Seasonal House and Garden 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 - $18

Hours per week: 10-20 

Job Classification: Limited, exempt 

Job Type: Onsite 

Duration: March - September

Location: Long Hill, Beverly, MA 

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact: 

Long Hill is a 114-acre hill-top property purchased by Ellery and Mable Sedgwick in 1916. Ellery Sedgwick was the publisher and editor of the literary magazine The Atlantic Monthly. Mable Cabot Sedgwick was a talented amateur gardener who transformed the property into a spectacular botanical landscape, filled with perennials, terraces, pagodas, and fountains. In the 1920s the Sedgwicks built a Federal-revival home at the summit of the hill, incorporating elements from an 1802 Charleston, South Carolina, mansion and objects gathered from their world travels. 

Ellery Sedgwick published many eminent 20th century writers in his magazine, including Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Some of these figures, such as poet Robert Frost, visited Long Hill. Mabel Sedgwick published The Garden Month by Month, a popular practical gardening guide. Long Hill was the much-loved summer home for them and their children. After Mabel’s death, Ellery married Marjorie Russell, a renowned gardener in her own right, who continued to develop Long Hill’s gardens into what they are today. 

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 Long Hill, 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 light retail. 

Specifically, you’ll:

• Lead and facilitate interactive tour experiences for visitors of all ages during standard tour times (weekends). 

• 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. 

• 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 some light 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.  

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 Saturdays and Sundays from April 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 [email protected]!

Your Benefits:

• Sick Time: 40 hours of paid sick time upfront. 

• 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 [email protected].