development in keeping with the Museum’s mission of bringing scientific research to the larger public.
Manage the process of original Bell Museum planetarium production distribution, including working with planetariums to determine their format needs and preparing/sending links and hard drives.
With Museum Technology Specialist, maintain link between planetarium system and the museum and university IT infrastructure
Attend staff, PESL, and Planetarium team meetings, as well as project-based meetings.
Train student staff in planetarium operation and maintenance on an as-needed basis.
Prepare and track planetarium operations budgets in coordination with the Planetarium Manager.
Provide content support for grant proposals and marketing materials.
Attend conferences, workshops, or seminars for professional development.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum of two years of college in a relevant field plus two years of hands-on audio-visual or computer systems technical work or related experience; or a combination of education and/or relevant experience to total four years
Strong skills in organization and project management
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to deliver project outcomes and meet deadlines as part of a complex and collaborative development process, working both independently and within and across teams
Dependable, flexible, self-motivated, and resourceful
Available for occasional evening and weekend work, as assigned (may include 1-2 evenings or weekend days per month)
Demonstrated proficiency in using Google Suite tools and MS Office products (to include Word, Excel, etc.)
Commitment to support the University’s goal of creating a positive and inclusive campus climate
Able to work in dark, confined spaces and high areas
Able to climb a ladder, lift up to 50 lbs and bend/crouch/crawl around furniture.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience in the field of informal science education, and/or an understanding of the scientific process and ability to interpret and translate complex scientific principles for a general audience
3+ years experience/knowledge of planetarium, exhibits, theater, and/or science visualization systems and software.
Experience with visual effects, real-time graphics, science visualization or audio/visual production and support.
Cultural competency and experience working with(in) diverse communities
Questions about the position can be directed to Kate Sigurdson, ksigurds@umn.edu.
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