Visitor Educator

ORGANIZATION

Mount Auburn Cemetery comprises 175 acres and is situated in Watertown and Cambridge near Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1831, and visited by over 200,000 people each year, Mount Auburn is a National Historic Landmark, recognized as the first “rural cemetery” and the inspiration for the American Parks Movement during the 19th century. As an active cemetery, Mount Auburn inspires all who visit, comforts the bereaved, and commemorates the dead in a landscape of exceptional beauty. As an accredited arboretum, Mount Auburn features 5,000 trees and more than 20,000 plants overall.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Visitor Educator engages Mount Auburn Cemetery's diverse audiences through walking tours, educational programs, interpretation, research, and direct visitor services. This position helps visitors understand Mount Auburn's history, landscape, horticulture, art, architecture, wildlife, and cultural significance while creating meaningful connections between the Cemetery's past and present.

Visitor Educators lead public and private walking tours and assist with visitor engagement at the Welcome Center. Educators will on occasion conduct research and assist in developing interpretive content and contribute to projects that expand access to Mount Auburn's collections and stories.

The ideal candidate is an engaging communicator who is comfortable speaking to groups, working independently, conducting research, and adapting content for different audiences. Because Mount Auburn is both a historic cemetery and an active cultural landscape, Visitor Educators should be curious, observant, and comfortable working outdoors in a variety of conditions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Walking Tours

• Lead approximately 90-minute public and private walking tours of Mount Auburn Cemetery for a variety of audiences.
• Develop and deliver engaging, accurate, and accessible walking tours about Mount Auburn's history, landscape, horticulture, architecture, art, notable residents, cultural traditions, and contemporary relevance.
• Adapt tours to the interests, needs, and knowledge levels of different audiences, including school groups, adult learners, families, members, and private groups.
• Facilitate meaningful conversations around subjects that may include death, mourning, memorialization, history, culture, art, climate change, and the natural environment.
• Respond thoughtfully and professionally to visitor questions, including questions involving sensitive or complex subjects.

Interpretive Content Development

• Conduct research using Mount Auburn's archives, historical collections, library resources, databases, published scholarship, and other reliable sources.
• Develop and maintain accurate interpretive material for tours, digital platforms, and other visitor-facing resources.
• Work with staff across Mount Auburn to identify stories, collections, landscapes, monuments, and subjects that can be incorporated into educational programming.
• Contribute to the development of interpretive content for digital platforms, including Bloomberg Connects and social media.
• Review and update existing educational content as new research and information become available.
• Translate complex historical, scientific, cultural, and artistic information into engaging content accessible to a general audience.
• Participate in the development of new tours and educational experiences based on visitor interests, institutional priorities, seasonal opportunities, and emerging research.

Visitor Engagement and Services

• Serve as an informed and welcoming representative of Mount Auburn when interacting with visitors.
• Help visitors navigate the grounds and identify points of interest.
• Support a welcoming and inclusive visitor experience for people with a wide range of backgrounds, ages, abilities, and levels of familiarity with cemeteries.
• Assist with visitor engagement initiatives and special events as assigned.
• When scheduled, provide operational support within the Welcome Center and Gift Shop and assist with the coordination and oversight of volunteer visitor-service activities.
• Work collaboratively with Visitor Services staff and volunteers to maintain a high standard of visitor experience.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain current knowledge of Mount Auburn's history, landscape, collections, programs, policies, and visitor resources.
• Participate in training, staff meetings, program evaluation, and other activities supporting the development of the Visitor Services department.
• Follow all Cemetery policies and procedures, including those related to visitor safety, accessibility, emergency procedures, and respectful conduct on Cemetery grounds.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, colleagues, volunteers, contractors, and members of the public.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience speaking to groups or leading educational programs, tours, classes, or presentations.
• Excellent verbal communication and public speaking skills.
• Strong writing, research, and information-gathering skills.
• Ability to translate specialized information into engaging and understandable content for general audiences.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with staff and volunteers.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated commitment to providing excellent visitor service.
• Comfort working outdoors for extended periods and walking approximately 1–2 miles or more over uneven and varied terrain.
• Ability to work occasional weekends and evenings.
• Interest in and willingness to learn about Mount Auburn's history, horticulture, landscape, architecture, art, collections, wildlife, and cultural significance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading tours or educational programs in a museum, cemetery, historic site, botanical garden, arboretum, cultural institution, or similar setting.
• Background or demonstrated interest in history, public history, museum studies, education, horticulture, landscape architecture, art history, architecture, environmental studies, anthropology, death studies, or a related field.
• Experience developing interpretive, educational, or digital content.
• Experience working with archival or primary-source materials.
• Experience working with volunteers or community groups.
• Experience using digital interpretation platforms such as Bloomberg Connects, content-management systems, or similar technologies.
• Familiarity with Mount Auburn Cemetery and/or the history and cultural landscape of Greater Boston.

SCHEDULE AND AVAILABILITY

This is a part-time seasonal position averaging approximately 16 hours per week during high visitation months (April-October). The schedule will vary according to the needs of the Visitor Services department and may include:

• Weekday and weekend public tours
• Private group tours as scheduled
• Educational programs and special events
• Occasional evening programs
• Staff meetings and training
• Research and content-development work

Because public programming occurs throughout the week and frequently on weekends, flexibility in scheduling is an important component of the position.

Mount Auburn Cemetery is an equal-opportunity employer.  It does not discriminate in employment opportunities on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, national origin, age, pregnancy, citizenship status, physical or mental ability, military status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.