Monticello Guides (Part-Time)

Thomas Jefferson Foundation; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement savings plan + up to

Fitness club membership discount.

Discount in the Monticello Café, gift 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) –

$500 employee referral bonus.

Job summary

Thomas Jefferson Foundation is seeking part-time Monticello guides to engage diverse audiences with the history of the founding of the United States. Tours focus on themes of innovation, freedom, self-governance, slavery, and legacies. Guides work as part of a team to ensure an excellent guest experience.

Candidates should be eager to engage with diverse perspectives; crafting a unique tour narrative is required. Training is paid; start date in January 2027 with some weekends/evenings expected.

Qualifications

• B.A. degree with a major in a relevant field preferred but equivalent work experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Interpret history for visitors and craft a unique tour narrative.
• Engage a broad audience and work as part of a team to ensure an excellent guest experience.
• Available to work some weekends, evenings, and holidays.

Education

B.A. degree in a relevant field

Job description

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has a twofold mission of preservation and education, and was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Today, the Foundation seeks to bring history forward into national and global dialogues by engaging audiences with Jefferson's world and ideas, and sharing the history of everyone, enslaved and free, who lived and labored at Monticello. Monticello is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a United Nations World Heritage Site, and a Site of Conscience.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation is seeking part-time guides eager to engage diverse audiences with the history of the founding of the United States. Tours of the site focus on the fundamental themes of innovation, freedom, self-governance, slavery, and its legacies. Monticello guides are committed to working as a part of a team to ensure an excellent guest experience.

Candidates should be eager to engage with a broad variety of perspectives about the past. Monticello Guides engage visitors to Monticello through the interpretation of history, and crafting a unique tour narrative is a requirement for this position. Availability to work some weekends, evenings, and holidays is required. B.A. degree with a major in a relevant field preferred but equivalent work experience will be considered.

Training: Applicants should attend all days of training. All training is paid time. Training will take place every Wednesday and Thursday from January 13 th – February 4 th . Most sessions will be approximately 9am - 5:30pm, but a couple days will be 10:30am - 7pm.

Hiring timeline:

• Position closes: December 1 st , 2026
• Phone and in-person interviews conducted: late October through mid-December
• Offers extended: by mid- to late-December
• Start date : January 13 th , 2027

We provide the following benefits for part-time employees:

• 401(k) retirement savings plan + up to a 6% match.
• Fitness club membership discount.
• Discount in the Monticello Café, gift shop, and Monticello online catalog.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – free for employee and dependents.
• $500 employee referral bonus.

Monticello is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply!