Teacher/Interpreter (Agriculture Specialist)

The Role

Interprets the Region’s history and delivers programs to a variety of client groups at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum (KSWRM). Cares for livestock and poultry housed at the site, and provides information and demonstrations related to early-20th century agriculture. Serves as a resource and provides leadership to student teacher/interpreters and volunteer staff.
 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Interprets social, cultural, economic, and technological history in the KSWRM galleries from January to April, and conducts background research. Interprets the social, cultural, economic, and technological history of the early 20th century in the village (Doon Heritage Village) from May to December, and conducts background research.
• Independently sources period-appropriate livestock and poultry from local and area farms, as well as feed, bedding and veterinarian services. Facilitates pre-loan facility inspection with interested parties as required. Coordinates delivery of livestock with farmers and contractors. Inspects and prepares stalls, barns, and paddocks for livestock arrival (e.g., hay, feed dishes, heat lamps).
• Feeds and cares for livestock and poultry (including but not limited to horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys) owned by, loaned to, or temporarily housed at the site, including cleaning, handling, and preventive healthcare. Maintains and cleans livestock and poultry housing.
• Processes and maintains documentation associated with livestock loan agreements. Sources and assists with preventive healthcare inspection of livestock upon receipt and prior to return. Consults with veterinarian to ensure vaccinations and deworming are completed during inspection.
• Recommends purchases (e.g., goats) as required to the Village Coordinator. 
• Coordinates return or sale of livestock in Autumn.
• Documents and updates procedures for livestock care (e.g., identifying illness, feeding schedules).
• Administers medication to livestock and poultry (e.g., eye drops) following instructions from veterinarian as required and records treatments in log.
• Presents curriculum-related education programs to visiting groups.
• Answers visitor inquiries relating to interpretation, historical methodologies, and site facilities. 
• Provides training and guidance to student and volunteer interpreters (e.g., period-appropriate behaviour, agricultural and livestock husbandry practice, script delivery of script,), and monitors their work. Occasionally assigns agricultural chores to volunteer staff.
• Updates training documentation and consults with other staff on historical accuracy of activities. 
• Assists to plan and implement agricultural and non-agricultural activities and events for the historical site and museum as they relate to exhibits and programming (e.g., food workshops, camps, kid’s club, lectures). 
• Assists in basic groundskeeping (e.g., mucking stalls, monitoring public interaction with animals/buildings, removing noxious weeds), security (e.g., watching for theft while interpreting), and basic housekeeping. Monitors artifacts and buildings for damage during public hours.
• Performs basic repairs (e.g. stitching, patching, hemming) to reproduction costumes used for own work. 
• Cleans and maintains agricultural machinery (e.g., dusting, removing cobwebs), tools and program/interpretive materials (e.g., shovels, drill bits, barn and winch, hand carders). Consults with the Conservator regarding machinery cleaning.
• Recommends agriculture-related plans and practices, programming, and events to management. 
• Consults with supervisor on unusual livestock sourcing, urgent livestock care, and dangerous situations. 
• Performs related duties as assigned.
   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are acquired through a 3-year degree or diploma in a related field plus 2 years of practical experience with livestock and poultry husbandry and monitoring the health of draft horses, cattle, swine, poultry and/or other small farm animals.
• Knowledge and skill in education and interpretation programs, including organizing and presenting educational programming, and historical agricultural practices and their contemporary application at a museum and living history site. 
• Knowledge of local history and museum operations.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, and related legislation (e.g., health and safety). 
• Communication and leadership skills to build rapport and establish relationships with varying audiences (e.g., school groups, tourists) and staff. Skill in encouraging and coaching/mentoring student and volunteer staff. 
• Ability to present interpretive themes and historical details to client groups.
• Ability to exchange technical information and make recommendations using specialist language with other teacher interpreters, staff, and agricultural specialists (e.g., ordering feed). 
• Ability to read, evaluate, and communicate interpretive research from reports, books, articles, and manuals.
• Ability to assist in the design, preparation, and evaluation of programs, and occasionally write sample interpretations. Ability to document procedures for handling livestock, feeding and cleaning processes, and log application of medication and minor treatments to livestock and poultry.
• Ability to identify, assess, and respond to health and safety issues for livestock, and maintain a state of awareness of human and animal behaviour while livestock are being handled. 
• Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region.
• May be required to flex/alter daily schedule to work evenings and work weekends as part of a regular schedule. 
• Ability to participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.