THE MUSEUM STORE & WELCOME CENTER LEAD ASSOCIATE / FT YEAR-ROUND at Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home – Manchester, Vermont

THE MUSEUM STORE & WELCOME CENTER LEAD ASSOCIATE / FT YEAR-ROUND

About Hildene:

This year, Hildene is celebrating its 120th anniversary. Located in southwestern Vermont, Hildene was the seasonal residence of Robert Lincoln and his wife, Mary. Mr. Lincoln was the only child of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood. Between 1905 and the death of their granddaughter Mary Lincoln Beckwith in 1975, more Lincolns (three successive generations) lived at Hildene than at any other place in the world. In 1978, the nonprofit Friends of Hildene purchased and preserved the estate, which is open to the public year-round.

Hildene is among Vermont’s top cultural heritage sites and tourist destinations. The rich tapestry of the Lincoln family legacy and Abraham Lincoln's enduring greatness are woven into the fabric of contemporary life at Hildene. Our nonprofit attraction is comprised of Lincoln’s 1905 Georgian Revival home, formal and working gardens, restored Pullman railcar Sunbeam, agricultural operations, cheesemaking facility, twelve miles of trails, and year-round programming, all on 412 acres in beautiful Manchester, Vermont.

Throughout 2025, stories and notable dates on the Lincoln family and Hildene’s 120-year history will be shared with visitors to the estate.

Learn more at: hildene.org.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Manager of the Museum Store and Guest Services with overall direction of the Senior Director of Marketing, The Museum Store and Visitor Experience, this is a public-facing role in a fast-paced environment that serves as the first point of contact for Hildene guests in the Welcome Center and The Museum Store. General duties include processing admissions and retail merchandise transactions; responding knowledgeably and effectively to questions regarding all aspects of the Hildene experience including membership, volunteer opportunities and group tours; supporting day-to-day operations (restocking, shipping, and receiving, etc.) in The Welcome Center and The Museum Store; respecting and enforcing protocols for guest safety while on the site; to do such other related work as may be required or requested.

This position includes concentrated responsibility for shipping and receiving inventory replenishment orders and associated paperwork; processing online retail orders from the WEB Store; maintenance and development of WEB Store inventory including copy writing, photography and uploading images and copy.

(Full-time position; hourly; 40 hours; weekends required)

Requirements & Responsibilities:

• Excellent communication and oratory skills
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, POS, Shopify) and proficiency in the use of standard office equipment
• Strong retail experience including merchandising and display; restocking; inventory assessments and other related tasks
• Strong familiarity with online retail including display, description, order fulfillment and related tasks
• Knowledge of organizational structure and the ability to work within it to achieve institutional goals
• Experience in collaborative teamwork within the principal working environment and with other departments to meet institutional goals and objectives
• Customer Service experience: Ability to navigate various customer service scenarios with positive outcomes; engage positively with in-person guests, telephone inquiries, tradespeople, vendors, et al.
• Ability to develop and demonstrate a working understanding of Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home and its history and to communicate that knowledge as needed
• Ability to communicate and learn effectively through multiple channels both in person and digitally
• Accurately perform daily opening and closing tasks and procedures
• Accurately perform retail transactions, daily deposits, and store close-out procedures
• Ability to work effectively without direct supervision as well as part of a team.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize projects and duties.
• Ability to positively adapt workflows to accommodate volume and pace of guest needs.

The successful candidate will be a clear communicator; a proven team player; will present experience in core skills; be able to stand for long periods; be able to lift up to 20 lbs.; have a clean, neat, professional presentation; and put forth a positive and welcoming demeanor.

Qualifications:

Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent required; college degree preferred

Experience: At least 3 years’ retail experience required; experience with museums, non-profits, or specialty strongly preferred

Schedule:

40 hours weekly; Thursday through Monday; weekends required

Compensation: $18 to $19.50/hr, depending on experience

Additional Information:

Background check required of applicants 18 years of age or older.

TO APPLY:
Please email a letter of interest and resume to Hildene via Indeed.com.

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes candidates for employment who will contribute to our diversity.