Seasonal Historical 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 - $17.50 

Hours per week: 14-21 hours a week, with flexibility 

Job Classification: Limited Term, Seasonal 

Job Type: Onsite 

Duration: April - November 

Location: Castle Hill, Ipswich, MA

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact:

Do you love history, people, and theatre? Do you go to Renaissance Festivals in full costume? Would you travel back in time if you could? Do you have a fully realized D&D character? If any of these questions resonate, you might be just the person we are looking for!

At Castle Hill on the Crane Estate each of our tours is led by a trained, costumed interpreter who plays the role of one of the many servants in the Great House, the Crane family’s summer home. If you join the “staff” you’ll be greeting visitors who are also given characters, people who visited the Cranes on Castle Hill in the 1920s. 

You can spend YOUR summer (and beyond) surrounded by the grandeur of one of the only intact country estates in Massachusetts, overlooking the ocean and Great Marsh. Be careful, this place is addictive! 

The Role:

The Cultural Site Interpreter leads up to 4 hour-long tours a day. When not on tour, interpreters meet and interact with general visitors. They also have the opportunity to add interactive elements to tours they are not leading. Historical information is shared in a narrative style which engages the visitor, leaving them with the feeling that they can imagine what it was like to live this way.   

Interpreters are trained to give at least 4 differently themed tours, each exploring a different aspect of life on Castle Hill. Specialty tours are also available which include the gardens and grounds.  Costumes are supplied by the Trustees. 

Specifically, you’ll:

• Opening and closing of the museum rooms of the Great House  

• Customer interaction throughout the day, whether on tour or casual  

• Giving visitors the opportunity to become Trustees members  

• Giving visitors advice and instructions for exploring the Castle Hill grounds 

This is a limited-term, nonexempt position working 14-21 hours/week reporting directly to the Cultural Programs Coordinator.

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience:

• Verbal communication skills 

• Storytelling skills 

• Comfortable around people of all types 

• Able to work indoors and outdoors. There is limited air conditioning in the Great House; it can get quite warm mid-summer.  

• Must be comfortable standing for a majority of working hours and comfortable with walking up and down multiple staircases. 

• Interpreters must be able to carry a tray of “champagne” glasses.  

• This is a part time seasonal job. Most interpreters work between 15-30 hours a week in season (between Memorial Day and the end of October). During the shoulder seasons we are only open at weekends, so there are fewer shifts available. The shift is 9:30AM-4:00PM. We are open 6 days a week in season (closed on Mondays).   

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!

Your Benefits:

• Sick time: Mass Sick Leave Accrual 

• 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.