Assistant Director of Operations and Exhibit Maintenance chez Bronx Children's Museum

Position Title: Assistant Director of Operations and Exhibit Maintenance
Reports To: Executive Director/CEO

Supervises: Operations Manager, Facilities Manager, Exhibit Maintenance Contractors, Custodial Vendors, IT Vendors
Type: Full-time, Exempt
Location: Bronx, NY
Salary Range: $90,000 – $95,000 commensurate with experience
Start Date: September 2, 2025

Position Summary

The Bronx Children’s Museum is a joyful, community-centered space that sparks creativity, exploration, and belonging for children and families. We are seeking a mission-driven Director of Operations and Exhibit Maintenance who will ensure our physical spaces and interactive exhibits reflect those values—safe, engaging, and alive with possibility.

This senior-level role oversees the museum’s facilities, exhibit upkeep, infrastructure, and event operations. The ideal candidate thrives on ensuring that every child’s visit feels magical, imaginative, and well-supported—by making sure the lights work, the HVAC hums quietly, and the exhibits are ready for play.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Oversight

• Oversee all day-to-day operational functions including building management, custodial services, IT, security, and vendor management.
   
• Directly supervise the Operations Manager and Facilities Manager, providing clear guidance and performance management support.
   
• Work closely with the Finance Manager to coordinate financial workflows, budgeting timelines, and vendor payment processes.
   
• Respond to urgent facilities-related incidents and serve as the museum’s primary liaison to NYC Parks and other city agencies during building emergencies, infrastructure issues, and planned improvements.
   
• Develop, implement, and refine internal SOPs across departments in coordination with senior leadership.
   
• Lead vendor procurement and contract oversight, ensuring service excellence and cost efficiency.
   
• Ensure the museum complies with all safety, licensing, insurance, and inspection requirements, including completion of the FDNY Certificate of Fitness within the first 90 days.
   

Exhibit Maintenance & Support

• Support the installation and logistical planning of new exhibits in collaboration with the Education, Digital Arts, and Programming teams.
   
• Advise on materials, installation logistics, and vendor timelines for new and rotating exhibits.
   
• Participate in small-scale exhibit builds or in-house modifications as needed, ensuring feasibility, safety, and accessibility.
   
• Coordinate preventive maintenance and repair of interactive and sensory exhibits in partnership with the Education and Exhibits teams.
   
• Manage relationships with external exhibit fabricators and AV technicians.
   
• Create and oversee a preventive maintenance schedule and track repairs to ensure minimal downtime.
   
• Collaborate with Visitor Services and Programming to ensure exhibit safety and accessibility during peak and sensory-friendly programming.
   

Facilities and Infrastructure

• Oversee all building systems including HVAC, access control, utilities, and fire safety.
   
• Ensure cleanliness, accessibility, and safety across all visitor and staff areas.
   
• Coordinate external signage, sidewalk/entry safety, and integration with city infrastructure.
   
• Plan and implement capital improvement projects in partnership with external contractors.
   

Event Operations Support

• Provide logistical and facilities support for public, private, and fundraising events.
   
• Coordinate setup, breakdown, security, and custodial needs for evening and weekend programs.
   
• Ensure event-related operations meet safety, accessibility, and hospitality standards.
   
• Liaise with event organizers, vendors, and internal teams to ensure smooth execution of museum-hosted events.
   

Financial & Administrative Oversight

• Support operational budgeting and work with Finance Manager to track expenses, manage invoices, and oversee vendor payments.
   
• Provide data and narrative contributions to grant and audit reporting as needed.
   
• Monitor and track operational KPIs such as systems uptime, maintenance turnaround time, and cost savings.
   

Organizational Leadership, Planning & Governance

• Collaborate with the HR Manager on operational aspects of onboarding, staff safety training, and building access protocols, while respecting confidentiality and human resources leadership.
   
• Serve as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to cross-departmental planning and strategic operations.
   
• Ensure that operations reflect the Museum’s commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment for all staff and visitors.
   
• Prepare reports, updates, and documentation for relevant Board committees, including facilities and finance.
   
• Attend committee meetings as needed and serve as a liaison between senior staff and the Board to support strategic initiatives and infrastructure planning.

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Operations, Engineering, Nonprofit

Administration, or a related field required. Degrees in creative fields such as Design,

Architecture, or Exhibit/Experiential Design will also be considered, especially if paired

with relevant operations experience.

• A combination of education and equivalent professional experience will be considered.

• Must possess or be willing to obtain a valid FDNY Certificate of Fitness (e.g., F-01, F-03,

F-07, F-60, or equivalent) within the first 3 months of employment

• Relevant safety, facilities, or building operations certifications (e.g., OSHA 30, Facilities

Management Professional (FMP), or Certified Facility Manager (CFM)) strongly preferred

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in nonprofit, museum, or facility operations

• Demonstrated success in managing physical spaces, technical systems, and exhibit

maintenance

• Supervisory experience with direct reports and contractors

• Experience developing and managing operational budgets

• Experience coordinating logistics for events or public programs

• Proficient in tools such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Asana, and

basic financial platforms

• Experience using or managing workflows through QuickBooks, Paylocity, and Bill.com

preferred

• Ability to work occasional weekends and evenings

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred

Schedule & Work Expectations

• Full-time, typically Tuesday through Saturday.  
• Expected to work two Saturdays and two Mondays each month, with flexibility to rotate.  
• Will work one Sunday per month, with the following Monday off.  
• As the Museum grows and expands programming, particularly on weekends, this schedule may shift to include additional Sundays.