The Henry Ford is a nonprofit organization, an internationally recognized cultural destination, and a one-of-a-kind workplace. Our team is inspired daily by one another as well as the authentic stories of innovation that we share across our four venues. We want you to be part of this legacy and take it forward.
In preparation for the 2025 season in Greenfield Village, we are seeking skilled and passionate Presenters of African American History to join our team. This role involves delivering insightful and compelling presentations and facilitating interactive experiences that highlight over 200 years of African American history. Presenters will share narratives of resilience and achievement linked to various African American historical sites within Greenfield Village.
Timeline: Anticipated hire early February 2025. Training and start date in March; must pass presenter training assessments. Part-time regular hours March through early fall. Additional special hours available for Halloween Nights in October, weekends in November, and Holidays Nights in Dec 2025. Flexible schedules available. Great opportunity for retirees, students or teachers with a passion for history.
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Essential Responsibilities
• Engages guests with dynamic presentations and facilitates interactive experiences daily.
• Must be willing to present topics such as enslavement, segregation, racism, discrimination, and Civil Rights with sensitivity to diverse audiences.
• Participates in required training sessions and completes mandatory readings.
• Performs related operational tasks such as maintenance, preparation, clean-up and other duties as necessary.
• Provides world-class hospitality and service for all guests and staff.
• Ensures appropriate appearance and operation of the daily work site.
• Helps protect artifacts, structures and landscapes from damage.
• Communicates regularly with coworkers and team leaders about operational problems.
• May contribute to the review and evaluation of department programs.
• Contributes to the effective team management of all problems, issues and opportunities.
• Acts as a team player and provides expertise within the team and with other teams as appropriate.
• Presenters may be required to demonstrate historical equipment and processes including cooking, gardening, textile production, housework, agriculture, animal husbandry, motor vehicle operation, machinery operation, crafts and trades production and other activities as necessary.
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Your Qualifications
• 18 years of age or older
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Successfully complete all institutional and departmental training; must pass presenter training assessments
• Have weekday, weekend, holiday, and evening availability
• Specific job sites or events may require the wearing of period clothing, working with or around animals, operating historic machinery, working around stoves and open flames, or facilitating guest activities
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Special Skills
• Possesses strong verbal communication skills
• Have strong interpersonal skills: ability to work in a team, possessing 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
• Ability to read, retain and then communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences
• Ability to follow directions and be able to work independently and as a member of a team
• Needs to be flexible, professional (in appearance and demeanor), and approachable; must be enthusiastic, passionate, and willing to try new things
• Some public speaking or theater experience may be helpful
• Ability to use mobile technology like iPads and other tablets
• Good manual dexterity is helpful
• Basic skills in cooking and gardening preferred that includes handling of raw ingredients and exposure to dirt, grass, and outdoor elements
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Physical/Mental/Environmental
Physical: Sitting, Standing, Walking: Frequently. Lifting, carrying, and pushing: Occasional, up to 25 lbs. Unless noted here, other physical requirements are minimal or not applicable.
Vision: Normal
Mental: Observation, analysis, interpretation, decision making. Ability to read guest needs and interests and respond appropriately. Should be able to work under pressure and around large crowds. Willingness to discuss sensitive historical topics and challenging themes with a diverse range of guests.
Environment: Must be able to work outdoors in all seasons (including sunny and inclement weather) as necessary. Non-air-conditioned interiors. May work around coal and wood smoke, animals, and machinery. May wear period clothing/costumes.
Please note that this job description is subject to modification at any time to meet the evolving requirements of our institution.
Respect, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds will attract the best ideas to THF and help us shape a more vibrant future. By honoring and celebrating people's diversity, THF can bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work and community. Achieving diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is a continuous process, which, we believe, will contribute to a sustainable and inclusive world. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify with or belong to marginalized communities.
It is the policy of The Henry Ford to prohibit discrimination in any employment, donor or volunteering opportunity including but not limited to based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, genetic information, pregnancy, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical/mental disability or any other such characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. This Policy applies to all of our employees, donors and volunteers to ensure that they are treated without discrimination.