Museum Interpreter

Description:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following:

Provide support to the Coordinator for the day-to-day operation and overall maintenance of the Village vegetable gardens: Freeman, Bixby, Small, and Richardson Kitchen. Duties include a wide variety of gardening tasks such as planting, managing pests, watering gardens, removing weeds, harvesting, and over-wintering tender plants. This includes communicating garden needs to other garden staff, volunteers, and interns. This position will also manage and assist with garden planning, seed saving, and other horticultural tasks in all museum gardens throughout the year as assigned by the Coordinator.
Assist the Coordinator in the mentoring of staff, volunteers, and junior & college interns by providing content training, hand-skills development, and act as a main point of contact for questions or issues pertaining to the museum gardens.
In collaboration with the Educational Department plan and deliver educational programming for Old Sturbridge Academy, Discovery Adventures, Home School groups, and Scout groups.
Make connections between Village gardens and the interpretative mission of the museum. Work closely with household staff to support this relationship, the use of plant material in household demonstrations, and interpretation of each space. This includes working with household staff to maintain the Freeman Root Cellar and assisting with the preservation of crops.
Develop engaging educational programs to suit a wide variety of visitors. Work with colleagues (staff, volunteer, interns, and fellows) in the development, training, implementation and review of programs and experiences that meet the diverse needs of OSV audiences.
Be cross-trained to provide historical interpretation in one to two exhibits outside of horticulture based on museum need, skill, and interest. These areas could include a Household or a Trade Shop. Work assignments vary upon season.
Maintain safety, good order, and cleanliness of all workspace spaces, and share responsibility with all staff for the clean and neat appearance of the entire museum.
Understand, identify and appropriately respond to the multiple learning styles of a diverse audience that includes students, families, and other life-long learners. Actively engage these audiences using a range of interpretation techniques including hands-on, participation, tours, immersion, demonstration, recreation, orientation, role-playing, performance, lecture and other techniques.
Work towards mastery of the information and skills necessary to teach specific aspects of the museum to visitors.
· Promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Preserve the artifacts, reproductions, and buildings in the Village by caring for them properly.
The full-time benefited position requires five days per week of unrestricted availability with weekend & holiday work.
Working evening programs such as Christmas by Candlelight, Phantoms by Firelight (Halloween), or other evening shifts as needed.
Participate in special event programs and other special activities; work with Communications to promote all museum activities. Where appropriate, take a major role in special programs requiring specialized skills in teaching, facilitation, interpretation, or performance.
Participate in various projects or tasks assigned by directors, and coordinators.
Safeguard visitors and staff by being alert to foreseeable health and safety hazards.
Understand and observe all Village policies.
Skills & Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Individuals in this position are subject to a Criminal Conviction Record check upon hire and every other year thereafter.

·Excellent face-to-face communication skills, with the ability to communicate ideas and information clearly both verbally and in written format.
Ability to independently develop own work plan and priorities, using established procedures to assure timely completion of assigned work in conformance with departmental policies and practices; problems lacking clear precedent are reviewed with supervisor prior to taking action.
Be honest, reliable, and demonstrate a passionate commitment to the interpretation/education field.
Attention to detail, organization, quality of guest experience and customer service.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions and working in front of a fire in a kitchen.
The employee may frequently be required to lift and/or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift and/or team lift up to 75 pounds.
Strive to build and maintain productive and respectful relationships with all team members and guests.
Must be a team player and flexible to assist in other divisions when the need arises.
Effective problem solver – anticipating, preventing and managing issues as they arise.
Must be an effective listener and be able to understand and clarify concerns and issues.
Must be able to work varied shifts and hours including weekends, nights, early mornings, and holidays.
Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
Education and/or Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent
One to two years horticultural related experience
One year of experience working with the public in a museum, educational institution, or public garden
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences