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About the Role
The Associate Director of Experience Design will envision and create future-forward experiences for the California Academy of Sciences, redefining how science is experienced through immersive, responsive, and deeply human-centered environments. This leader will create transformative offerings that ignite curiosity and inspire audiences by blending spatial storytelling, emerging technology, and the Academy’s unparalleled scientific assets. The Associate Director will ensure that every project advances a cohesive, ambitious design vision, positioning the Experience Studio as a laboratory for innovation and a global leader in experiential science engagement.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team of designers, including full-time, part-time, and contract staff.
- Establish performance goals, provide regular feedback, and support professional growth for the design team.
- Partner with the Senior Director of Experience to define and uphold a cohesive design vision.
- Establish and implement design standards, workflows, documentation practices, and review processes.
- Oversee external design consultants and creative vendors, developing scopes of work and guiding creative output.
- Champion a culture of creativity, experimentation, and collaboration within the Experience Studio.
- Ensure all experiences advance the Academy’s mission and strategic priorities through engaging, innovative, scientifically grounded, and accessible design solutions.
- Serve as Creative and Design Lead on assigned exhibition and experience projects from concept development through installation.
- Develop immersive design strategies integrating spatial design, interactive systems, digital media, storytelling, and collections.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including project managers, content strategists, scientists, educators, and technologists.
- Use storytelling to translate science into compelling physical and digital design.
- Guide the development and review of design deliverables such as concept packages, renderings, and floor plans.
- Lead and participate in prototyping and iterative testing to ensure experiences meet engagement, performance, and accessibility goals.
- Integrate emerging technologies and innovative design approaches to create immersive and responsive environments.
- Follow Academy safety regulations and institutional policies.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- 10+ years of progressive experience in immersive, experiential, exhibition, environmental, or interaction design.
- At least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams in delivering complex, large-scale public experiences.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating immersive environments that integrate physical space, digital media, and interactive systems.
- Proven ability to articulate and champion a clear creative vision while aligning with strategic objectives.
- Deep understanding of spatial storytelling, human-centered design, and visitor experience principles.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor designers and foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
- Ability to synthesize scientific, educational, and experiential goals into innovative design solutions.
- Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, balancing creativity with schedule and budget constraints.
- Strong visual, verbal, and written communication skills; ability to present effectively to senior leadership and external partners.
- Knowledge of prototyping and evaluation practices in informal learning or public environments.
- Ability to transport up to 30 lbs.
- Ability to stand, walk exhibit floors, review installations, and participate in on-site fabrication and installation activities as needed.
- Frequent use of computer and participation in in-person and virtual meetings.
Skills
- Spatial storytelling
- Human-centered design
- Visitor experience principles
- Leadership
- Mentoring designers
- Team collaboration
- Project management
- Communication (visual, verbal, written)
- Presentation skills
- Prototyping
- Evaluation practices
- Adobe Creative Suite
- SketchUp
- Rhino
- Figma
- Microsoft Office
- Google Apps
- Asana
- Slack
- Box
- Miro
Location
- San Francisco, California
Work Type
- Full-Time
- Hybrid
Experience Level
- Senior leadership
Education Level
- Bachelor’s degree in design, architecture, industrial design, interaction design, media arts, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
Salary/Compensations
- $150,000 - $165,000
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits based on hours per week worked.
About the Company
- Founded in 1853, the California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned, AZA-accredited non-profit scientific and cultural institution located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
- Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, research institute, and natural history museum—all under one living roof.
- Mission: to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.
- Possesses a living collection of nearly 60,000 animals representing over 800 species.
- Research collections are the largest west of the Mississippi, spanning nearly 46 million plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts.
- Diverse team includes leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators.
- Values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation.
- Committed to executing a new strategic plan to strengthen financial foundations, cultivate a vibrant internal culture, and foster smart growth.
Equal Opportunity
- The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).