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Flexible Schedule
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Blacksburg, VA 24060
A Docent is a high-level volunteer who undergoes Preston’s Smithfield’s docent training program. Docents support Interpreters by assisting guests with hands-on activities and providing historical content. Docents may also support Guest Services Specialists who are responsible for museum store operations and other tasks. A Docent is tasked with engaging guests in a positive and effective manner and are responsible for upholding Preston’s Smithfield’s mission statement by helping to facilitate daily interactive experiences. Docents represent Preston’s Smithfield and all of its stories, ideas, and mission. These individuals are ambassadors for Preston's Smithfield and its brand and are responsible for providing the highest level of service and care to all guests and staff. Essential Functions Completes specific tasks not filled by paid staff including, but not limited to: Interpretation: Guides guests through unstaffed areas of the site while helping to protect artifacts, structures and landscapes from damage. Interpretation/Program Support: Provides hands-on assistance to staff during daily operations and programs, as needed. Guest Services Specialist Support: Assists with museum store operations staffing shifts, processing merchandise as directed by the Visitor Experiences Manager. Docents report directly to the Visitor Experiences Manager Provides a high level of hospitality and service for all guests and staff Communicates regularly with team leaders about operational problems Participates in all training sessions as required. Acts as a team player Performs other duties as necessary. Minimum Requirements Must be 18 years of age or older for Docent jobs; some may allow persons aged 16 or older to fulfill certain functions. High school diploma or equivalent (unless enrolled in high school or GED coursework) Must have strong verbal communication skills. Must successfully complete all institutional and departmental training; must pass Docents training assessments. Must have weekday, weekend, holiday, and evening availability Preferred one year of customer service experience and museum interpreter experience Special Skills Must have strong interpersonal skills: ability to work in a team, possess a friendly and upbeat disposition, ability to connect with a diverse audience and workgroup; must be able to maintain high-energy, hospitable demeanor for hours at a time. Must be able to read, retain and then communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences. Must be able to follow directions and multi-task. Needs to be flexible, professional (in appearance and demeanor), and approachable; must be enthusiastic, passionate, and willing to try new Should be a self-starter. Some public speaking or theater experience may be helpful. Must be able to work independently and as a member of a team. Ability to use mobile technology like iPads and other tablets. Must possess the ability to efficiently use QuickBooks Pro store software after training and must feel comfortable and confident handling and counting money - cash, checks and credit cards Good manual dexterity is helpful. Physical, Mental, Environmental Considerations Physical: Standing/walking - constantly Climbing stairs - occasionally Sitting - occasionally Lifting - occasionally, up to ~30lbs Vision: Normal Mental: Observation, analysis, interpretation, decision making. Ability to read guest needs and interests and respond appropriately. Recognition that Preston’s Smithfield presents information that guests will respond to in different ways; should possess the maturity and ability to respond appropriately and professionally if faced with a guest responding emotionally to the subject matter. Should be able to work under pressure and around large crowds of varying ages. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all guests and staff. Should be able to shift between tasks quickly, in order to fill in a position typically done by paid staff - Docents should expect to work as supporting members of the organization. Environment: Must be able to work in indoor and outdoor locations in all seasons (including sunny and inclement weather) during the course of a shift. Ability to come prepared to work outside (daily garden maintenance, trash collection etc.) regardless of weather conditions. Statement on Racism, Slavery, and Discrimination "The Smithfield-Preston Foundation acknowledges and laments the role slavery played in William Preston's Smithfield and the ongoing racial injustice that stemmed from that institution across the United States. Enslaved African Americans and their achievements in the face of slavery’s oppression belong at the center of the Smithfield story. We pledge to redouble our efforts to tell these stories as we strive to foster a more honest reckoning with our racial history. The Foundation, along with all those associated with Smithfield, decries all forms of racism and intolerance, and fully supports the rights of all humans regardless of race, skin color, creed, gender, orientation, or ability. All human life is precious. We stand in unity with those who preserve the rights of all people."
Date Posted: Jul 17, 2023
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Flexible Schedule
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Blacksburg, VA 24060
Volunteers interested in working in the museum store have a two-fold job: These volunteers are the ambassadors to Smithfield and work to make visitors feel welcome when they come to our site. Additionally, volunteers working in the museum store are responsible for selling admission tickets and store merchandise. The Museum Store Representative is a volunteer who undergoes Preston’s Smithfield’s training program and who supports daily operations at Smithfield by running front-end shifts in the Museum Store. This worker’s main tasks include: greeting guests, selling admission tickets and selling museum store merchandise. The Museum Store Representative is tasked with engaging guests in a positive and effective manner and are responsible for upholding Preston’s Smithfield’s mission statement by helping to facilitate positive visits to our site. Museum Store Representatives represent Preston’s Smithfield and all of its stories, ideas, and mission. These individuals are ambassadors for Preston's Smithfield and its brand and are responsible for providing the highest level of service and care to all guests and staff. Essential Functions Completes specific tasks including, but not limited to: Running front-end shifts in the Museum Store. Selling admission tickets to guests. Selling museum store merchandise to guests. Organizing museum store merchandise and assisting with tagging and inventory tasks. Providing information to guests about site events, operations etc. Museum Store Representatives report directly to the Visitor Experiences Manager. Provides a high level of hospitality and service for all guests and staff. Communicates regularly with team leaders about operational problems. Participates in all training sessions as required. Acts as a team player. Performs other duties as necessary. Minimum Requirements Must be 18 years of age or older for Museum Store Representative jobs; some may allow persons aged 16 or older to fulfill certain functions. High school diploma or equivalent (unless enrolled in high school or GED coursework) Must have strong verbal communication skills. Must successfully complete all institutional and departmental training; must pass Museum Store Representative training assessments. Preferred one year of customer