Seasonal and Garden Interpreter

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do.

We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non‑profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website,(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Salary/Hourly Rate: $16 - $18

Hours per week: 10-20

Job Classification:
Limited, exempt

Job Type: Onsite

Duration:
March - September

Location:

Long Hill, Beverly, MA

Long Hill is a 114‑acre hill‑top property purchased by Ellery and Mable Sedgwick in 1916. Ellery Sedgwick was the publisher and editor of the literary magazine The Atlantic Monthly. Mable Cabot Sedgwick was a talented amateur gardener who transformed the property into a spectacular botanical landscape, filled with perennials, terraces, pagodas, and fountains. In the 1920s the Sedgwicks built a Federal‑revival home at the summit of the hill, incorporating elements from an 1802 Charleston, South Carolina, mansion and objects gathered from their world travels.

Ellery Sedgwick published many eminent 20th‑century writers in his magazine, including Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Some of these figures, such as poet Robert Frost, visited Long Hill. Mabel Sedgwick published The Garden Month by Month, a popular practical gardening guide. Long Hill was the much‑loved summer home for them and their children. After Mabel’s death, Ellery married Marjorie Russell, a renowned gardener in her own right, who continued to develop Long Hill’s gardens into what they are today.

The Role:

Are you an engaging storyteller with a passion for history? Do you enjoy meeting and talking with people? Are you open to learning new things and participating in a dynamic work environment?

If so, we want you to join our dedicated and lively team of cultural site interpreters! Our interpreters bring the stories of our special places to life for our visitors in meaningful, fun, and relevant ways. We believe that by engaging and exciting our visitors they will feel more connected to our cultural heritage and be inspired to help preserve and protect it for future generations.

Currently, we are looking for historic house and garden interpreters for Long Hill, a beautiful public garden and historic home on the North Shore. Interpreters offer tours of the house and gardens, engage in informal interpretation on the property, and work at check‑in processing admissions, memberships, and light retail.

Specifically, you’ll:

• Lead and facilitate interactive tour experiences for visitors of all ages during standard tour times (weekends).
• Lead and facilitate private group tours for visitors of all types during non‑standard tour times (weekdays).
• Assist with special events and functions during the season.
• Welcome and orient visitors, acting as an ambassador for the site and The Trustees.
• Provide excellent customer service, creating a welcoming atmosphere for a diverse audience.
• Operate point of sale systems to facilitate admission tickets, membership sales, and some light retail.
• Encourage membership sales by being well‑versed in the various levels and benefits.
• Attend trainings and regular team meetings to learn about the interpretive philosophy and techniques used at the site.
• Follow best practices in historic site interpretation, collections management, and security.
• Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation.

This is a limited‑term, exempt position working flexible hours reporting directly to the Manager of Visitor Services.

Skills and Experience:

• A degree in history,…