Museum Ambassador

Museum Ambassador, Read House & Gardens (Part-Time)

General Purpose:

Under the direction of the Read House & Gardens Experience & Education Manager, the part-time Museum Ambassador is responsible for engaging with guests at the Read House & Gardens, Delaware Historical Society's National Historic Landmark campus in New Castle. Museum Ambassadors guide visitors through the 14,000-square-foot mansion and lead youth and adult educational programs. As the public face of the Read House experience, ambassadors play a central role in fulfilling the Delaware Historical Society's commitment to creating meaningful encounters with the historical assets it stewards. Applicants should be comfortable speaking in front of groups of various sizes and should demonstrate a desire to work with and around children, as well as to engage with a diverse audience and multiple historical perspectives and interests. Museum Ambassadors are integral members of a hard-working team comprised of full-time and part-time staff within the Delaware Historical Society. Museum Ambassadors shall demonstrate the ability to work effectively with a diverse population of members, guests, and staff and possess the ability to work both independently and as a team member.

Work Schedule:

Museum hours: Thursday — Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Variable hours:

Average 6 regular workdays/month, including weekdays and weekends. Also required are school programs (frequent in Spring season), private groups/tours, and programs/events that occur outside of normal operating days and hours; weekends are required, some evenings may be required.

Essential Functions:

Conduct tours and educational programming at the Read House & Gardens. This includes walk-in tours on Thursday-Sunday, adult group tours, school tours, and assistance during public programs and special events Provide excellent customer service skills to ensure a positive experience for museum visitors Maintain educational spaces, equipment, and supplies Work with the Read House & Gardens Curator of Education to foster a welcoming and inclusive visitor experience Contribute to the development and implementation of educational programs and resources Assist in collecting and reporting museum tour, exhibit, and event attendance, evaluations, and surveys Ensure welfare and safety of visitors and provide security for collections Assist in general Delaware Historical Society duties as directed

Minimum Requirements:

High school diploma, (bachelor's degree preferred, with experience in history, art history, architecture, studio art, or a related discipline) Interest in situating the Read House within local, national, and global history, including a willingness to continually expand and refine your understanding of historical concepts Comfort speaking in front of groups, answering questions clearly and directly, expressing concepts effectively to museum visitors, and interacting enthusiastically with people of all ages, educational levels, and backgrounds Willingness to learn, apply, and refine new teaching methodologies, especially object-based approaches Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team Positive attitude, an open mind, and flexibility Ability to read, write, and verbally communicate in the English language at a level appropriate to the duties of the position and communicate effectively with a diverse population of DHS staff, members and guests at all levels Ability to work independently, prioritize workload and exercise appropriate judgment Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint); ability to learn and utilize new software programs

Work Environment:

Position is based in a general office and museum/visitor environment Flexibility in work schedule is required, including some evenings and weekends Regular use of a computer and standard office equipment (e.g., copier, printer) Requires extended periods of standing and walking, including giving tours and moving throughout the building Must be able to walk up and down stairs multiple times during a shift About the

Delaware Historical Society:

The Delaware Historical Society, founded in 1864, preserves, promotes, and shares Delaware's history in a welcoming environment to educate, inspire, and empower people and communities. DHS is an independent, non-profit, non-government historical society founded in 1864. It stewards nine historic buildings, eight of which are in Wilmington and straddle the 500 block of Market Street. The ninth is the George Read II House & Gardens in Historic New Castle, situated adjacent to the First State National Historical Park, and overlooking the Delaware River. To learn more visit www.dehistory.org The Wilmington campus includes the Old Town Hall (1798) adjoining the Delaware History Museum and he Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage (created in 2016). Across the street from these museum buildings (which include the museum store and staff offices) stands the DHS Research Library, the Library Annex (in the 1816 Robert Porter House), and the four Colonial-era buildings that comprise Willingtown Square. Each of the Wilmington buildings are contributing properties to the Market Street Commercial District on the National Register of Historic Places. The Delaware Historical Society is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. The Delaware Historical Society is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Job Type:

Part-time Work Location:

In person