Historic Site Tour Guide & Interpreter

Mount Auburn Cemetery; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Mount Auburn Cemetery seeks a Visitor Educator to lead public and private walking tours, develop interpretive content, and engage visitors with the site's history, landscape, art, and wildlife. The role blends research, storytelling, and public speaking to connect diverse audiences with Mount Auburn's cultural significance.

Applicants should enjoy outdoor work, be able to adapt content for different ages, and collaborate with staff and volunteers to expand educational programs and access to the

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience speaking to groups or leading educational programs, tours, classes, or presentations.
• Excellent verbal communication and public speaking skills.
• Strong writing, research, and information-gathering skills.
• Ability to translate specialized information into engaging and understandable content for general audiences.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with staff and volunteers.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated commitment to providing excellent visitor service.
• Comfort working outdoors for extended periods and walking 1–2 miles over uneven terrain.
• Ability to work occasional weekends and evenings.
• Interest in Mount Auburn's history, horticulture, landscape, architecture, art, collections, wildlife, and cultural significance.

Responsibilities

• Lead approximately 90-minute public and private walking tours of Mount Auburn Cemetery for a variety of audiences.
• Develop and deliver engaging, accurate, and accessible walking tours about Mount Auburn's history, landscape, horticulture, architecture, art, notable residents, cultural traditions, and contemporary relevance.
• Adapt tours to the interests, needs, and knowledge levels of different audiences, including school groups, adult learners, families, members, and private groups.
• Facilitate meaningful conversations around subjects that may include death, mourning, memorialization, history, culture, art, climate change, and the natural environment.
• Respond thoughtfully and professionally to visitor questions, including questions involving sensitive or complex subjects.
• Conduct research using Mount Auburn's archives, historical collections, library resources, databases, published scholarship, and other reliable sources.
• Develop and maintain accurate interpretive material for tours, digital platforms, and other visitor-facing resources.
• Work with staff across Mount Auburn to identify stories, collections, landscapes, monuments, and subjects that can be incorporated into educational programming.
• Contribute to the development of interpretive content for digital platforms, including Bloomberg Connects and social media.
• Review and update existing educational content as new research and information become available.
• Translate complex historical, scientific, cultural, and artistic information into engaging content accessible to a general audience.
• Participate in the development of new tours and educational experiences based on visitor interests, institutional priorities, seasonal opportunities, and emerging research.
• Serve as an informed and welcoming representative of Mount Auburn when interacting with visitors.
• Help visitors navigate the grounds and identify points of interest.
• Support a welcoming and inclusive visitor experience for people with a wide range of backgrounds, ages, abilities, and levels of familiarity with cemeteries.
• Assist with visitor engagement initiatives and special events as assigned.
• When scheduled, provide operational support within the Welcome Center and Gift Shop and assist with the coordination and oversight of volunteer visitor-service activities.
• Work collaboratively with Visitor Services staff and volunteers to maintain a high standard of visitor experience.
• Maintain current knowledge of Mount Auburn's history, landscape, collections, programs, policies, and visitor resources.
• Participate in training, staff meetings, program evaluation, and other activities supporting the development of the Visitor Services department.
• Follow all Cemetery policies and procedures, including those related to visitor safety, accessibility, emergency procedures, and respectful conduct on Cemetery grounds.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, colleagues, volunteers, contractors, and members of the public.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Public speaking

Verbal communication

Research skills

Interpersonal skills

Outdoor work

Independent working

Group facilitation

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Storytelling

Tools

Bloomberg Connects

Content-management systems

Job description

Mount Auburn Cemetery seeks a Visitor Educator to lead public and private walking tours, develop interpretive content, and engage visitors with the site's history, landscape, art, and wildlife. The role blends research, storytelling, and public speaking to connect diverse audiences with Mount Auburn's cultural significance.

Applicants should enjoy outdoor work, be able to adapt content for different ages, and collaborate with staff and volunteers to expand educational programs and access to the