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Night Tours Educator (Temporary, Part-Time)

Pay Type:

Hourly Rate

Job Status:

Part Time

Minimum Salary/Hourly Rate:

$16.50

Maximum Salary/Hourly Rate:

$16.50

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (ESPHS) seeks outgoing, engaging and passionate people for the position of Night Tours Educator. This position greets and directs visitors and supports hands-on programming that encourages reflection on the penitentiary's history and legacy of criminal justice reform. Activities and tours aim to prompt conversation on issues of justice today.

Other responsibilities include welcoming and directing visitors, facilitating informal onsite conversations, tidying activity stations, performing basic maintenance and cleaning/disinfecting tasks, as well as setting up and breaking down the event each evening. Night Tours Educators may sometimes assist the Night Tours Education Supervisor in supporting community partners who are collaborators for Night Tours programming. Please note that Eastern State Penitentiary is a ruin and working conditions are not always ideal. Visitor Services staff spend a significant portion of their workday in outdoor conditions.

You are a great fit for this job if you are:

A natural at leading conversations, listening to conflicting perspectives, and creating a positive group dynamic even with the most difficult subject matter.

Open, respectful, humble, and non-judgmental with a sense of humor.

Willing to listen and learn while sharing knowledge.

Flexible and adapt quickly.

Exceptional in providing customer service in a fast-paced environment.

Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Able to work well on your own, but also enjoy collaboration and supporting your coworkers.

Willing to work outdoors in all types of weather.

Able to work evenings and weekends.

We especially encourage you to apply if you:

Speak more than one language.

Live in a neighborhood close by ESPHS.

Have a basic knowledge of the criminal justice system and incarceration.

Consider yourself a creative and/or artistic person.

Have an interest in storytelling.

All Night Tours Educators receive comprehensive training on the history of Eastern State Penitentiary, the legacy of the criminal justice system and mass incarceration today, and best practices for facilitating discussions.

To Apply

Click here to apply. The deadline for applications is Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 5 PM. All applicants will be contacted, even if not selected for an interview. No phone calls please.

Previous experience as an Eastern State Night Tours Educator is strongly preferred.

About Temporary Employment at ESPHS:

This position is temporary and part-time; two to four evenings per week. Night Tours: Summer Twilight takes place Thursday through Sunday evenings from May 25 through September 3, 2023 plus Memorial Day (Monday, May 29, 2023), July 3, and Labor Day (Monday, September 4, 2023). Applicants must be available for weekday and weekend evening shifts (approx. 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm).

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, arrest record or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment.

ESPHS strongly believes in second chances and, as such, is committed to providing appropriate employment opportunities to those who have been incarcerated. As a condition of employment, all individuals who accept an employment offer must complete a criminal background check. Eastern State will review any criminal record and make appropriate employment decisions in accordance with applicable law and its policies.

About ESPHS and Night Tours: Summer Twilight:

When Eastern State opened more than 180 years ago, it changed the world. The first prison of its kind – a penitentiary – it was designed to inspire true regret in the hearts of criminals. The building itself was an architectural wonder; it had running water and central heat before the White House, and attracted visitors from around the globe. Although the prison now stands in ruin, its story remains relevant today.

When Eastern State Penitentiary opened as a historic site in 1994, it attracted just over 10,000 daytime visitors – in 2019, it was visited by more than 300,000. The site’s programming continues to grow by inviting the public into new spaces, mounting original exhibits and artist installations, and engaging visitors in dialogue about history that deepen the national discussion about criminal justice today.

Night Tours: Summer Twilight invites visitors to explore the historic cellblocks as the sun goes down. Admission includes many of Eastern State’s daytime programs—self-guided audio tour narrated by actor Steve Buscemi, award-winning exhibits, and popular points of interest such as Al Capone’s Cell and Death Row—in addition to some new, exclusive offerings like the Fair Chance Beer Garden. Each month the Fair Chance Beer Garden hosts activities, tours, and community partners to engage with visitors and prompt reflections on today’s criminal justice system.

For more information, please visit easternstate.org/nighttours.