Interpretation Designer (Planning Technician 3)

Competition # : 44477

Department: Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

Closing Date: 03-Dec-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

Nova Scotia’s culture and heritage contribute to vibrant communities and enrich the quality of life in every part of the province. The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage invites Nova Scotians to experience and participate in our rich cultural expression.

The Nova Scotia Museum, consisting of 28 museum sites, is the most decentralized museum in Canada. It is also one of the oldest provincial museums in the country. The Nova Scotia Museum is responsible for the provincial collection of over one million artifacts and specimens housed at museum sites and storage facilities across the province.

As the Interpretation Designer, you are responsible for the creative development of primarily non-personal interpretive products such as exhibits, displays, interpretation signage, posters, and online content within the Nova Scotia Museum’s 28 sites across the province. You work collaboratively with multidisciplinary museum teams, community partners, communication colleagues, and outside vendors to interpret and provide creative solutions for the development and implementation of engaging 2D and 3D-related design projects.

This position reports to the Manager of Interpretation for the Innovation, Collections, and Infrastructure Unit (ICI).

Primary Accountabilities

The Interpretation Designer:

• Uses innovative thinking and production of graphic art and visual materials to effectively communicate information for NSM posters, signs, digital media, reports including producing design specifications for procurement processes.
• Ensures compliance with NSM and CNS graphic design procedures when appropriate such as government brand and logos.
• Participates as a member of museum exhibit teams throughout design and production phases, ensuring that the interpretive plan is expressed, audience needs are represented, proper timelines are set, project process is followed and being delivered on time and on budget.
• Liaises with external suppliers/contractors/vendors such as outside printers, fabricators, contracted artists, designers, photographers, digital services and other production services as required to ensure that materials are fabricated, deployed effectively and ensures quality and adherence to the NSM’s standards.
• Contributes to the development of production schedules, ongoing file management, and supports the fabrication, installation of temporary and semi-permanent exhibits and logistics for travelling exhibits.
• Contributes to interpretive planning procedures, standards, policies, and professional development based on strategic direction.
• Researches and gathers information on best practices in museum design and interpretation.
• Assists with developing communication, evaluation, training tools and resources, and shares through workshops or online content.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will have a High School diploma plus a relevant 2-year planning course accreditation and 6 years related experience. Work experience must demonstrate experience in applicable graphic design tools and software such as Adobe Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat as well as familiarity with other software programs such as Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, and Word). You must have a working knowledge of a variety of methods, techniques, and materials used in design processes and production.

You are a team player with strong interpersonal skills and can work independently with minimal supervision and work collaboratively with colleagues and community partners. You demonstrate excellent communication skills (oral and written) including organizational and time management skills.

In addition to the above, you value equity, diversity, and inclusion and can demonstrate an understanding of how the interpretation that a museum puts forward can make a space feel inclusive or exclusive for its visitors.

Assets Include:

• Degree in a visual communication design program
• Experience working in an interpretive role at a museum or similar cultural institution.
• Knowledge of Nova Scotia’s cultural and natural history.
• Training or certification in museum studies, education, or other related programs.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Additional Information

This individual will have to travel throughout the province of Nova Scotia and will be required to have a valid NS driver’s license.

Applications must include a cover letter explaining your interest and relevant experience as well as a CV and portfolio.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace: our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless career paths.

Pay Grade: TE 24

Salary Range: $2,370.01- $2,791.38 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities, and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.