Historical Interpreter

About the role

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution founded in 1926. Our mission is to preserve and restore 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital, and engage visitors in learning about its rich history and diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Models excellent guest service by orienting guests, checking admission tickets, arranging orderly entry, assisting with digital resources, and recommending engaging experiences.
• Uses 18th-century resources and skills alongside modern interpretive techniques to bring the community to life for guests through formal interpretation, tours, and informal dialogue.
• Demonstrates understanding of operational procedures, tour mechanics, security, and preservation of collections, artifacts, buildings, and objects.
• Participates in content training and professional development to deepen knowledge of the past for sharing with the audience.
• Utilizes credible research and resources to develop interpretations that represent the diverse historical narrative of 18th-century Virginia.
• Employ digital resources to manage personal time sheets, track schedule changes, and stay informed with work-related emails and policy/procedure updates.
• Fosters a positive workplace culture by practicing good stewardship of resources, observing safety procedures, and maintaining professional behavior.
• Performs other duties as assigned by members of the Department of Historic Interpretation and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Qualifications

• Required: High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Preferred: Bachelor's Degree in History, Communication, Education, or a relevant field; or 12 months of work experience in areas like museums, living history, interpretation, education, customer service, or similar roles.
• Must have a valid Virginia driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.
• Must provide a 5-year Motor Vehicle Record prior to employment.
• May not have more than 1 moving violation or at-fault accident within 12 months, or more than 2 within 36 months.
• May not have any serious motor vehicle violations, including excessive speeding, reckless driving, DUI/DWI, suspended or revoked license, etc.
• Preferred: Demonstrated aptitude for learning and sharing 18th-century history, ability to engage diverse audiences, and commitment to exceptional guest service and educational experiences.
• Able to work flexible schedules including weekends, holidays, and special events.
• Able to meet physical requirements including standing, walking, talking, reaching, using hands/fingers, climbing, balancing, stooping/kneeling/crawling, and lifting up to 100 lbs with assistance.

Key Skills / Competencies

• Knowledge of 18th-century American history, particularly Colonial Virginia and Williamsburg.
• Ability to engage diverse audiences through dynamic historical interpretation and storytelling.
• Strong public speaking and interpersonal communication skills.
• Commitment to providing exceptional guest service and educational experiences.
• Ability to adapt interpretive approaches for varied audiences, learning styles, and group sizes.
• Ability to discuss complex or sensitive historical topics with professionalism and inclusivity.
• Strong teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and special events as needed.
• Able and willing to collaborate with individuals of diverse backgrounds.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Stand: Frequently
• Walk: Frequently
• Sit: Occasionally
• Use hands/fingers: Frequently
• Climb or balance: Occasionally
• Stoop/kneel/crawl: Occasionally
• Reach with hands/arms: Frequently
• Talk or hear: Constantly
• Lift up to 10 lbs: Frequently
• Lift up to 25 lbs: Occasionally
• Lift up to 50 lbs (with assistance): Rarely
• Lift up to 100 lbs (with assistance): Rarely
• Work near moving mechanical parts: Rarely
• Fumes/airborne particles (dust, pollen, smoke): Occasionally
• Extreme cold: Occasionally
• Extreme heat: Occasionally

Compensation

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $16.78 to $25.14 per hour. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.