Employment Opportunities

AvaIlable posItions

Museum Shop Manager & Buyer

The Museum Shop Manager & Buyer is responsible for the strategic leadership, curated sourcing, and daily operational excellence of the Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest Museum Shop. Additionally, this role serves as a Duty Officer, ensuring the security and smooth operation of the entire property during designated shifts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Merchandising & Procurement

• Develop and execute merchandising plans that optimize sales while adhering to annual expense budget.
• Source and select a high-quality product mix that interprets Thomas Jefferson’s life, architecture, and the history of the plantation, ensuring all merchandise supports the institution’s educational mission.
• Establish and maintain relationships with vendors, with a particular focus on sourcing unique items from local artisans and historically relevant craftsmen.
• Oversee the online storefront, managing digital sales, shipping, and e-commerce inventory.

Operations & Financial Management

• Manage the Square POS system, ensuring technical accuracy and data integrity.
• Prepare daily sales reports and develop the annual operating budget.
• Maintain thorough inventory controls, including regular audits and loss prevention, and submit monthly reports to the Director of Finance and Administration.
• Establish and enforce robust cash-handling protocols for the shop.

Team Leadership & Visitor Experience

• Schedule and train Duty Officers from the Museum Shop and Programs & Education Department.
• Schedule group tours.
• Recruit, train, and mentor Museum Shop associates, fostering a mission-focused culture.
• Maintain a daily master schedule for all staff to track duty, docents, and Shop coverage.
• Design staff schedules to ensure coverage for daily operations and special events.
• Input visitor data from TicketSignup and Square.
• Cultivate a retail environment that prioritizes engagement and educational value.

Site Stewardship & Duty Officer Responsibilities

• Serve as Duty Officer Monday-Friday, acting as the primary point of contact for site-wide issues and emergency response during assigned shifts.
• Manage property-wide opening and closing procedures, ensuring all buildings are secure, alarms are set, and the site is ready for public or private use.
• Support site accessibility by operating a golf cart and wheelchair lift to assist guests with mobility challenges.
• Respond to operational emergencies or visitor concerns across the property with a calm and professional demeanor.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3–5 years of retail management experience; prior experience in a museum or non-profit environment is highly preferred.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead a team and take initiative in high-responsibility situations (e.g., site supervision).
• Technical Savvy: Proficiency with POS systems (Square) and e-commerce platforms, as well as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, and Drive).
• Business Acumen: Strong understanding of sales forecasting, budgeting, and margin management.

Skills

• Emergency Management: Ability to stay calm under pressure and make sound decisions regarding site security and safety.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills for interacting with staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Reliability: A high degree of integrity and punctuality for opening/closing responsibilities.

Time Commitment

• Standard Hours: 37.5 hours per week (7.5 hours per day).
• Flexibility: Regular weekend, holiday, and special event availability is required. This role includes being part of the opening/closing rotation for the entire property.

To Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to Joy Brown, Director of Finance & Administration, at joy@poplarforest.org.

Seeking applicants with a preservation mindset.  Although most of the house has been restored with new materials, the restoration department has carefully replicated Jefferson’s process, materials, and techniques over the past 40 years.  This authentic approach compels us to treat the new restoration material as significant and worthy of preservation and conservation.  A successful applicant is patient, has an eye for detail, and can perform tedious work to a high standard.

Current projects that the Restoration Department is engaged in include: replacing the decking on the wing of offices, stabilizing and underpinning a brick slave dwelling from 1857, and stripping and refinishing the exterior woodwork on the Jefferson retreat home. While these larger projects are underway, regular maintenance and preservation tasks must be performed according to a cyclical calendar.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience (preferred) working in carpentry, cabinet-making, and/or in a mill shop. Must demonstrate a mastery of machine milling of wood from rough lumber into flat, square, dimensioned material. Related skills include: reading plans and drawings, estimating materials for a project, framing, painting, roofing, and trim work.
• Preferred expertise in the use of traditional tools related to the joiner’s trade. This includes flattening lumber with bench planes, cutting joints with hand saws, and fitting components with chisels.  Must be able to read a tape measure
• Demonstrate an understanding of wood as a building material. Familiarity with various primary and secondary woods for cabinetmaking and joinery.
• Familiarity with shop safety practices and the maintenance of shop tools/machinery
• The ability to work at heights on ladders, scaffolding, and roofs
• Must be able to stand and bend for extended periods of time. Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.  Must be able to work outside in cold and hot temperatures.
• Must be able to perform tasks independently and as part of a team.
• In addition to existing knowledge and skills, the restoration craftsmen will be expected to expand their skills through training and research.
• Must adhere to best practices as laid out by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Historic Preservation
• Must be willing to work in a public setting as an educational presenter of the craft and restoration practices. Demonstrations at Poplar Forest and at community events will occasionally be expected.  Only a willingness to work in this capacity is expected; the restoration craftsperson will receive the necessary training to perform this role successfully.

Time Commitment

• Standard Hours: 37.5 hours per week (7.5 hours per day). Shift is from 8:30am – 4:30pm
• Flexibility: Regular weekend, holiday, and special event availability is required. Some days may require coming in early or staying late, depending on specific projects.

Salary: $17/hour + DOE

To Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to Austin Englund, Supervisor of Architectural Restoration and Joinery, at austin@poplarforest.org