Exhibition Lighting Designer - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (Part-Time)

United States·New YorkPart Timemid

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Overview

OverviewFor more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education.

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Overview
For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.

At our world-class research centers–including the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture–expert staff facilitate the work of our diverse communities, offering inspiring reading rooms, exhibitions, fellowships, and a dynamic range of research services. Their work is supported by dedicated staff on the Collections and Research Services teams. We are proud to be the most public and widely used research library in the world.

The Design Interpretation team is responsible for the look, feel, and visitor experience of exhibitions and program materials across our research centers, and other locations as needed. The team develops and maintains a coherent visual identity across all exhibition environments and program materials, overseeing graphic design, 3D design, interactive design, fabrication, framing, installation, and ongoing gallery maintenance.

The Lighting Designer develops and executes exhibition lighting across the Library's research centers. This position shapes how collection material, graphics, and media are seen in the gallery, balancing curatorial and design intent against the conservation requirements of light-sensitive collection materials.

Responsibilities

Develops and executes lighting designs for exhibitions, installations, and display rotations across the research centers, from initial concept through focus and final adjustment, in alignment with the exhibition design intent
Specifies and verifies light levels in accordance with conservation requirements for works on paper, photographs, textiles, and other light-sensitive materials, in consultation with conservation and collection care staff; monitors UV and cumulative exposure limits and documents readings for the project record
Produces lighting documentation including plots, fixture and circuit schedules, focus notes, filter and accessory specifications, and as-built records to support installation, ongoing maintenance, and reinstallation
Performs and directs focus sessions on site, working with the Installation Manager and installation team on fixture placement, lift and ladder work, and gallery access scheduling
Works within the existing track, fixture, and control infrastructure at each center; recommends fixture purchases, rentals, or upgrades to the Installation Manager where existing inventory cannot meet design intent; provides maintenance guidance and troubleshoots lighting issues that arise during exhibition runs
Participates in design reviews and gallery walkthroughs with the Design Interpretation team and vendors to integrate lighting with casework, graphics, projection, and media elements, supporting consistency of lighting quality across the three research centers
Observes all Library and departmental safety procedures, including those governing ladder and lift use, collection handling, and work in occupied public spaces; maintains an organized and clean working environment
Tracks time against assigned projects and submits timesheets according to the department schedule; flags scope or hours concerns to the Installation Manager in advance
Performs other related duties as assigned