Job Listing: Museum Educator - John Marshall House

John Marshall House - Richmond, VA

Closes - open until filled

Position Title - Museum Educator

Compensation - $14.50 ($15.00 after completing paid training)

Job Type - Part-time, hourly, ineligible for benefits. The John Marshall House is open to the public Thursday-Sunday, and by appointment. Potential to work 7.5–80 hours a month. 

Apply - To apply, please send a cover letter and resume with two references to Preservation Virginia Education Manager, Meika Downey, at mdowney@preservationvirginia.org

Summary - Museum Educators will primarily be responsible for leading 45 minute - 1 hour long guided tours of the historic John Marshall House and serving as front-line staff in the museum. Museum Educators will engage diverse audiences in topics to include but is not limited to: the history of Chief Justice John Marshall and his legal legacies on the US Supreme Court (1801-1835), and social, political, and cultural history of colonial and Early America to include that of the complexities of gender, race, and slavery.  Museum Educators will also provide student field trip tours and programs, virtual presentations to public and private audiences, present outreach programs in the community, and assist with special events. Museum Educators will receive all necessary training in Marshall and related histories, best practices in public history, historic interpretation, and tour techniques, among other necessary information to perform the position. 

Job Responsibilities - 

• Open and close John Marshall House museum through performance of routine duties. 
• Lead 45-60 minute guided tours to diverse audiences including student field trips and adult group tours.
• Serve as front-line museum staff.
• Greet guests to the John Marshall House, sell admission, facilitate museum shop purchases, promote Preservation Virginia memberships, and provide excellent customer service.
• Be an ambassador for Preservation Virginia’s mission, work, and other historic sites.
• Answer museum phone and monitor museum email account and online tour booking reservations.
• Perform regular cleaning of public and staff spaces including museum shop floors, counters, bathrooms, staff kitchen, house porches, and emptying trash cans.
• Assist with light historic collections cleaning under direction of Curator of Collections
• Assist with student field trips and group tours by (including but not limited to) greeting teachers, parents, and group representatives; providing group instruction; leading tours and programs.
• Reserve public tours of the John Marshall House via phone, email, and online reservation page.
• Occasionally serve as appointed Manager on Duty when Education Manager is not present on-site.
• Help monitor physical maintenance of house, property, and historic collection and follow established protocols when issues arise.
• Engage with the public by answering questions and pursuing conversations.
• Assist with special events on-site and virtually as needed, usually on evenings and weekends, such as focus tours, lectures, etc.

Other Opportunities - 

• Assist in content development and research for educational programs and activities.
• Contribute written content to Preservation Virginia blog and John Marshall House social media accounts.
• Expand John Marshall House research and knowledge of associated histories.
• Participate in lectures and webinars.

Qualifications - 

• Must be over 18 years old.
• Obtained or in-progress: Bachelor’s degree in history, education, public history, political science, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• Ability to lift 30 pounds.
• Ability to climb up and down stairs repeatedly and to stand on feet for several hours at a time.
• Must enjoy engaging and speaking with diverse public audiences, both youth and adults.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Dedication to providing excellent customer service.
• Prior knowledge of American history, including 18^th and 19^th century society, politics and law, war, gender, and race and slavery preferred.
• Experience giving public tours and/or public speaking, and experience operating a cash register/point-of-sale system preferred.
• Availability to work hours during Thursday-Sunday and occasionally other days/evenings for student field trips, group tours, and events.

About the John Marshall House - Located in downtown Richmond, the John Marshall House is owned and operated by Preservation Virginia, the oldest statewide preservation organization in the nation. Home to the Great Chief Justice, the 1790 John Marshall House is significant for its remarkable preservation and architectural form, and for its outstanding collection of Marshall family and Richmond-made objects. The property also existed as an urban site of forced labor for over 60 enslaved individuals during John Marshall’s residence from 1790 to 1835.