Seasonal History Interpreter

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000 acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Salary/Hourly Rate: $16.50 - $18.50

Hours per week: 10-20

Job Classification: Limited-term, exempt

Job Type: Onsite

Duration: 4/15/25 - 9/28/25

Location: Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

Purchased by James Stevens in 1729, Ashdale Farm (now known as the Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens) remained in the family for six generations, ultimately becoming the property of Helen Granger Stevens and her husband John Gardner Coolidge in 1909. Over the course of its 300-year history the house was transformed from a simple Colonial farmhouse into a Victorian Italianate gentleman’s farm and finally a Colonial-Revival country house with beautiful gardens.

John Gardner Coolidge was a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and nephew of Isabella Stewart Gardner. During his years as a diplomat he and Helen collected artifacts from Asia, Europe, and South America that are now on display in the house. The couple added a walled rose garden, French vegetable garden, and a serpentine brick wall to the property. The house today represents a unique example of the “Country Place Era” of the early 20th century.

The Role:

Are you an engaging storyteller with a passion for history? Do you enjoy meeting and talking with people? Are you open to learning new things and participating in a dynamic work environment?

If so, we want you to join our dedicated and lively team of cultural site interpreters! Our interpreters bring the stories of our special places to life for our visitors in meaningful, fun, and relevant ways. We believe that by engaging and exciting our visitors they will feel more connected to our cultural heritage and be inspired to help preserve and protect it for future generations. Currently, we are looking for historic house and garden interpreters for Stevens-Coolidge House & Garden, a beautiful public garden and historic home on the North Shore. Interpreters offer tours of the house and gardens, engage in informal interpretation on the property, and work at check-in processing admissions, memberships, and retail.

Specifically, you’ll:

• Lead and facilitate interactive tour experiences for visitors of all ages during standard tour times (Fri, Sat, Sun).
• Lead and facilitate private group tours for visitors of all types during non-standard tour times (weekdays).
• Assist with special events and functions during the season.
• Light cleaning and collections care (training provided).
• Welcome and orient visitors, acting as an ambassador for the site and The Trustees.
• Provide excellent customer service, creating a welcoming atmosphere for a diverse audience.
• Operate point of sale systems to facilitate admission tickets, membership sales, and retail.
• Encourage membership sales by being well-versed in the various levels and benefits.
• Attend trainings and regular team meetings to learn about the interpretive philosophy and techniques used at the site.
• Follow best practices in historic site interpretation, collections management, and security.
• Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation.

This is a limited-term, exempt position working flexible hours reporting directly to the Manager of Visitor Services.

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience:

• A degree in history, literature, gardening, theater or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Intellectually curious and open to learning and sharing new things.
• Strong communication skills, dependability, and punctuality.
• Flexible and willing to meet the needs and interests of visitors.
• Reliable and committed to their position, their site team, and the mission of the Trustees.
• Able to work most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May through September.
• Commitment to work at least two weekdays a month.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment.
• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Questions? Contact our People team at people@thetrustees.org!

Benefits

Your Benefits:

• Sick time: Mass Sick Leave
• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.
• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us at people@thetrustees.org.