Senior Show Manager (Project Based Role)

Privacy Notice for California Applicants and Employees

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Meow Wolf opens portals of possibility. Come as you are! 

We are individuals who inspire creativity in people's lives through art and exploration, so that our combined imaginations can transform the world we live in. We create immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences into fantastic realms of story and exploration.  Our Vision is to be the world’s leading creative company, reimagining the paradigm of art and storytelling, to make a positive difference in the world.  

We share a strong commitment to Belonging through our values of: 

• Collaborative Creativity: We believe the act of creating together amplifies possibilities.

• Provocative Playfulness:  We celebrate the unexpected because it is the doorway to discovery.

• Outsiders Welcome: We are all outsiders at heart, and we create space for everyone to feel like they belong.

• Authentic Compassion: We are “kind punks” - supportive to each other and standing up for what we believe in.

• Audacious Courage: We have the courage to radically reinvent ourselves to push the boundaries of art.

If this all sounds like YOU, read on….

Job Description:

Job Disclosures:

Project Based Role: This is a project based position with an anticipated duration of 1.5+ years

Compensation: The pay range for this position is $88,870-$135,000. Compensation will vary based on location and experience.

Job Location: Los Angeles, CA OR Santa Fe, NM

Job Summary:

The Senior Show Manager heads the Show Management team to oversee the design, development, and delivery of Show exhibition elements within a fast-paced, creative environment. This role will lead the work of Show design and production teams for all Show disciplines involved in the project, oversee multiple vendors, and collaborate across departments throughout all project phases. This role is responsible for the management, supervision, monitoring, budgeting, scheduling, and expediting of the design, development, and delivery of exhibition elements.

The Senior Show Manager will work with the project’s Leadership team to consistently ensure that the project deliverables fall within the scope, schedule, and budget. A high level of detail in managing budgets, deadlines, and deliverables is required to successfully execute this role. Due to the high level of collaboration needed cross-departmentally, and with external vendors and partners, experience in managing teams of all sizes and ability to communicate clearly, professionally and effectively is required. 

In addition, the Senior Show Manager mentors and coaches subordinate Show Managers and Coordinators regarding their Project support roles, in collaboration with the Director of Show Management.

This position requires an extremely capable and fast-paced individual who can not only maintain the current culture and processes but help develop and refine our systems as we scale. The right candidate loves creating new systems and structures and enjoys a challenge.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with Project Leadership. Provide regular feedback and updates to Executive Leadership on the development of the project. 

• Lead the larger Show Team, in close collaboration with the Show Leadership team, to deliver all aspects of the Show Art and Technical elements. This includes the management of subordinate Show Managers and Coordinators in the direct management of the Show work, as applicable.

• Work with multiple outside vendors for all Show disciplines involved in the project in a professional and collaborative, art-centric manner.

• Lead Show production status and schedule reviews. Ensure coordination with internal production departments, external vendors, and project teams.

• Develops the Show labor plan in collaboration with Project Leadership. Has authority to authorize overtime for the Show team working on the project. 

• Work with Department Managers to plan the work of Subject Matter Experts and labor plan through the entire duration of the project.

• Develop detailed, coordinated schedules for all Show elements, identifying and managing critical path and resource issues, in coordination with the Show Leadership team, Senior Project Manager, and Planner.

• Has budgetary responsibility and management of the Show scope on a project, division’s budget on a medium to large sized project, “right sized” for their level of experience. Monitors and manages the budget throughout design, fabrication, installation, art direction approvals, and commissioning for the entire project life cycle. Develop resource plans, estimates, and schedules for Show elements in collaboration with project and departmental leadership.

• Oversee the qualification, procurement, selection, contracting and performance of all Show consultants, contractors, vendors, manufacturers, fabricators, etc. required to deliver the Show scope.

• Responsible for writing scopes of work, including inputs from Subject Matter Experts (SME’s), collecting all specifications and drawings, and assembeling a bid package to send out to appropriate bidders. 

• Manage the bid process including pre-bid meetings, answering pre-bid questions, collecting final bids, negotiating final contract amounts, and obtaining all necessary internal approvals to award the contract. 

• Day-to-day manager (Responsible Individual) of awarded Show contracts including conducting weekly meetings, managing vendor Show drawing approvals, managing creative/art direction approvals, timely issuance of directives, change management (directives and issuing any change orders), obtaining costing concurrence from estimating, obtaining management approval to allow for accurate Estimated Final Cost (EFC) reporting, Show vendor adherence to schedule/budget limitations, and timely project closeout.  

• Manage the project’s life cycle of design, fabrication, installation, testing, permitting and on-site implementation of Show elements across all disciplines involved in the project, on a project site, including achieving art direction approvals, code compliance, technical investigating, compliance to specifications and approval by the authorities having jurisdiction.

