Job Listing: Museum Educator - John Marshall House Museum (Preservation Virginia)

John Marshall House Museum Educator Application 

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 4th 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.

Position Title: Museum Educator (Part-time, hourly, ineligible for benefits)

Hourly Rate: $14.50 ($15.00 after completing paid training)

Available Hours: As-scheduled; the John Marshall House is open to the public Friday-Sunday, and by appointment. Potential to work 7.5–40 hours a month.

Reports To: John Marshall House Site Coordinator

Position Description: Museum Educators will primarily be responsible for leading 45 minute - 1 hour long guided tours of the historic John Marshall House, while also serving as front-line staff in the museum. Museum Educators will engage diverse audiences in topics such as: the history of Chief Justice John Marshall and his legal legacies on the US Supreme Court (1801-1835), social, political, and cultural history of colonial and Early America, and the intersection of gender, race, and slavery in Early American history. 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 related histories, best practices in public history, historic interpretation, and tour techniques, among other necessary information to perform the position.

Desired 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 18th and 19th 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.

Essential Duties and 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume with two references to John Marshall House Site Coordinator, Geneva Weidhaas, at gweidhaas@preservationvirginia.org.