Part-Time Tour Guide

Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) is dedicated to preserving a colonial-era Hudson Valley settlement and engaging diverse audiences in the exploration of New York's multicultural past, in order to understand the historical forces that have shaped America. As an educational institution founded by the town’s French-speaking 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 Youth & Family Programs Coordinator and the Tour & Interpretation Coordinator, leading 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 Coordinator for alternative assignments. Additional responsibilities may include working at special Huguenot Street programs and events, such as holiday celebrations.

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

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, but not limited to, the New Paltz Juneteenth Jubilee and Trick-or-Treat on Huguenot Street
• Must be prompt and reliable in showing up for scheduled shifts and responsive to work communications by telephone, text, and/or email

• Must adhere to dress code and expectations set by Historic Huguenot Street. 


Qualifications:      

• Highly-developed communication skills, including confidence while addressing small and large groups, the ability to speak clearly and loudly, and in 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
• Experience and/or comfort in working with children for guides joining field trips 

• Background check conducted upon hiring.

Hours and Pay:

This is a part-time position at $16.30 per hour. Work is seasonal on an ‘‘as needed’’ basis beginning in April and ending in December, with a maximum of 25 hours per week.