Tour Guide

State of Montana•Helena, MT

20h

About The Position

The Montana Historical Society (MTHS) seeks an energetic and talented person for the position of Seasonal Tour Guide. If you believe understanding the past is imperative to creating the future, you may find this position is a good fit. The person sought for this position will be a positive representative of the Montana Historical Society to the public, and will embody the MTHS culture of excellence, teamwork, professionalism, and passion for the work we do. The ideal candidate is a motivated person, passionate about sharing Montana history, art, and architecture with members of the public, from pre-school-aged students to senior citizens. Function: The Museum Education office is within the Outreach & Education Program of the Montana Historical Society. Under the direction of the museum education officer, this position is responsible for offering tours of the Original Governor’s Mansion, the Capitol, and the Heritage Center. Other: The Tour Guide will work a flexible schedule up to 25 hours per week during peak tour months (the summer and legislative session) and fewer hours during slow periods. Weekend work will be required. Come join us at the MTHS where we work together to share Montana’s stories and inspire exploration!

Requirements

Knowledge of: · Public speaking, teaching, interacting with children and/or providing tours
Skills: · Strong listening and people skills
Ability to: Utilize public speaking techniques to effectively express ideas and concepts to a wide range of audiences
Perform a variety of interpretive techniques (for example, asking visitors questions, posing thought experiments) in order to engage a wide range of audiences
Accept constructive feedback and guidance
Work as a team member
Perform self-assessments to determine what to build on and how to improve
Learn new interpretive techniques to engage audience members
Education: · High school diploma or equivalent
Experience: One-year experience in customer-service oriented industry
Public speaking, teaching, interacting with children and/or providing tours
Other combinations of education and experience may be considered
Minimum Physical/Mental Requirements: Prolonged periods of activity
Able to speak for long periods of time
Standing for long periods of time
Work weekends, holidays, and special events
Able to lift 20 pounds

Responsibilities

The position will provide tours of the Original Governor’s Mansion (OGM), Montana State Capitol, and the Montana Heritage Center.
Mastering the content associated with the historic sites and exhibits
Delivering accurate and captivating programming relevant to and about the sites
Tailoring tours so that they focus on visitor interests, needs, or preferences
Engaging audience members through a variety of interpretative techniques
Facilitating interactive, experiential learning opportunities
Listening to visitors and fostering social experiences and interactions
Managing group dynamics within an interpretive experience
Support public events like lectures, conferences and children’s programs
Taking appropriate measures to protect visitors, personnel, the resource, and the organization from risk and loss
Completing daily reports and compiling information
Responding to visitor complaints or concerns while demonstrating tact and diplomacy
Fielding questions on controversial issues
Performing self-assessments to determine what to build on and how to improve
Demonstrating professionalism in appearance, attendance, demeanor, and representation of the organization
Work closely with MTHS tour and security staff to provide high quality visitor services