Work & Service Opportunities
The Oberlin Heritage Center is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences are strongly encouraged to apply.
Tour & Research Internship
This is a Community Based Work-Study position. Only Oberlin College students with Federal Work Study are eligible to apply.
Organization Overview: The Oberlin Heritage Center is a not-for-profit community organization whose mission is "to preserve and share Oberlin's heritage and to make Oberlin a better place to live, learn, work and visit." The organization offers tours of its three historic buildings, history walks of Oberlin, youth spring break and summer camps, and public programs throughout the year. The award-winning organization is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. More information about the organization is available at www.oberlinheritagecenter.org.
Position Overview: Students in this position are responsible for helping staff and volunteers lead tours, prepare and implement public programs, and maintain historical and administrative records. We are very interested in helping interns meet personal interest and skill goals as far as is feasible.
Assigned duties may include the following:
- Giving tours of the Heritage Center's three buildings
- Assisting with research projects and information requests
- Greeting the public, answering phones, and other clerical duties
- Assisting with some special events, programs, and projects
- Other duties as assigned
Essential Job Functions:
- Work well independently and with other staff, interns, volunteers, and the public
- Be eager to contribute to a team effort
- Be flexible and productive despite interruptions
- Have a professional appearance
- Climb stairs frequently due to the layout of our historic buildings
- Pay attention to detail Work some weekend hours
- Communicate effectively in writing and orally
- Be proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Website and database experience helpful
- Knowledge of Oberlin community and its history helpful but not required
- General office, non-profit organization, or work experience with the public and volunteers preferred but not required.
- Interest, training and experience in museums, preservation, history, architecture, and education preferred.
This is a Federal Work-Study position with a starting pay of $12.00/hr (depending on experience), approximately 4-6 hours per week.
Interested students should email Amanda Manahan with a resume and a cover letter explaining why they are interested in this position and how they qualify.
Oberlin Heritage Center COVID-19 Policy
Please note that the Oberlin Heritage Center may have safety policies and requirements in effect in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic that impact paid employees, interns, and volunteers who regularly work indoors and interact with the public. For information about current policies, please contact the Executive Director, Liz Schultz, for details. [email protected]
Oberlin Heritage Center Non-Discrimination Statement
Approved by the Board of Trustees March 1, 2017
The Oberlin Heritage Center is committed to providing a museum experience and programs in which everyone feels welcome and safe to learn about Oberlin's nationally significant history and to access historical resources. The Oberlin Heritage Center does not and shall not discriminate - and will not tolerate - discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship status, military status, genetic information, medical condition or on account of any other basis prohibited by City, State, or Federal law.
The Oberlin Heritage Center is an equal opportunity employer. It is our strong belief that equal opportunity for all staff members is central to the continuing success of our organization. We cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork and respect among all staff members. We are firmly committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. We will not discriminate based on any of the factors listed above in hiring, promotion, demotion, training, benefits, transfers, layoffs, determinations, recommendations, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. Opportunity is provided to all staff members on the basis of qualifications and job requirements.
Other Opportunities
Consider volunteering or interning with us. Though sometimes unpaid, these positions will allow you to learn about museum work and history from the staff of a nationally-accredited small history museum.
Volunteer
Hundreds of people generously donate their time and skills to our organization every year. They give tours, serve on committees, balance the cash drawer, help us preserve buildings and artifacts, answer phones, prepare bulk mailings, do research, and perform many many other essential tasks.
Intern
Students from Oberlin College and other area colleges have worked for us in a variety of capacities: as volunteers, Bonner Scholars, work-study students, and summer interns. Students gain valuable skills and knowledge during their work here. Interns participate in a variety of tasks – they give tours, help staff our office, assist with research projects such as the Oberlin Historic Inventory and the Oberlin Oral History Project, catalogue and care for collections, help at special events, and maintain history resource databases. Students from all areas of study are encouraged to apply–you need not be a history major (although you certainly may be)!
