Indigenous Lead Hand

Department: Programming & Experience - Interpretation 

Position Type: Seasonal

Hourly Rate: $17.50               

Contract Start Date: April 19, 2025

Contracts End Date: October 30, 2025

Hours: Varies and includes weekdays, weekends, and statutory holidays

What we offer:

• Flexible work arrangements where no one day is similar
• Working in a beautiful park setting
• Free entrance to the Park, including to our many public special events
• Employee discounts on food and retail items and free parking

Who We Are:

Heritage Park is Canada's largest living history museum and offers visitors a chance to experience life in Western Canada from the 1860s to the early 1950s. The Park features historical buildings, costumed interpreters, working antiques, and various exhibits that provide insight into the region's past.

Job Overview:

At Heritage Park we acknowledge that we are located on the Treaty 7 territory where we respect the deep, historical connection to this land by the Blackfoot, Tsuut’ina, Îyârhe Nakoda, and Métis peoples. Under direction of the Interpretation Manager, and the Programming Specialists, the Lead Hand-Indigenous is part of a team supporting daily aspects of exhibit interpretation, including the training, supervision, mentoring and evaluation of seasonal staff, ensuring that standards of historical interpretation are maintained.

Responsibilities:

Interpretation Operations

• Provides knowledge of at least one of the following cultures, local Métis, Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Îyârhe-Nakoda or Tsuut’ina, to act as a resource for our interpreters
• Supports the cultural and spiritual requirements of maintaining a painted lodge (tipi)
• Delegates daily work assignments while supervising staff and volunteers who provide interpretive services for Park guests
• Assists in the training and mentoring and of new staff, particularly the Indigenous Interpreters, as directed
• Prepares interpretive sites, in particular the Indigenous programmed exhibits, by procuring, preparing, organizing and distributing objects and supplies for program use, with a focus on the Indigenous programmed sites
• Ensures adequate staffing for shifts by arranging for emergency and lunch relief, providing cover-off for Interpreters and delivering interpretive programs in their absence and/or to ensure they take breaks as required
• Works with the Interpretation team in assessing the performance of interpretive staff and volunteers
• Ensures exhibit areas are operated in accordance with prescribed standards of safety, security and cleanliness
• Provide an exceptional visitor experience through friendly and courteous interactions with guests, staff, and volunteers, using polite greetings, actively acknowledging guests, and handling situations positively
• Create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors with a customer-focused approach, providing courteous and friendly answers to inquiries and valuable information to enhance the overall visitor experience
• Assists with special programs and tours upon request
• Perform other duties as required

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated or Lived experience in working with/being a part of an Indigenous culture is required
  
• Completion of secondary school education, as well as enrolment or completion of post-secondary education in related areas (Indigenous history, historical interpretation, communications, traditional knowledge), is required; a combination of historical/cultural knowledge, communication skills and supervisory skills will be considered
• Prior experience as an Interpreter at Heritage Park is an asset
• Demonstrated responsible leadership skills and the ability to approach tasks independently
• Strong organizational, supervisory and communication skills
• Experience working with diverse groups of people
• Confident in engaging with large groups of people and has strong public speaking skills
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing situations;  
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills in a client-faced setting
• All successful candidates (over the age of 18) will be required to go through a Police Information Check as a condition of employment. 

Special Clothing and Equipment:

• Appropriate costuming and safety equipment will be provided by Heritage Park; and
• Footwear, as designated by the Heritage Park Costume Department, will be provided by the employee.

 Special Working Conditions:

• This position may be required to stand or walk for long period of time and may be exposed to extremes in temperature, depending on the weather. There may be prolonged exposure to woodsmoke.
  

 Hours of Work:

• There is one position available with full-time hours and one position with part-time hours;
• The full-time hours role is five days per week for the summer (including at least one weekend day) as well as fall weekends.
• The part-time hours role is 2 days a week including at least one weekend day; with the option of working as an interpreter on the other 3 days to create a 5-day work schedule.

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