Job Listing: Seasonal Education Assistant (Oatlands Historic Site)
Title: Seasonal Education Assistant (25-30 hours per week) Date: 2/2026
Division: Preservation
Department: Historic Sites
Office: Oatlands Historic Site
Supervisor: Senior Manager of Programs
Grade: Seasonal Part-Time OT Status: Non-Exempt Budget Status: Core Supervisory: No
Salary: $20/hourly
Situated on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Manahoac and Piscataway, Oatlands is located in Leesburg, Virginia. Established in 1798 as a plantation and site of enslavement, Oatlands initially encompassed 3,408 acres and produced wheat in addition to running grist and sawmills. Over 154 years of private ownership, the property was reduced in size and its mansion repurposed as a boarding house, a summer home and girls’ school.
Today, Oatlands consists of natural spaces, cultivated acreage, gardens and 28 buildings, spanning the 19th and 20th centuries. Oatlands is centered in its Natural Lands—its larger landscape open for the benefit all, encouraging awareness of our shared world. It is grounded in History—valuing and lifting the voices of all who have shaped and been shaped by this historic site. And it is dedicated to Scholarship, for it is only in the active pursuit of knowledge can we sustainably forward the significance and relevance of this important historic site.
JOB SUMMARY
The primary responsibilities of this position are conducting school programs for K-12 students and leading guided visits of the historic mansion for the 2026 Season.
The school groups will include students from public schools, private schools, home school groups, and Scouts. Group sizes will range from approximately 10 to 150 students. Oatlands school programs meet the social sciences (mainly history) Standards of Learning and tell the full history of Oatlands. Content may also include science SOLs related to the environment, agriculture, horticulture, and climate. Education programs may be done on-site at Oatlands and include the one-room schoolhouse or in-school to multiple classes. The Seasonal Education Associate will learn and conduct Oatlands’ existing lesson plans but may be required to assist with the development of new curriculum. The position is required to assist with the Extreme Journey at Oatlands Summer Camp in July and early August. The position will work closely with and may be directly supervised by the full-time Education Associate.
Tours will interpret the full history of the site, engaging visitors through dialogic interpretation with expertise and professionalism. The tours should be dynamic, memorable experiences that connect the public with the diverse narratives of the site – its people, buildings, gardens, grounds, and larger acreage. Visitors can and will include those who are area residents and familiar with the site as well as those who have never visited. Audiences can and will encompass both adults, youth, family units, and group tours. Shared values and a high degree of cultural competency are a must for this position.
This position is part-time from March through December. The position must work a minimum of one Sunday per month and be available each week as necessary for school programs and tours.
DUTIES
• Learn and conduct tours of the mansion, interpreting the full history of the site and engaging visitors with facts, expertise, and professionalism.
• Learn and conduct lessons plans, encouraging students to engage in active observation, discussion, and synthesis.
• Respectfully and ethically assist in communicating the significance of slavery and its legacy at Oatlands.
• Respond to groups’ particular needs by adjusting content and interpretive techniques as appropriate.
• Monitor visitor safety, responding calmly and professionally to emergencies and promptly notifying the Manager of Operations of incidents or unsafe conditions.
• Provide support to other staff as a resource.
• Participate in interpretive skill-building opportunities.
• Respond with positivity, flexibility, and resiliency when introduced to new research and interpretation strategies.
• Assist with a variety of interpretive and programmatic projects as assigned.
• Additional duties as assigned, including assisting in the Visitor Center as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Effective presentation skills. Strong verbal communication and customer service skills. Strong organizational and time management skills. Excellent attention to detail.
• Cultural competency is necessary, including the ability to share/interpret diverse and difficult histories.
• Experience working with children and/or older youth in an educational setting.
• Basic analytical and problem-solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment. Able to handle frequently changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy.
• Regular and reliable attendance required.
• At least 1+ years relevant professional experience in an interpretive or educational setting preferred.
• Educational background in History, African American Studies, Public History, Indigenous & Native American Studies, or related fields a plus.
• Experience interpreting or teaching African American history or the history of slavery preferred.
• Minimum physical requirements include but are not limited to: Ability to stand for periods up to 3 hours; ability to talk for periods up to 4 hours; walk over uneven terrain; climb stairs; provide multiple lesson plans per day; lift and carry loads of up to 20 pounds on a frequent basis, and to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
To apply - send a cover letter and resume to info@oatlands.org