service experience and museum interpreter experience. Must have weekday, weekend, holiday, and evening availability. Must have availability to work during Smithfield special events and programs. Special Skills Must have strong interpersonal skills: ability to work in a team, possessing a friendly and upbeat disposition and the ability to connect with a diverse audience and workgroup. Must be able to maintain a high-energy, hospitable demeanor for hours at a time. Must be able to read, retain and then communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences. Must be able to follow directions and multi-task. Needs to be flexible, professional (in appearance and demeanor), and approachable; must be enthusiastic, passionate, and willing to try new things. Should be a self-starter. Some public speaking or theater experience may be helpful. Must be able to work independently and as a member of a team. Ability to use mobile technology like iPads and other tablets. Must possess the ability to efficiently use QuickBooks Pro store software and must feel comfortable and confident handling and counting money - cash, checks and credit cards Good manual dexterity is helpful. Physical, Mental, Environmental Considerations Physical: Standing/walking - constantly Sitting - constantly Climbing stairs - occasionally Lifting - occasionally, up to ~30lbs Vision: Normal Mental: Observation, analysis, interpretation, decision making. Ability to read guest needs and interests and respond appropriately. Recognition that Preston’s Smithfield presents information that guests will respond to in different ways; should possess the maturity and ability to respond appropriately and professionally if faced with a guest responding emotionally to the subject matter presented on the house tour. Should be able to work under pressure and around large crowds of varying ages. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all guests and staff. Should be able to shift between tasks quickly, in order to fill in a position typically done by other staff. Museum Store Representatives should expect to work as supporting members of the organization. Environment: Must be able to work in indoor and outdoor locations in all seasons (including sunny and inclement weather) during the course of a shift. Ability to come prepared to work outside (daily garden maintenance, trash collection etc.) regardless of weather conditions.
Date Posted: Jul 17, 2023
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Flexible Schedule
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Blacksburg, VA 24060
Volunteers interested in working as garden helpers/ground maintenance will have opportunities to assist with pruning, mulching, weeding etc. of the various flower beds, kitchen garden, walking paths and orchard. You will be working alongside Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, so you will be learning along the way! This is the perfect opportunity for someone who wants to nurture their green thumb, and cultivate some gorgeous plants in our historic gardens!
Date Posted: Jul 17, 2023
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Flexible Schedule
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Blacksburg, VA 24060
Education Outreach: Education Assistants at Preston’s Smithfield are volunteers who assist Preston’s Smithfield staff in: Educational site tasks including but not limited to: assisting the Operations Manager in delivering educational content and programs to visiting groups, assisting with Summer Camp programming, assisting with the development and delivery of educational programming and activities for special events, assisting with the creation of educational programs and activities, etc. Volunteers interested in working in education outreach will assist the Visitor Experiences Manager in teaching visiting school groups about Historic Smithfield and Colonial history and will help bring history into the classroom by participating in history-based educational activities at area schools. Minimum Requirements Must be 18 years of age or older. Must have weekday, weekend, holiday, and evening availability. High school diploma or equivalent (unless enrolled in high school or GED coursework) Must have strong verbal and written communication skills. Must successfully complete all institutional and departmental training; must pass all Administrative/Education Assistant training and evaluation assessments. Must feel comfortable working with groups of children of varying ages and backgrounds - up to 20 - 30 at once at times. Must be able to observe and keep to a timed schedule when working with groups and must possess the ability to alter educational information on the fly depending on the needs of the group/time limit. Historic Smithfield receives about 1,000 school children on field trips each year. The museum prides itself on the level of quality that its education specialists provide for these groups. Volunteers present on historic topics - usually related to civilian and military topics of the Colonial Period - for these field trip groups. Students are living history interpreters or who have or who plan to work in a public history setting are encouraged to apply. This position would also be a perfect fit for teachers in training, re-enactors, or retired educators.
Date Posted: Jul 17, 2023
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Flexible Schedule
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Blacksburg, VA 24060
William Preston Smithfield is looking for a volunteering (Remote, if preferred) Social Media/Graphic Designer to work in their internship program for the Fall of 2023. At William Preston Smithfield once the intern successfully passed the interview process, and offered the position, s/he will immediately begin working independently on designing various appealing artworks / master visuals for our yearly full-fledged running campaign calendar. As a Social Media/Graphic Designer Intern, we would expect from you: Up-to-date knowledge of design software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Have a related college degree or a similar degree of life experience Be open to receiving feedback and constructive criticism Excellent communication skills (oral and written) An Art Portfolio for previous projects is a must Show eagerness to learn, energetic and self-starter And, what you’ll bring: A more diversified Art Portfolio: an opportunity to work on web-related digital artworks and full-fledged campaign designs. Gaining Experience: a chance to have a branding experience when it comes to working in a museum industry. A networking opportunity that will increase the change of your employability in the future. A stamped and signed certificate will be provided by the end of the internship. Smithfield is a plantation house in Blacksburg, Virginia, built from 1772 to 1774 by Col. William Preston to be his residence and the headquarters of his farm. It was the birthplace of two Virginia Governors: James Patton Preston and John B. Floyd. William Preston’s Smithfield tells the story of American history in a way that no other site can. It sits at the intersection of the Colonial America, westward expansion, African slavery, and conflicts between indigenous peoples and European settlers. Smithfield connects George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, the American Revolution, secessions, emancipation and the Civil War. It is the birthplace of universities, including Virginia Tech. It represents the hope, promise and tragedy of American democracy and provides a unique opportunity to gain perspective from the past, insight for the present, and inspiration for the future.
Date Posted: Jul 17, 2023
