Historical Interpreter

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

This is the second of two positions in the Historical Interpreter series. The Historical Interpreter leads tours of Fort Defiance, the Smith Trahern Mansion, the L&N Train Depot, and other related historical sites. Also, this position will aid through research and writing interpretive material in interpreting the daily lives of Civil War soldiers, Clarksvillians, and other county residents during the early to mid-1800’s and the effect the Civil War had upon them (economic, social, religious, cultural, etc.). The position will require the ability to share this information using a variety of methods to include, but not limited to demonstration, lectures, publications, hands-on activities, and coordination with others such as the use of volunteers and Friends groups. The Historical Interpreter will also assist with the daily operation of the Historical Properties and park sites.

• Supervises staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.

• Provides accurate and detailed research of historical events related to Fort Defiance and the Civil War in Clarksville.

• Assists with preparing final interpretation scripts for the public.

• Greets and assists visitors through the center and at the site, conducting tours as needed through the center, the fort, and other nearby historical landmarks (sometimes in period clothing and dress).

• Monitors budgets which include preparing cost estimates for budget recommendations, monitoring expenditures, and maintaining records.

• Performing administrative duties including, but not limited to, researching, and documenting historical information relevant to the site; handling and processing of money and records and ordering supplies as needed; opening and closing of facility as needed.

• Keeps accurate records and prepares detailed reports.

• Attends various departmental and community meetings.

• Recruits and supervises volunteers.

• Performs other administrative, maintenance, and custodial duties as assigned.

• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Education and experience

• Associate degree in History, Education, or a related field.

• Two (2) years of experience in a historical gallery, educational museum, or related environment.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the job’s essential duties.

License and Certifications

• Possession of a valid driver’s license.

MINMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS REQUIRED

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Interpretive center administration and center maintenance requirements.

• Historical sites/interpretive centers ethics and practices

• Tennessee and Civil War History

• Educational standards, programs, and trends

• History, customs, and significance of cultural sites and exhibits

• Effective grant writing experience.

Skill in:

• Effective grant writing experience.

• Strong research skills.

• Implementing short and long-range goals.

• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, including speaking to groups

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships (co-workers, employees of other city departments and volunteers, staffs of other Civil War sites and Centers)

• Computer skills

• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, coworkers, supervisor, the public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.

Physical Requirements:

The work is medium work which requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.

• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination sound.

• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. It occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

• Mental Acuity: Making rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.

• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something steady to thrust forward, downward, or outward.

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.

• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.

• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. It occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.

• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

• Visual ability 1: sufficient to perform an activity like preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.

• Visual ability 3: sufficient to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.

• Visual ability 4: sufficient to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment, both day and night.

• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or move from one work site to another.