Historical Interpreter III - TP60083589

About the role

• Agency
• Dept of Natural and Cultural Resources
• Division
• Tryon Palace Historic Sites, Gardens
• Job Classification Title
• Historical Interpreter III (S)
• Position Number
• 60083589
• Grade
• NC05

Description of Work

The Historic Interpreter III leads daily tours, manages program operations and budgets, and supports the Education Branch with limited supervision. They provide interpretation across all on-site buildings, assist weekend and special-event operations, and serve as the Certified Safety Officer for small arms and artillery. The role includes recruiting, training, and coordinating volunteers, as well as maintaining training materials and ensuring proper historical clothing and gear.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to

• Deliver daily tours and tailored historical interpretation across all site buildings while supporting weekend, special event, and school group operations.
• Manage program needs including budgeting, coordination with Education Branch staff/volunteers, and assisting in the development of new events and long-term planning.
• Recruit, train, and communicate with volunteer groups, including administering annual small arms and artillery instruction and coordinating required uniforms and gear.
• Represent the organization professionally in interactions with visitors, donors, partners, and collaborate effectively across departments with strong written and verbal communication.
• Serve as Certified Safety Officer for 18th-19th century small arms and artillery, ensuring compliance and overseeing required weapons-related training.
• Provide occasional logistical support (event setup/takedown, outreach activities, administrative tasks) when not in conflict with core interpretive or safety duties.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Please note: Job postings close at 11:59:59 p.m. the night before the listed Posting End Date above.

Recruitment Range: $33,902.00 - $42,500.00

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.

• Candidates meet the minimum qualifications of this position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.
• Vacancy specific knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and/or management preferences are not required.
• Applicants who possess the following are preferred:

• Working knowledge of state and national history.
• Considerable knowledge of site history
• Ability to adapt historical tours to age, interest level, special interests or time constraints.
• Ability to obtain certified safety officer licensure through DNCR to serve as site Certified Safety Officer for 18th and 19th century small arms and artillery.
• Ability to organize and prioritize the work schedules of others to manage multiple tasks and/or projects.

Position/Physical Requirements

• Must be able to work the schedule of Tuesday - Saturday 8:00am - 5:00pm with occasional evening and holiday work required as needed.
• Must be able to work in a wide variety of environments, including indoors, outdoors, inclement weather, heat, cold, smoke, etc.

• *SIGN-ON BONUS BEING OFFERED*
• A sign-on bonus of $1500 is being offered for eligible candidates.
• *Payout contingent on funding availability*
• This position is located at: Tryon Palace
• 529 S. Front St.
• New Bern, NC 28562

Minimum Education and Experience

• Some state job postings say you can qualify by an "equivalent combination of education and experience."
• If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both.
• See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

• High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma
• AND four years of experience in giving or developing museum tours;
• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Section/Unit Description

The Tryon Palace Education Section is dedicated to facilitating engaging, educational experiences for all visitors. We provide guided tours, school programs, and living history interpretations that showcase the diverse social and cultural history of Tryon Palace and its surrounding buildings. Our team specializes in costumed interpretation, bringing the past to life through daily tours, special events, and collaborative efforts with other departments.

Division Description

The purpose of Tryon Palace is: To educate growing numbers of North Carolinians and visitors to this state about the contributions made by the inhabitants of New Bern and the central North Carolina coast to the history and culture of this state and the United States from the time of initial European-American contact through the nineteenth century.

This mission will be carried out through historical research; acquisition, interpretation, and preservation of historic objects and buildings; re-creation of period room settings and gardens based on historical documentation; public outreach in the form of tours, symposia, workshops, and seasonal interpretation; and dissemination of historical information through staff presentations and by other means.

All historical interpretation conducted as part of this mission shall be based on factual, balanced scholarship.

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Application Process

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application. The hiring process may take several weeks.
• Be sure to complete the application in full. Applicants are unable to submit more than one application to an individual posting. Only one application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59:59 PM on the night prior to the closing date.

Degree/College Credit Verification

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Veteran's and National Guard Preference

Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, along with the state application.

Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.

Applicants who are former member of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

Sign On Bonus Eligibility

To be eligible for a sign-on bonus, the candidate must not have worked as a probationary, permanent, or time-limited employee in the last 12 months as an employee in North Carolina state government, including without limitation the judicial system, state executive branch agencies, and the university system, subject to the State Human Resources Act. Employee eligible for a sign-on must work at least 20 hours per week.

All Sign-on Bonuses are contingent upon budget and final eligibility determination as of the effective date of hire. Additional information regarding the Sign-on Policy can be found here.

• CONTACT INFORMATION: N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
• Division of Human Resources
• 109 E. Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601