Lead Interpreter – Homeplace

Position Description

Application Deadline: 08/01/2025

Starting Date: after 6/8/2025

Hours per Week: 40

Salary: $20 to $21 per hour

Education Required: Bachelors

Experience Required: at least 3 years

Location: 868JM25G+8Q (Dover, Tennessee)

A. Introduction

This position functions as the lead interpreter at Homeplace (HP), a living history farm at Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area, and is employed by the Land Between The Lakes Association (LBLA). The incumbent is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of a staff of approximately six full-time interpreters. In addition, the incumbent may serve as a coordinator for one of three program areas: 1) Agriculture Program; 2) Domestic Program; or 3) Educational Programs. Supervision is provided by the LBLA Deputy Director. The Forest Service Facility Manager provides overall direction for facility operations.

B. Major Duties

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Works closely with the Forest Service Facility Manager to ensure that program direction and facility operations meet Forest Service standards and expectations.

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Provides day-to-day supervision of interpretive staff and coordinates day-to-day operations, activities, programs, and animal care needs.

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Responsible for staff scheduling for the facility.

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Monitors and evaluates interpretive and environmental education programs; provides feedback to interpreters; facilitates peer monitoring of programs; conducts performance evaluations.

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Facilitates communications between the LBLA Deputy Director and Facility Manager and interpretive staff; takes the lead in implementing program direction.

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Facilitates coordination of agricultural and domestic operations and activities.

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Recommend training needs for interpreters; coordinating training sessions; and evaluating training effectiveness.

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Works within a specified budget to accomplish facility’s program of work.

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Responsible for researching, creating, developing and presenting thematic interpretive and educational programs at HP to visitors, school groups, and other organized groups. These programs focus primarily on the cultural resources of LBL and may include guided walks, demonstrations, environmental education activities and programs, illustrated talks, roving interpretation, impromptu talks, and first-person portrayals. Sound interpretive and educational principles and techniques are reflected in conducted programs.

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Serves as a host to visitors, carrying out a variety of duties related to distributing accurate information about LBL’s recreational opportunities; its natural and cultural resources; the Forest Service and its management activities; and the surrounding region. Assists in enforcing rules and regulations in regards to safety of animals and visitors.

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Coordinates or assists in coordinating special educational events; tasks may include promotional planning, theme development, program development and delivery, contacting special presenters or guests, designing and creating special thematic indoor and outdoor exhibits, delegating staff responsibilities, social media and supervising

volunteers. Insures that proper volunteer procedures are followed, including obtaining signed volunteer agreements, keeping records, and extending recognition.

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Responsible for performing, in an interpretive style, domestic and agricultural chores and tasks representative of a mid-19th century farm operation; carries out farm and domestic activities such as plowing, planting, harvesting crops, spinning, weaving, cooking, and quilting under the direction of the domestic and agriculture program coordinators. Performs activities in clothing representative of the period when necessary and in LBLA uniform all other times.

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Works a varied schedule that includes many holidays, weekends, and evenings.

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Responsible for communicating status of daily activities, schedule changes, etc. to receptionists and gift shop sales clerk.

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Ultimately responsible for all LBLA HP Staffed employees to include oversight of information and gift shops clerks behavior and work ethic in tandem with the scheduling clerk.

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Assists Facility Manager with their primary job in monitoring buildings and grounds for maintenance needs and safety hazards.

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Participates as a team member of the extended HP staff that also includes receptionists, gift shop salesclerks, and maintenance laborers; assists in general upkeep to maintain a professional facility appearance.

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Assists in planning and creating the calendar of events for each season’s activities.

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Assists in the daily feeding, care, and handling of livestock. Responsible for learning and understanding dietary needs and safety precautions associated with individual species. Maintains and monitors fences, pens, and other livestock enclosures.

Program Coordination

Dependent on the needs of the facility's operation, incumbent may also serve as program coordinator in one of three areas. These duties are outlined below:

Agriculture Program Coordinator

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Provides direction for the daily care and feeding of HP livestock; oversees veterinary needs; maintains records on livestock and animal care procedures; communicates animal care procedures to staff.

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Plans and coordinates annual crop planting and harvesting activities; oversees planning the interpretation of these activities.

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Makes team assignments for farming activities.

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Responsible for coordinating maintenance and use of farm implements for crop-related activities.

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Determines farm building maintenance/repair tasks that can be accomplished with interpretation to the public.

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Trains new staff members in techniques and methods appropriate to the time period.

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Inventories and maintains appropriate amounts of food for livestock by compiling purchasing lists for Facility Manager.

Domestic Program Coordinator

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Provides direction for the daily or scheduled domestic activities associated with farm life authentic to Between The Rivers during the mid-19th century.

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Plans and coordinates domestic activities and tasks; oversees planning the interpretation of these activities.

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Makes staff assignments for domestic activities.

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Responsible for coordinating maintenance and use of domestic items in activities and tasks.

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Trains new staff members in techniques and methods appropriate to the time period and or all events.

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Oversees clothing inventory and assesses annual replacement needs.

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Responsible for maintaining inventory of domestic items.

Education Program Coordinator

(For School Programs/Organized Group Programs)

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Plans, develops and evaluates environmental education activities and programs conducted for school groups and other organized groups; assists other staff members in developing activities and programs; trains other staff to conduct programs.

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Assists the scheduling clerk and teachers with scheduling appropriate programs; corresponds with teachers and group leaders.

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Makes program assignments to other staff members; responsible for communicating daily and weekly schedules of programs to other staff members.

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Assists in the development of promotional flyers and group planning guide.

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Trains new staff members.

(For General Public Programs)

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Facilitates creation and development of programs and program descriptions to be included in the calendar of events four times each year (spring, summer, fall, and winter).

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Reviews press releases, information brochures, and display designs; insures that promotions and marketing deadlines are being met.

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Develops and supervises, or assists with, special events, holiday weekends, and visitor excursion trips.

Contact

Laura Caudill

lcaudill@friendsoflbl.org (preferred contact method)