Tour Guide

State of Montana•Helena, MT

3h•Onsite

About The Position

The Montana Historical Society seeks an energetic, talented, and motivated Seasonal Tour Guide to represent the Society positively and share Montana history, art, and architecture with visitors ranging from preschool-aged children to senior citizens. The role offers tours of the Original Governor’s Mansion, the Montana State Capitol, and the Montana Heritage Center under the direction of the museum education officer. The guide is expected to embody the Society’s culture of excellence, teamwork, professionalism, and passion for its work. The schedule is flexible, with up to 25 hours per week during peak tour months—the summer and legislative session—and fewer hours during slower periods. Weekend work is required. The Montana Heritage Center is open seven days a week and on all holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas, so work hours may fall outside the regular Monday-to-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of experience in a customer-service-oriented industry.
Strong listening and people skills.
Ability to use public-speaking techniques to express ideas and concepts effectively to a wide range of audiences.
Ability to use interpretive techniques, such as asking visitors questions and posing thought experiments, to engage a wide range of audiences.
Ability to accept constructive feedback and guidance.
Ability to work as a team member.
Ability to perform self-assessments and learn new interpretive techniques.
Ability to work weekends, holidays, and special events.
Ability to speak and stand for long periods and sustain prolonged periods of activity.
Ability to lift 20 pounds.

Responsibilities

Provide tours of the Original Governor’s Mansion, Montana State Capitol, and Montana Heritage Center.
Master content associated with historic sites and exhibits.
Deliver accurate, engaging programming relevant to the sites.
Tailor tours to visitors’ interests, needs, and preferences.
Engage audiences using a variety of interpretive techniques.
Facilitate interactive and experiential learning opportunities.
Listen to visitors and foster social experiences and interactions.
Manage group dynamics during interpretive experiences.
Support public events, including lectures, conferences, and children’s programs.
Take appropriate measures to protect visitors, personnel, and the organization from risk and loss.
Complete daily reports and compile information.
Respond to visitor complaints or concerns with tact and diplomacy.
Field questions on controversial issues.
Perform self-assessments to identify areas to build on and improve.
Demonstrate professionalism in appearance, attendance, demeanor, and representation of the organization.
Work closely with MTHS tour and security staff to provide high-quality visitor services.