Seasonal Historic Foodways Interpreter at Genesee Country Museum

Town of Wheatland, New York, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

11 Jun, 26

Salary

16.5

Posted On

13 Mar, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Historical Interpretation, Public Facing, Hands-on Activities, Demonstrating Historical Tasks, Teaching Techniques, Customer Service, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills, Teamwork, Multi-tasking, Basic Cooking Knowledge, Fire Safety, Open Hearth Operation, Woodstove Operation, Enthusiastic Engagement

Industry

Description

Reports to: Manager of Foodways & Village Life Direct Reports: N/A Hours/Schedule: Part-time positions available Wednesday through Sunday from May to October. Holiday and educational programming hours are available from October to April. Shifts run from 9:30AM-4:00PM, with some exceptions. Weekends are regularly required. About Us: Genesee Country Village & Museum is the largest living history museum in New York and the third largest in the country. The Museum opened in 1976 and includes 68 buildings in Historic Village, the Genesee Country Nature Center with 5 miles of trails, and the John L. Wehle Gallery collection of wildlife and sporting art (700 pieces) and 19th-century clothing (4,000 pieces). Overview of Position: GCV&M is seeking applicants to join our historical interpretation staff for the 2026 season. This position exists to engage, educate, and entertain visitors through interpretive programming, to provide customer service, and to assist in the daily operations of GCV&M. Interpreters are historically costumed, public-facing employees who connect guests to the past by engaging guests in hands-on activities, demonstrating historical tasks and trades, and other related activities. Responsibilities (including but not limited to): * Conduct interpretive programs for diverse audiences at GCV&M using various interpretive and teaching techniques. * Conduct educational and field trip programs that appropriately engage students of all ages. * Conduct historic foodways programming including historic kitchens, historic dining, and other food-related interpretive programming * Assist in the daily operations of the Village and its programs. * Study site-related material to enhance the delivery of the site’s interpretive program. * Utilize skill sets to effectively engage visitors and complete assigned daily activities. * Support the maintenance and protection of Village buildings, grounds, animals, collections, and clothing. Minimum Qualifications: * High School Diploma or Equivalent * 1-3 years of interpretation experience. * Interest and experience with history, historic trades, agriculture, cooking, gardening, or fiber arts. * Strong interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated ability to work as a team member. * Demonstrated ability to multi-task and utilize basic cooking knowledge. * Comfortable working around fire using both an open hearth and woodstove. * Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse public audience in an enthusiastic, friendly, and open manner. Audiences include young and old, rural, urban, and suburban, and those from a range of racial, socio-economic, educational, and cultural backgrounds. * Must have reliable transportation Working Conditions: * Ability to stand for extended periods of time. * Ability to walk up to 3 miles a day in all types of weather. * Ability to perform physical work such as kneeling, reaching, bending, crouching, pulling, and pushing. * Ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds. * When interpreting in the Historic Village, staff are required to dress in museum-issued historic clothing in all weather conditions. * Staff will work near open fires, with sharp tools, around farm animals, and in a variety of outdoor conditions. Pay Range: $16.00-$16.50 per hour Benefits: We are proud to support the health and wellbeing of the people we employ. We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package that includes accrued NYS Sick Leave and an employee assistance program. Every employee is provided with a yearly family level membership to GCV&M. How to Apply: To be considered, all applicants must submit a resume through our website, gcv.org/employment Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Genesee Country Village & Museum is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity with respect to all employees, applicants, and interns for employment. We recruit, hire, train, and promote without discrimination due to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion, citizenship, national origin, military or veteran status, marital status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Diversity Statement: Genesee Country Village & Museum is actively committed to broadening our understanding of DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion), and making it part of everything that we do. Guided by our mission, values, and inclusive culture of curiosity, we strive to dismantle inequity and address erasure through ongoing dynamic interpretation, communications, research, and outreach. We celebrate the stories of our shared past; connect the rich diversity of the 19th century to the present; and collaborate with the communities we serve to create welcoming spaces for learning, work, exploration, and play. Genesee Country Village & Museum is actively committed to expanding our interpretation and exhibits to include voices and perspectives frequently underrepresented in museum collections, the telling of history, and outdoor spaces. Guided by our mission, values, and inclusive culture of curiosity, we strive to ensure that all visitors, volunteers, and employees feel safe, welcomed, and celebrated throughout their museum experiences.

Responsibilities

The primary role is to engage, educate, and entertain visitors through historical interpretation, including hands-on activities and demonstrations, while also assisting with the daily operations of the living history museum. This involves conducting interpretive programs, educational field trips, and specific historic foodways programming.