Cresset Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.  

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

Building attendants and cresset attendants support Evening Program and Special Event operations by preparing buildings, setting up lighting, greeting guests, checking tickets, and providing exceptional guest service and hospitality.

• Building and cresset attendants provide illumination for Evening Programs and Special Events using lanterns, candles, and cresset baskets by:
  • chopping and splitting wood, ensuring that an adequate supply is on hand for each cresset
  • building bonfires and fires in the cresset baskets and feeding fires to ensure adequate supplies of light.
  • arranging historic buildings for evening programs prior to events, including arranging furnishings and artifacts, candles, lanterns, and other lighting devices, and then replacing everything to the correct position after the program.
  • maintaining lanterns, globes, and cresset baskets, including moving burning cressets to new locations as needed and extinguishing cressets and candles at the end of the programming following fire safety protocols.
  • monitoring audiences and crowds to ensure compliance with fire safety protocols.
• Building and cresset attendants provide exceptional guest service by:
  • greeting and escorting tickted guests into buildings, answering general questions, and providing general conservation comments.
  • orienting visitors and responding to guest questions.
  • maintaining a caring attitude guided by integrity, truthfulness, fairness, courtesy, and respect for the individual.
• Building and cresset attendants work collaboratively to achieve the mission of Colonial Williamsburg by:
  • modeling the organization’s personal/professional expectations.
  • participating as an active member of a team.
• Building and cresset attendants perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

Competencies are usually acquired through completion of 4 years of college or 2-4 years of experience in storytelling, historical interpretation, theater, or related field, OR any combination of education and experience that fulfill the responsibilities of the job AND completion of established Foundation, Division, and Department training requirements. Interviews, clearings, and/or auditions are required for some positions.

• Must be able to gain general knowledge of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation policies and procedures as well as familiarity with the physical layout of Historic Area and interior of exhibition buildings.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including weeknights, holidays, and weekends. Must be able to provide annual availability that includes a minimum of 2 evenings per week on a regular basis and up to 4 evenings per week during periods of peak demand.
• Must be able to navigate rough terrain and steep stairs in low light conditions.
• Must have good overall attendance, work ethic, and attitude to work as part of a team.
• Must have exceptional problem-solving skills, including the demonstrated ability to be proactive in a reactive situation.
• Must be able and willing to work in all types of weather including rain, snow, wind, heat, humidity, and storms, and to come in contact with allergens, including pollen, dust, and wood smoke
• Must be able to move 50lbs unassisted and 100lbs assisted.
• Must be able and willing to wear provided 18th clothing according to guidelines.

Compensation Disclaimer: The compensation listed below for this position represents the anticipated hiring range and is provided in accordance with Virginia pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.

Range: $14.42 to $21.63