Voted the Best Place to See by Condé Nast Traveler.

Get Involved

Our mission of discovery, research, conservation and interpretation is made possible by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers who educate and inspire our visitors.

The Drayton Hall Preservation Trust is an equal employment opportunity employer. The Organization’s employment decisions and practices are not and will not be unlawfully influenced or affected by race, color, creed, age, religion, national origin, sex, disability, genetic information, veteran status, uniformed services, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, or on any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We offer a comprehensive benefits packets which includes health, dental, vision and life insurance, flexible spending and healthcare reimbursement accounts, retirement plan as well as paid time off (vacation, sick leave and holidays).

Drayton Hall is always looking to grow our dedicated team of volunteers.

The Drayton Hall Preservation Trust requires all new volunteers to submit a Volunteer Application so we can learn more about you and your interests and experience. If selected, applicants are required to interview with the Volunteer Coordinator and attend a Volunteer Orientation session.

We are currently in need of landscape and special event volunteers. Email volunteer@draytonhall.org for more information.

Interpreter

The part-time interpreter position supports the overall mission of Drayton Hall Preservation Trust by leading tours and providing clear, informative, and engaging information to individuals and groups of various ages, backgrounds, and education levels.

Established in 1738, Drayton Hall was the residence of the Drayton family and approximately 45-60 enslaved people. It served as the headquarters for an expansive agricultural corporation that was dependent on the labor of enslaved people working at over 100 plantations across over 76,000 acres. We interpret the lives of John Drayton and his descendants alongside individual stories of some of the enslaved people who built Drayton Hall as well as the wealth that created it. Interpreters at Drayton Hall are trained to tell these stories and are responsible for leading tours that thoughtfully explore the site’s history, context, and culture.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Interpret the history of Drayton Hall and its diverse residents, including the enslaved workforce, individual enslaved people and families, 7 generations of the Drayton family, white employees on the plantation, and the site’s post-Civil War African American community.
  • Serve as a respectful and professional point-of-contact for visitors as they experience Drayton Hall. This includes responding thoughtfully to questions, providing useful guidance and practical directions on how to get around the property, and sharing what other programs and tours may be available.
  • Demonstrate strong communication skills while presenting 45- to 60-minute guided tours of Drayton Hall and other interpretive programs daily to diverse audiences of all ages and educational backgrounds. This includes providing clear, historically accurate information about slavery, social hierarchies, and other historic topics in an engaging and thoughtful manner, as well as answering visitors’ questions respectfully, utilizing primary documents provided by Drayton Hall Preservation Trust and helping connect visitors with resources.
  • Competently and conscientiously interpret the history and legacy of slavery and the experiences of enslaved and free African descendants at Drayton Hall for diverse audiences.
  • Conduct educational and special interpretive programs for adult and student groups of all ages, varying tour content and techniques based on group needs or requests. Assist with program preparation and clean-up.
  • Actively participate in interpreter training or enhancement programs to expand knowledge of the property and/or interpretive skills. Keep up with current research, supplied to you by Drayton Hall’s curatorial staff, and competently incorporate new information, perspectives, or stories into interpretation of the site when made available.
  • Assist with special events and programming as needed, sometimes on weekends and/or after regular business hours. This may consist of helping to set up and clean up before and/or after programs, providing directions to guests, or leading special-interest programs or tours.
  • Assist with basic site operations, including monitoring security of historic resources and visitor and staff safety, responding calmly and professionally to emergencies, following procedures, and promptly notifying supervisor of incidents.
  • Work as a cooperative member of a team, and be willing to lead, follow, and support colleagues in a tactful, positive way.
  • Contribute to the overall success of Drayton Hall in achieving its mission and 10-year strategic plan.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must be able to work outdoors. The employee may have exposure to moderate noise, crowds at functions or events, and at times variances in weather.  The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Skills)

    • A. or B.S. required; studies in history, African American history, public history, museum studies, museum education, architecture, historic preservation, anthropology, or similar fields preferred.
    • Ability to work weekends, as well as some evenings and holidays as necessary; hours vary.
    • Strong oral and written communication skills.
    • Able to synthesize information into clear, effective presentations.
    • Ability to work outdoors with some manual labor and lifting (when setting up for special programming – approximately up to 20 lbs.) required.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to asatterthwaite@draytonhall.org
No phone calls.

The part-time interpreter position supports the overall mission of Drayton Hall Preservation Trust by leading tours and providing clear, informative, and engaging information to individuals and groups of various ages, backgrounds, and education levels.

Established in 1738, Drayton Hall was the residence of the Drayton family and approximately 45-60 enslaved people. It served as the headquarters for an expansive agricultural corporation that was dependent on the labor of enslaved people working at over 100 plantations across over 76,000 acres. We interpret the lives of John Drayton and his descendants alongside individual stories of some of the enslaved people who built Drayton Hall as well as the wealth that created it. Interpreters at Drayton Hall are trained to tell these stories and are responsible for leading tours that thoughtfully explore the site’s history, context, and culture.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Interpret the history of Drayton Hall and its diverse residents, including the enslaved workforce, individual enslaved people and families, 7 generations of the Drayton family, white employees on the plantation, and the site’s post-Civil War African American community.
  • Serve as a respectful and professional point-of-contact for visitors as they experience Drayton Hall. This includes responding thoughtfully to questions, providing useful guidance and practical directions on how to get around the property, and sharing what other programs and tours may be available.
  • Demonstrate strong communication skills while presenting 45- to 60-minute guided tours of Drayton Hall and other interpretive programs daily to diverse audiences of all ages and educational backgrounds. This includes providing clear, historically accurate information about slavery, social hierarchies, and other historic topics in an engaging and thoughtful manner, as well as answering visitors’ questions respectfully, utilizing primary documents provided by Drayton Hall Preservation Trust and helping connect visitors with resources.
  • Competently and conscientiously interpret the history and legacy of slavery and the experiences of enslaved and free African descendants at Drayton Hall for diverse audiences.
  • Conduct educational and special interpretive programs for adult and student groups of all ages, varying tour content and techniques based on group needs or requests. Assist with program preparation and clean-up.
  • Actively participate in interpreter training or enhancement programs to expand knowledge of the property and/or interpretive skills. Keep up with current research, supplied to you by Drayton Hall’s curatorial staff, and competently incorporate new information, perspectives, or stories into interpretation of the site when made available.
  • Assist with special events and programming as needed, sometimes on weekends and/or after regular business hours. This may consist of helping to set up and clean up before and/or after programs, providing directions to guests, or leading special-interest programs or tours.
  • Assist with basic site operations, including monitoring security of historic resources and visitor and staff safety, responding calmly and professionally to emergencies, following procedures, and promptly notifying supervisor of incidents.
  • Work as a cooperative member of a team, and be willing to lead, follow, and support colleagues in a tactful, positive way.
  • Contribute to the overall success of Drayton Hall in achieving its mission and 10-year strategic plan.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must be able to work outdoors. The employee may have exposure to moderate noise, crowds at functions or events, and at times variances in weather.  The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Skills)

    • A. or B.S. required; studies in history, African American history, public history, museum studies, museum education, architecture, historic preservation, anthropology, or similar fields preferred.
    • Ability to work weekends, as well as some evenings and holidays as necessary; hours vary.
    • Strong oral and written communication skills.
    • Able to synthesize information into clear, effective presentations.
    • Ability to work outdoors with some manual labor and lifting (when setting up for special programming – approximately up to 20 lbs.) required.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to asatterthwaite@draytonhall.org
No phone calls.

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