Cathedral Guide

Washington National Cathedral; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Washington National Cathedral is seeking a part-time Cathedral Guide to support tours by presenting engaging guided experiences to the public. Guides work with the hospitality and interpretive team to welcome groups and individuals with reservations, delivering accurate information and a warm welcome.

Applicants must speak confidently to groups; training is provided. Duties include leading tours for bus groups and visitors, answering questions about the Cathedral's mission, history, art,

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills.
• Degree or progress toward degree in education, museum education, museum studies, art history, or architecture.
• COVID-19 vaccination with boosters as required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as interpretive guide for bus groups and sightseeing visitors (2–60 people).
• Give engaging tours and answer questions about Cathedral mission, history, art, architecture, worship and programs.
• Work as part of the daily docent/guide team under the Docent and Tour Manager.
• Perform other visitor service duties to ensure a welcoming reception; some tasks may replace sightseeing hours.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral communication

Public speaking

Customer service

Teamwork

Flexibility

Public presentation

Education

Education/museum education degree

Art history/architecture background

Working toward degree

Job description

Description

Washington National Cathedral seeks a part-time Cathedral Guide to support touring by presenting engaging guided tours to the public. As a member of the Cathedral's hospitality and interpretive team in the Department of Guest and Event Management Services, the Cathedral Guide works alongside volunteer docents to welcome groups and individuals that have made reservations for a Cathedral visit. Applicants must be able to speak in front of groups and present accurate information about the Cathedral. Training is provided.

Requirements

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as an interpretive guide for bus groups and sightseeing visitors ranging from 2-60 people.
• Gives engaging and informative guided tours of the Cathedral and answers questionsabout Cathedral mission, history, art, architecture, worship, and programs.
• Works as a member of the daily docent/guide team under the direction of the Docent and Tour Manager.
• Performs other visitor service-related duties as needed to ensure a welcoming/hospitable reception for visitors. Some tasks may be in lieu of sightseeing hours.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills;
• Degree, working toward a degree, and/or comparable experience in education, museum education, museum studies, art history, architecture, or a related field;
• Washington National Cathedral requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including any boosters recommended and available to the general public, in the absence of eligibility for medical or religious exemptions.

PREFERRED CHARACTERISTICS OF A CATHEDRAL GUIDE:

• Experience as a tour guide strongly preferred
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
• Excellent public presentation skills and ability to engage groups and facilitate tours;
• Ability to learn and retain extensive amount of information necessary
• Team-oriented disposition with strong customer service skills
• Enjoyment at working with the public and a sincere and genuine interest in people of all ages, especially middle and high school students
• Flexibility, enthusiasm, and an attitude of respect for working with diverse staff and visitors
• Ability to react to change quickly
• Strong voice and language skills
• Knowledge of, or interest in, art history and architecture a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS :

SCHEDULE:

• Approximately 10-15 hours per week most weeks.
• During Cathedral peak seasons,, additional hours will be available.
• Times will vary based on tour reservation needs.
• Due to the nature of tour reservations and being a working church, the Cathedral cannot guarantee a minimum or maximum number of weekly hours.
• Occasional Saturdays required. Typically one Saturday per month.
• Please include your schedule availability in your cover letter.

WORKING QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be able to work on feet for extended periods of time, to access stairs, and to walk throughout the Cathedral.
• Must be comfortable working in a religious setting.
• Strength, dexterity, and mobility to perform all duties, including climbing stairs, being at great heights and touring in tight spaces
• Ability to stand and speak for up to 2 hours