Historic Bakery Tour Guide and Gallery Attendant (seasonal)

The Reher Center is seeking a friendly, reliable, and enthusiastic individual to join our team as a Historic Bakery Tour Guide and Gallery Attendant during our 2025 season. This part-time position is ideal for someone who is passionate about local history and believes in the power of storytelling to deepen understanding of immigration, labor, and community life—past and present. In addition to leading tours of our preserved 1959-era bakery, team members will help connect visitors to the Reher Center’s rotating art exhibitions. 

Accessible only via guided tour, historic Reher’s Bakery is a rare preserved working-class space that brings to life the complex histories of immigration, urban renewal, and community building that characterized the Rondout neighborhood of Kingston in the first half of the 20th century. In addition to leading tours of the historic bakery, associates will also serve as the welcoming presence in our upstairs gallery, orienting visitors to exhibitions and helping to foster thoughtful engagement. 

This part-time position for tours pays between $16-20/hour. 

Tour Guide Responsibilities include: 

• Lead tours of Reher’s historic 1959-era bakery on Saturdays and/or Sundays during the warmer months. Training for tours will begin upon hiring 
• Engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds in an interactive experience that weaves together narrative, history and storytelling 
• Ability to respond to off-script questions about the space, neighborhood, and history of the time period 
• Learn tour content as well as best practices to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience for all visitors 
• Use artifacts, storytelling, and oral history clips to create an engaging and educational visitor experience 
• Operate simple tech tools such as an iPad and Bluetooth speaker during the tour Gallery Attendant Responsibilities: 
• Greet and orient visitors to the Reher Center’s upstairs gallery, which hosts rotating exhibitions tied to themes of immigration, local history, identity, and cultural memory
• Provide visitors with context about the Reher Center’s mission, history, and upcoming public programs 
• Open and close the gallery space independently, including turning lights on/off, setting up signage, and securing the building 
• Accept and track visitor donations using provided forms and protocols ● Monitor the gallery space, ensure safety of artwork, and assist with light upkeep and resetting between visitors 
• Encourage dialogue and reflection through informal conversations with guests about the exhibitions and the stories they highlight 
• Track attendance and share visitor feedback as needed 

Qualifications: 

• Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills 
• Comfortable working independently and taking initiative 
• Weekend availability (Saturday and/or Sunday is required) 
• Interest and enthusiasm for history and storytelling 
• Prior experience in customer service, education, museums, or tour guiding is a plus, but not required—training will be provided 
• Comfortable and confident with public speaking in a tour environment
• Comfort with using and troubleshooting iPads and Bluetooth speakers, as well as knowledge of/or willingness to learn Eventbrite, Eventzilla, and PayPal applications 

Physical Considerations: 

The Reher Center has 14 steps leading to the 2nd floor gallery from the sidewalk, 2 steps up into the historic bakery from the sidewalk, and 2 steps down into the oven area of the bakery. 

• Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs and stand for extended periods 
• The Reher Center’s gallery and bakery spaces require navigating stairs and uneven surfaces 
• The historic bakery space has minimal climate control; applicants should be comfortable working in varied conditions