Job Location: New Paltz, NY

Job Title: Tour Guide

Institution: Historic Huguenot Street

About the Institution:

Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) is dedicated to preserving a pre-Revolutionary Hudson Valley settlement and engaging diverse audiences in the exploration of America's multicultural past, in order to understand the historical forces that have shaped America. As an educational institution founded by the town’s French Protestant descendants and chartered by the University of the State of New York Department of Education, HHS explores the lives of the early European colonists, honors the region’s Indigenous people, and acknowledges the enslaved and disenfranchised peoples who built this place. Today, HHS is recognized as an innovative museum and community gathering place, providing visitors with an inclusive presentation of our shared past.

Tour Guides are responsible for learning the tour script, attending training sessions, and upon receiving a positive evaluation by the School Programs Manager and the Tour and Interpretation Manager, Tour Guides will lead groups of visitors through historic buildings on Huguenot Street. In the instance that there are no guests scheduled for the guide’s allotted tour time, they are expected to report to the Tour Manager for alternative assignments. Other responsibilities may include working at special Huguenot Street programs and events, such as holiday celebrations.

Tour guides also perform duties related to HHS field trips for K-12 students. Field trips last approximately 2 hours, and take place on weekday mornings from March to June. Tour guides who work with school groups are responsible for leading activities such as “mini” historic house tours, feather quill and ink writing practice, and Colonial toy and game play time. 

Job Description: Responsibilities:

• Memorize information in the tour script and use only the methods taught during training
• Must be available at least two weekday mornings from 9am to 1pm, and at least one weekend day from approximately 10am to 4pm

• Maintain a welcoming and professional attitude at all times, answer visitors’ questions, and provide excellent customer service  
• Lead public tours, private group tours, and school groups, as needed
• Work at seasonal public events including the New Paltz Juneteenth Celebration and Halloween on Huguenot Street
• Must be prompt and reliable in showing up for scheduled shifts and responding to work communications by telephone, text and/or email
• Must adhere to dress code and expectations set by Historic Huguenot Street

• Highly-developed communication skills, including confidence while addressing small and large groups, the ability to speak clearly and loudly, and a professional, positive demeanor
• Ability to memorize information from a script and improvise in multiple scenarios
• Preferred experience and/or training in: public speaking and/or retail and tourism experience
• A strong knowledge and/or interest in history
• Must be able to walk the length of the site, climb stairs, and lock/unlock the historic houses and other structures on site

This Position is: In-Person

Position Type: Seasonal

Salary Range: $15.3/hr

Salary Type: Non-Exempt

Benefits: PT Sick Time