Hammond Castle Museum is hiring!
Current Employment Opportunities:
Director of Special Events:
The Director of Special Events at Hammond Castle Museum plays a key role in planning, coordinating, and executing special events and weddings hosted at the museum. This position requires a highly organized individual with excellent communication skills and a passion for creating memorable experiences for guests. Weekend and evening availability is required.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Special Events:
- Research and propose unique events for the Museum’s yearly event calendar
- Manage engagement and contract process for vendors and performers
- Serve as a liaison between the Museum and vendors & performers, addressing their questions and needs
- Maintain accurate event files including budget and Banquet Event Orders and listings within the Museum’s internal calendar
- Effectively communicate with and manage various levels of Museum staff in the production and execution of events, ensuring all aspects, including POS, signage, and off-site parking when necessary, are considered
- Attend weekly meetings with the Director of Marketing & Communications regarding the promotion and coordination of special events
- Assist with the promotion of special events, particularly on the local level, through flyer distribution, securing photography of events, and acting as liaison for local news outlets
Weddings:
- Assist the Managing Director in the successful execution of weddings at the Museum
- Greet, orient, and manage vendor deliveries on the day before and day of a wedding
- Greet and orient the bridal party on the day of a wedding
- Prepare and set up the Museum’s Great Hall, Courtyard, and Back Yard for weddings
- Greet and orient bridal party guests on the day of a wedding
- Conduct educational tours of the Museum for wedding guests during cocktail hour and after dinner
- Oversee the breakdown of weddings, including proper removal of vendors’ equipment, materials, and trash from the Museum
- Return artifacts to their proper places, snuff candles, roll up the red carpet, etc.
- Close up the Museum for the night, including locking doors, turning off lights, and setting the alarm
Qualifications and Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Event Planning, or related field (preferred)
- At least 4 years of previous experience in event planning and coordination
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
- Knowledge of local vendors and performers is a plus
- Knowledge of a CRM system is a plus
Benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Paid vacation days
- Opportunities for professional development and advancement
If you are a dynamic and creative individual with a passion for event management, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this position.
To apply, please send a resume and references to Linda Harvey, Executive Director at Lharvey@hammondcastle.org. No calls or drop-ins, please.
Tours Staff
Job Summary:
Members of Tours Staff are responsible for leading daily scheduled Guided Tours of the Hammond Castle Museum and serve as the ‘front line’ of the Museum’s effort to educate and engage visitors from across the world about this remarkable historic site. Duties include memorizing and reciting provided tour scripts, positively interacting with Museum Visitors, answering a wide array of questions accurately, staffing special events, and assisting other departments as needed. This is a seasonal position that can offer a flexible schedule to those seeking part-time employment, with opportunities for increased hours during the peak Museum season (July- September). Those with a background or interest in history, theater, literature, art, science, technology, and engineering are strongly encouraged to apply!
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Maintain a regular schedule of daily Guided Tours, working with other members of staff in order to manage foot traffic and ensure a satisfying visitor experience.
- Memorize detailed information regarding the history of the Museum and the collection, and be able to effectively communicate that information to visitors in an informative and engaging manner.
- Enthusiastically direct visitors to various locations in the Museum and address visitor questions accurately.
- Be present on the Museum floor between tours to ensure that safety and security procedures are being followed, and engage visitors who are not taking Guided Tours about key elements of the Museum collection.
- Assist with staffing daily and evening special events when needed.
- Personally follow all museum policies and procedures.
Qualifications and Skills:
- Presentation: The ability to speak loudly and clearly in front of large groups and command an audience’s attention. The ability to improvise and adapt to a fast-paced working environment to ensure an engaging and informative visitor experience.
- Communication & Teamwork: The ability to work with other members of staff and supervisors to resolve any workplace issues or challenges efficiently and professionally.
- Visitor Service: The ability to enthusiastically and cheerfully engage and direct visitors on a variety of topics. The ability to enforce Museum policies in a firm, but friendly and accommodating manner. An appreciation for the importance of providing a high-quality and memorable experience for every visitor, regardless of background.
- Attention to Detail: The ability to memorize information accurately, and to present that information without unnecessary embellishment. An appreciation for the importance of nuanced and precise historical discussion.
- Reliability: The ability to commute to Gloucester, MA, to maintain a regular monthly schedule and to consistently deliver a quality experience to visitors that reflects positively on the professionalism and standards of the Hammond Castle Museum.
- Experience in museum or historical interpretation is preferred but not required.
- Fluency in additional languages, including Spanish, French, and/or Mandarin, is preferred but not required.
To apply, please send a resume and references to Caleb McMurphy, Director of Education and Visitor Experiences at cmcmurphy@hammondcastle.org. No calls or drop-ins, please.
Event Manager:
The Hammond Castle Museum, a unique venue for all types of celebrations, such as concerts, weddings, film shoots, etc., is looking for the right person to join our team in the Event Manager position.
If you enjoy meeting people from all walks of life, having conversations and ever-changing experiences, along with assisting in the flawless execution of events as a representative of the Museum, this may be the right position for you. An interest in history is a plus, as the Museum is on the National Registry of Historic Places with our founder, John Hays Hammond Jr. established as one of our country’s most prolific inventors.
You would be required to attend weekend evening events, and some daytime events, with the potential of scheduling appointments and meeting with prospective clients. You would be encouraged to problem solve when needed, think on your feet, and express opinions and suggestions. Most weekend evening events do require you to participate in mini-tours of the castle with a script provided.
This is a seasonal, part-time position of 30 – 36 hours per week with great opportunity for growth.
To apply, please send a resume and references to Deb Nypaver, Managing Director at dnypaver@hammondcastle.org. No calls or drop-ins, please.