• Design phase management, including sub-consultant coordination, for all Show scope. 

• Manage and coordinate Show vendor deliverables.

• Manage the means and methods development process to accurately document all changes as they occur.

• Installation phases management, including presiding over the day-to-day installation activities of all Show vendors including coordination with facility contractors, the site’s general contractor, and Meow Wolf’s Art Team Task Force and Art Installation Manager(s).

• Hold regular 1-on-1s with subordinate Show Managers and Coordinators to provide direct feedback on project related performance. 

Required Qualifications

• Previous experience in Show Management, Project Management, or related experience on domestic or international projects.

• Extensive experience (10+ years) in major project production and installation within the immersive arts, theater, or themed entertainment sectors is essential.

• Experience in all phases of a project, from design through fabrication, on-site installation and programming.

• Fabrication experience, or have experience reviewing and overseeing vendor fabrication efforts with a wide array of materials and processes.

• In-depth knowledge of core platforms and programs as they will be utilized on a daily basis:

  • Google Suite and/or Microsoft Office, and Bluebeam

  • Scheduling/Planning Software

  • Autodesk Construction Cloud

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Theatre, Fine Arts or equivalent field experience preferred

• In-depth knowledge of the following programs highly preferred:

  • Airtable or similar database Software

  • Navisworks or Revit

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Creative Expertise: You possess a deep understanding of the creative process and deliverables, allowing you to effectively collaborate with creative teams, manage expectations, and ensure that the final product meets the highest standards.

• Client Relationship Management: You have exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to understand the client's needs, manage expectations, and build strong relationships between all stakeholders, including owners, operators, and creative teams.

• Collaborative Team Player: Thrives in collaborative environments, actively contributing to team goals, supporting colleagues of varying levels of expertise, and fostering a positive and inclusive working atmosphere with internal and external artists, fabricators, and Vendors.

• Financial Acumen: You have a proven track record of creating, understanding, managing, and adhering to project budgets, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and that the project stays on track financially.

• Exceptional Communication Skills: Demonstrates a mastery of interpersonal communication, effectively conveying ideas and building relationships with diverse individuals. Possesses strong written communication skills, crafting clear, concise, and persuasive documents. Articulate and confident in oral communication, delivering impactful presentations and facilitating engaging discussions.

• Leadership and Presentation Abilities: Able to confidently present information and guide meetings in various group settings, adapting style and approach to suit the audience and objectives.

• Innovative and Organized: Combines organizational skills with creative thinking to develop innovative solutions, manage multiple tasks effectively, and meet deadlines consistently.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required. 

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and scanners. This position also works in an indoor setting with exposure to noisy environments, dim lighting, strong visual effects including strobing lights, special effects, fog machines and small and/ or enclosed spaces. 

Physical Demands: 

 The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Physical ability to walk, stand, take stairs/slides/elevators, and navigate the elements during the day and night. Employee may be required to remain in a sitting or standing position for prolonged periods, and repeat motions that may  include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.   Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times. 

The employee will comply with company and OSHA standard workplace safety protocols. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Schedule: 

This is a full-time position averaging 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm MT or 10 am to 6 pm MT – occasionally requiring flexibility to work during evenings or weekends based on business needs, especially during installation phase at project site locations.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

This position may require supervisory responsibility.

Travel:

Travel is required for this position and varies by phase. This may include business trips and temporary assignments as necessary. During the design phases, this position will require some business travel (10%-25%). During the production and installation phases, this position will require extensive travel (30%+).

Other Duties: 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

IMPACT: Meow Wolf is committed to our DIY roots and grassroots community support principles. To document that commitment, we converted our legal designation into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation and have certified as a B Corporation. As a B Corp, we have a triple bottom line of supporting financial, social and environmental wellbeing in our community.

INCLUSION:  Meow Wolf is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to ensuring all employees enjoy and thrive in a work environment where differences make us the vibrant, wonderful community we are! All employment decisions at Meow Wolf are based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, service in the military or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

BENEFITS:

The choices we make concerning our benefits during enrollment periods are among the most important we select for ourselves and our families. As part of the total compensation package for full-time employees, Meow Wolf offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes various options to meet individual healthcare and financial needs along with many perks.  

• Medical Insurance options: PPO & HDHP*

• Dental and Vision Insurance*

• HSA, HRA, and FSA options*

• 401k Retirement Plan

• Company paid Life Insurance Policy and Disability Coverage(s)*

• Voluntary Critical Illness and Life Insurance Policies*

• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program

• Paid Parental Leave for 12 weeks

• Discount off Meow Wolf Gift Shop Merch and Cafes

• Admission to Meow Wolf attractions for employees and guests

*Regular or Project Based Full-time positions

Please visit www.meowwolf.com/careers for more information.