Historical Trades Coordinator
Old Sturbridge Village

Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Updated 10/29/2025

The Trades Coordinator leads and manages Old Sturbridge Village’s historical trades program, a cornerstone of the museum’s living history mission. This role oversees interpretation and operations of the Printing Office, Cooper Shop, Pottery Shop, Shoe Shop, Blacksmith Shop, Cabinetmaking Shop, and Tin Shop, using OSV’s collections and historical sources to guide reproduction work. The Coordinator also supports the gift shop with OSV-made items, manages supply purchasing, and serves as a costumed interpreter on a scheduled basis.

Key Responsibilities:

• Program Leadership: Manage daily operations of the Trades Program, including staff, volunteers, fellows, and interns across all Trade Shops.
• Craft Production: Oversee production for the gift shop and internal needs; collaborate with Gift Shop management to develop product lines and manage inventory.
• Educational Collaboration: Partner with Education & Academy teams to create immersive programs for students and academy partners.
• Class Development: Work with the Director of Museum Education to expand historical craft classes using internal and guest instructors.
• Interpretation & Engagement: Bring trades to life through teaching, performance, and hands-on interpretation; serve as an ambassador for the program.
• Logistics & Communication: Coordinate daily and seasonal directives; ensure timely completion of tasks within staffing and budget constraints.
• Research Coordination: Facilitate staff research visits with Collections and Research Library teams.
• Staff Oversight: Plan, assign, and assess work; recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate staff annually.
• Program Innovation: Develop and evaluate new and existing trade-related programs and events; collaborate with Marketing for promotion.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Work with Agriculture, Household, and Horticulture teams to present a holistic view of 19th-century life.
• Audience Engagement: Use diverse interpretation techniques to connect with varied audiences.
• Training & Development: Support colleagues in program development and review.
• Preservation & Safety: Maintain historic spaces and artifacts; ensure safety and cleanliness of work areas.
• Policy Compliance: Adhere to Village policies and applicable laws.
• Special Events: Participate in evening programs such as Dinner in a Country Village, Hearthside Bounty, and Christmas by Candlelight.
• Other Duties: Perform additional tasks as assigned.

Skills & Abilities:

• Deep knowledge and enthusiasm for historical trades.
• Strong planning, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.
• Physical ability to perform hands-on work in varied conditions.
• Proven leadership in recruiting, training, and motivating staff.
• Commitment to public education and guest experience.
• Clear verbal and written communication.
• Collaborative, respectful, and flexible team player.
• Effective listener and communicator.
• Availability for varied shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• Valid driver’s license required.

About OSV

Old Sturbridge Village, the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, depicts a rural New England town of the 1830s. Step inside more than 40 original buildings, and explore homes, meetinghouses, a district school, a country store, a bank, a working farm, three water-powered mills, and trade shops – all situated on more than 200 scenic acres. Talk with authentically costumed historians and see heritage breed farm animals. Discover the endless ways to immerse yourself in the Village. Old Sturbridge Village, a museum and learning resource of New England life, invites each visitor to find meaning, pleasure, relevance, and inspiration through the exploration of history.

Old Sturbridge Village is committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. We are passionate about developing and maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and accessible working and learning environment for all visitors, staff, and OSV community members. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to different ways of understanding and engaging the world around us.

Individuals in this position are subject to a Criminal Conviction Record check upon hire and every other year thereafter.

Old Sturbridge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Old Sturbridge Village to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or membership in the uniformed services.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement:

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require an accommodation to perform the essential functions of this position, we encourage you to contact Human Resources (HR@osv.org) during the application process.

Benefits: Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance; Paid Time Off; Employee Discount, and more

Salary Range: $21-$25/hour

Interested applicants can apply at:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RGMYTG2