STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA invites applications for the position of: Historic Interpreter I/Blacksmith

JOB CLASS TITLE: Historic Interpreter I

POSITION NUMBER: 60083595

DEPARTMENT: Dept of Natural and Cultural Resources

DIVISION/SECTION: Archives & History

SALARY RANGE: $26,159.00 – $38,784.00 Annually

RECRUITMENT RANGE: $26,159 – $27,458

SALARY GRADE / SALARY GRADE EQUIVALENT: 58

COMPETENCY LEVEL: Not Applicable

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent Full-Time

WORK LOCATION: Craven County

OPENING DATE: 07/13/16

CLOSING DATE: 08/10/16 5:00 PM Eastern Time

DESCRIPTION OF WORK:
**This position is posted at recruitment range of $26,159 – $27,458 and at salary grade equivalent 58.**

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) vision is to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

Tryon Palace, located in New Bern, North Carolina, is a replica of the mansion built in the late 1760s for the Royal Governor of the Providence of North Carolina. Also the seat of the province’s Colonial government, it was seized by rebel troops in 1775 and retained that role through the creation of the State of North Carolina in 1789. Shortly after the state capital was relocated to Raleigh in 1792 the original building burned to the ground. A modern recreation faithful to the original architect’s plans and some period appropriate support structures were erected on the site in the 1950s and opened to the public in 1959. Today it is a State Historic Site. The Palace gardens were also recreated, with 16 acres of plantings representing three centuries of landscape and gardening heritage.

The position is at Tryon Palace. The position will have a Monday through Friday workweek. Additional evenings, weekend & holiday work is required. Historic Interpreters are responsible for interacting with, engaging, and educating visitors throughout Tryon Palace. Position is responsible for conducting and researching a wide variety of front-line interpretative programming and activities, including costumed first and third person interpretation, and craft and trade demonstrations. The employee will work in multiple historic buildings, galleries, and spaces and will be able to shift seamlessly between interpreting different historical time periods. Position will serve as a team and building leader for part-time interpretative staff and volunteers and will oversee group rotation & conduct an array of school programs.

This position will serve as a customer service resource person for other departments and in addition to previously outlined duties, will assist at the Blacksmith Shop coordination and oversee training. The employee will assist in the design, preparation, implementation, and clean-up of educational event programs and tours. The position requires medium physical work, including tasks such as: carrying firewood, building fires, cooking on an open hearth, lifting large iron and brass pots, shoveling hot coals, carrying water, using a spinning wheel, weaving on a barn-frame look, and dipping candles. Work may involve lifting as much as 50 lbs. This position oversees the Blacksmith Shop to provide living history for visitors. Historic Interpreters work in a wide variety of environments: historic buildings, outdoors, inside modern buildings. Work conditions may require exposure to severe or inclement weather. Employee is required to wear reproduction historic clothing most of the time. Employee must also use computers, photocopiers, and other machinery. A high degree of mental concentration and manual dexterity are needed to demonstrate and interpret historic crafts and trades. Mental acumen is necessary for crafting and adapting interpretation to meet the specific needs of individual visitors. Employee must take appropriate precautions for his/her safety and that of the public when interpreting. The employee will routinely move around open fires and perform potentially hazardous craft/trades.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES / COMPETENCIES:
**To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed as general statements, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit.**

Qualified candidates must possess: •Demonstrated knowledge of local, state, and national history;

  • Strong customer service ethic and should be able to speak engagingly and effectively to a wide variety of people;
  • Demonstrated ability to adapt interpretation to the specific age groups, interests, and needs of visitors;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of 18th & 19th century crafts & trades is useful;
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively with a wide range of personalities in a team environment;
  • Strong knowledge of departmental and state government policies and guidelines, as well as Tryon Palace policies.
  • Ability to perform medium physical work, sometimes lifting as much as 50 lbs;
  • Demonstrated experience to oversee the Blacksmith Shop to provide living history for visitors;
  • Employee must be proficient with computers, photocopiers, and other machinery.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Graduation from high school and two years of experience in giving museum tours; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

SUPPLEMENTAL AND CONTACT INFORMATION:

**APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED ON-LINE USING THE WEBSITE PROVIDED BELOW**

To apply for this position, please click the APPLY link provided above. In order to receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application form. Any information omitted from the application cannot be considered for qualifying credit. Attached or incorporated resumes will be accepted, but will not be used for screening for qualifying credit. Using “See Resume” or “See Attachment” instead of completing the education and experience portion of the profile is not acceptable and will result in an incomplete application. Other attachments (except a DD-214 copy) will also be accepted, but not used in screening for qualifying credit. Applicants are required to scan and attach a copy of their DD-214 or discharge orders if they wish to obtain veterans preference. Applicants requesting and receiving an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are eligible to submit paper applications via mail or by fax. Please call the human resources office for assistance.

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) uses Merit-Based Recruitment practices to select the most qualified applicants to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act. Applicants are asked to document competencies related to the position for which you apply on the State application via the NEOGOV website. A competency is defined as a set of behaviors or duties that reflect knowledge skills, and abilities. When a salary range is posted, the actual salary will be based on relevant competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised positions. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

It is the policy of the State of North Carolina and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that all employees provide proof of employment eligibility (immigration and naturalization) on the first day of employment. We participate in E-Verify (Employment Eligibility Verification System).

If you are having technical issues submitting your application, please call the NeoGov Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting, other than your application status, please contact the DNCR Human Resources Office.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Division of Human Resources
4603 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4603
Phone: 919-807-7373

APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED ONLINE AT:
http://www.oshr.nc.gov/jobs/index.html

NOTE: Apply to the department listed on posting
An Equal Opportunity Employer, NC State Government

Position #16-07014 AH60083595
HISTORIC INTERPRETER I/BLACKSMITH