Senior Interpreter for Foodways - $15/hour

Principal Function: The Senior Interpreter for Foodways will create daily Foodways experiences and specialized events to enhance the guest experience in designated historic environments (i.e. Lenape, Conner House, Prairietown), educational areas, and performance spaces. They will help train part-time and seasonal interpreters to engage guests in Foodways experiences through 1^st person or 3^rd person interpretation to create unique educational opportunities that provide meaningful connections to historic events, cultural traditions, and relevant social issues.    

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  Duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Assists with the development of specialized events/programs for other museum departments, executive leadership, museum donors and board members
2. Works with the Health Department to maintain proper food health and safety protocol.
3. Have Safe Serve certification or be willing to obtain that as soon as possible.
4. Specializes in the area of Foodways and Food History where they provide planning, training and support, including menu planning, food supply and purchasing, and managing food storage spaces. 
5. Collaborates with other departments to expand food connected opportunities for guests.  
6. Assists in training staff in specialized skills, interpretation techniques and content.
7. Creates daily programs/educational events in museum experience areas.
8. Works with community partners to foster new connections. 
9. Participates in department and team meetings.
10. Collaborates in the budget planning process by identifying needed supplies for programming, historical areas, and training.
11. Acts as necessary as person in charge in absence of managers in Interpretation to include attending and leading morning briefings, assigning daily activities, communicating to other PICs and Security team, reporting absences and tardiness.

Other Skills and Abilities: The following skills and abilities are either required or desired.  

• Working knowledge of American history and food history representing 19^th and 20^th centuries is required and an awareness of Indiana history is desired. 
• Ability to coordinate and manage multiple activities depending on the seasonality of programs on the ground and in the office. 
• Ability to train and effectively communicate with a diverse and multigenerational staff, volunteers, and/or groups.
• Demonstrated aptitude for living history-related skills, including (but not limited to) a combination of food maintenance, foodways, domestic trades, gardening and basic husbandry. 
• Demonstrated mastery of interpretative techniques, including first and third person; ability to use open-ended questions and read an audience; skilled at sharing challenging narratives and an ability to connect with guests from various backgrounds, temperaments, opinions or needs (physical, developmental, cognitive, emotional).
• Excellent performance in providing customer service.
• Ability to do administrative tasks and have a working knowledge of variety of office programs i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, Google Drive, Basecamp, Click-Up, etc.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Education and/or Experience: High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Previous experience as an interpreter is desired. Previous experience working in the museum and/or theatre industry is desired.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of the organization. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

Competencies: To perform this job successfully, all employees at Conner Prairie should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Customer Service – Responds to requests for service and assistance; Manages difficult or emotional customer situations focusing on listening without interrupting and keeping one's emotions under control; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Maintains confidentiality and meets commitments; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Diversity – Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics – Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization’s goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality/Quantity – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to promote and improve quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality; Meets productivity standards; Completes work in a timely manner; Strives to increase productivity and works quickly.
• Safety/Security – Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Attendance/Punctuality/Dependability – Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and events on time; Follows instructions; Responds to management’s direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternative plan.

Job-related Competencies – To perform this job successfully, employees in this job should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Physical Demands:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee frequently will stand; walk; and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  The employee occasionally will climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and the ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is exposed to working in wet or humid conditions (non-weather), and outdoor weather conditions. The employee will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, near fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold (non-weather), extreme heat (non-weather), risk of electrical shock, and work with explosives. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Conner Prairie is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, this position will be required to work beyond these hours and when open for special events.