Use your skills to make a difference with visitors at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates -- one of the most-visited historic home sites in the country and a key historic and cultural landmark in southwest Florida. A National Register Historic Site open to the public since 1947, the site contains more than twenty acres of historic buildings and gardens, including the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, their botanical laboratory, and a 15,000 square foot museum.
Job Summary
The Historian is the main provider of the guest experience at Edison Ford Winter Estates. Visitor service, education and safety are of equal importance in the position. Historians regularly and continuously lead tours on the site, discuss museum exhibits and collections, as well as present educational programs and other assignments as directed by the program manager. It is expected that the Historian will take initiative in working with both groups and individuals to create a responsive and world-class visitor experience. Visitor service and knowledge are key activities of this position. The Historian will consistently work with individual visitors, tour groups and the team of Historians. A Historian must be an effective communicator, listener and a team player. Professionalism is a requirement of the position. The position reports to the Program Manager.
Schedule/Hours
Edison Ford is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily (closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). Full-time historians are expected to work 40 hours each week as assigned to meet organizational needs. Working hours can extend within a full business day of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and at times include evening hours. Flexibility is critical to success of the Estates' mission.
Schedule and hours are subject to change at the discretion of Executive Management of Edison and Ford Winter Estates.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Present interpretive material relating accurate information relevant to the site and its subjects.
- Based upon past education and work experience, possess the ability to speak informatively to visitors on the history, historic buildings and gardens.
- Creates, coordinates, and presents informal learning programs and experiences: researches, develops, and implements programs that support the organization’s mission and interpretive goals
- Develops and implements visitor-centered offerings for youth and educator audiences (defined as children of all ages, intergenerational groups of adults and children, and educators); coordinates with Education department to ensure programming operates in harmony and does not overlap.
- Delivers programs using a wide variety of techniques appropriately tailored to each audience’s age, background, interests, and needs.
- Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders in a professional and courteous manner, including colleagues in other departments and collaborators in the community.
- Maintains current knowledge of best and next practices, trends, and scholarship in museum education, informal learning, and history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and related topics as it corresponds to the Museum’s mission
- Commitment to work with a team of Historians.
- Other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or significant completion from a four-year college or university with a degree in Engineering, History, Art History, Science, Business or related field to the Edison & Ford curriculum content.
- 5 years’ experience in a school, museum, historic site, or related organization, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Based upon educational background and work experience, demonstrate an ability to speak clearly, analytically, and persuasively in positive or negative situations.
- Demonstrate an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
- Demonstrated experience in a flexible task and teamwork environment in a professional manner.
- Knowledge of US, World and Florida History.
- Must be lifelong learner and educator, able to communicate site and general information well, and have a broad as well as specific knowledge in a variety of fields.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
- The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle, grasp, or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, and communicate effectively through talking and hearing. The position also requires occasional climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling. The employee must occasionally lift, carry, push, and/or move up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Contact with internal and external customers, vendors, outside agencies and the general public.
- Occasionally exposed to adverse weather conditions, including wet and/or humid conditions and extreme heat.
- Will be required to work hours other than the regular flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Able to work in the heat and a variety of outdoor situations for 6 – 8 hours.
- Able to project voice to communicate to groups.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and make employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Pay: From $15.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
