Designer (Graphic & Exhibits)

• Technical Competence – Technical experience as it relates to the duties outlined in this job announcement.
• Depth and Breadth of Experience – Experience that covers multiple areas outlined in this job announcement. Experience should be varied and not one dimensional and demonstrate a wide range of community involvement.
• Job Fit – Experience will be evaluated to determine how well your past experience aligns with and meets the business needs of this position. Current experience is preferred.

Complete Applications must include:

• Cover Letter: Required - Attached as a separate document.
• Resume: Required - Attached as a separate document.
• **Attachment or link to examples of design work or website or portfolio**
• Transcript: Required - Attached to the online application and meeting requirements as described under "College Transcripts".

History Colorado’s Graphic Designer and Exhibit Designer position works as part of a highly successful team to create dynamic and engaging exhibits, to share the diverse stories of Colorado with History Colorado Center museum visitors and community members.

A successful designer will take complex written stories from Colorado History, and turn them into dynamic, engaging printed and digital materials. This role supports a team that creates six to eight exhibitions a year.

Work includes but is not limited to the following:

Brief Duty Description:

Job Duty 1 - Graphic Design

• Creates dynamic graphics packages for exhibits to illustrate the stories of Coloradans in coordination with an exhibits team
• Design all two dimensional components of an exhibition: large scale murals, interpretive panels, donor panels, object labels, and interactives
• Coordinate with the Director of Exhibitions to create proofs and samples for approval from the exhibits team and leadership team
• Coordinate with publications staff for copyediting
• Coordinates with Exhibit Designer to create a cohesive look and feel for the graphics
• Collaborates with Exhibit Developers, marketing team, fabricators, contractors, vendors, project manager, and others as appropriate.
• Produces great results on time, within budget, with correct specifications, with all revisions made correctly, with little guidance under tight deadlines, while demonstrating meticulous attention to detail on every project.
• Provides specified vendors with clear and accurate specifications and details to ensure accurate files are provided on time and accurately reflect project specifications.
• Manages multiple projects simultaneously, meeting all deadlines and project management requirements including design, implementation, review, preparation, production and installation
• Designs visual identities for new exhibits, supporting the communications team
• Design multi-page editorial layouts for the quarterly publication The Colorado Magazine
• Assists the exhibitions team with exhibit installation and de-installation
• Maintains and purchases design studio equipment and supplies

Job Duty 2 - Exhibition Design

• Analyze and interpret exhibit concepts to create impactful designs that are cohesive to an exhibition’s story and tone as set by an exhibit team and historians
• Design History Colorado exhibits while working on an exhibit team with project managers, developers, and educators, through all exhibit design phases: Design Concept, Schematic Design, Design Development, Procurement, fabrication and Installation.
• Prepare exhibit illustrations and renderings for Exhibit teams, community stakeholders and for the Philanthropy department.
• Prepare exhibit case drawings for the fabricator and consult on materials and build specifications.
• Prepare and present floorplans for exhibit team review and community members
• Performs other duties as assigned

This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

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This position is advertised in line with the Governor’s executive order focused on skills-based hiring practices that focuses on the knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to the job and aligns the hiring process accordingly. Skills-based hiring reduces potential barriers for applicants and allows for reduced bias in the hiring process by providing a direct description of skills that are unique to the duties assigned to the position with a recognition that the applicant may have developed these skills through education, training, or past experiences.

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• A Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. degree from an accredited institution in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Exhibit Design, Architecture, Interior Design, or a highly related field will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis:
• Associate’s for two (2) years of experience. (Requires 2 years of remaining professional experience).
• Bachelor’s for four (4) years of experience and meets the requirement in full.
• Note: If substituting education, you must attach a legible copy of your college transcripts to your application

• A strong background in design, with a primary focus on the intersection of graphic design, 3D spatial environments, and/or museum exhibition spaces.
• Proven experience and confidence in visual storytelling, translating complex educational or historical concepts into engaging visual media.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience interfacing with multiple external vendors, contractors, and project managers.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage and juggle multiple project schedules and production deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience working with multiple vendors and juggling multiple projects
• An enthusiasm to explore ideas, amplify diverse voices, and help others discover what makes Colorado Colorado.

Two foundational things are true at History Colorado: We love Colorado. And we believe in the transformative power of history. We are a people-driven, history-centered movement building a better future. We are stronger when we do this together, building new knowledge and shared meaning that improves lives today and for our descendants.

As an agency of the State of Colorado and a non-profit organization, we are committed to serving all Coloradans. We offer access to our state’s history through enriching experiences at eleven museums and historic sites, with dynamic and relevant exhibits and activities. We work with school groups and young learners through field trips, day camps, and traveling programs. We’re also home to a free public research center, Colorado’s Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP), and the Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), the nation’s largest preservation program of its kind. We steward 15 million objects, photographs, and archival resources that make up the State’s collection, and serve tens of thousands of learners of all ages through dynamic programs.

We strive to be a place of belonging for all Coloradans. We’re committed to Colorado’s diverse communities through education, engagement, and access. We know we’re succeeding when more voices, perspectives, and experiences are part of History Colorado. It's our vision that every Coloradan feels rooted, draws strength from those who have come before us, and knows they belong in this place.

In pursuit of a more just and equitable Colorado, we embody the grounding virtues listed below as the foundation of all aspects of our work: our thinking, communication, process, outcomes, and evaluation. Our work is guided by, for, and of the communities we build, belong to, and serve, and we commit to:

• Being in Community
• Amplifying and Centering Voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
• Co-creation and Shared Authority
• Humility and Reflection
• Responsiveness and Flexibility
• Shared Destiny

We are Colorado. Together, our generational work centers communities, deepens knowledge and catalyzes the transformative power of history.

If you are considering a career opportunity with the goal of making a difference, consider joining the dedicated people at History Colorado. We offer fantastic benefits including:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans: https://stateofcoloradobenefits.com
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance, plus additional optional life insurance options
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave accruals
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• State of Health employee wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules and more.

This position is not part of the classified personnel system; applications will be accepted from Residents and Non-Residents of Colorado. Incumbent will be required to live in and complete work for History Colorado within Colorado.

History Colorado is committed to anti-racism practices across its institution and outlined in our grounding virtues. As such we encourage members of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) LGBTQ+ and differently abled communities to apply for this position. To see these virtues click this link: (Anti-Racism Grounding Virtues).

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application, but will be used to supplement information to the application. Part of the selection process for this position will involve a review of the information you submit in your application materials. Therefore, it is paramount that in the experience portion of your application, you describe the extent that you possess the education, experience and competencies outlined in the job announcement as well as the special and/or preferred qualifications. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions may prevent you from competing in subsequent measures used to arrive at a top group of applicants.