Heritage Interpreter - Welcome Home to Canada

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 continues its tradition of welcoming newcomers to Canada.

The Welcome Home to Canada (WHTC) program is a six month employability program for new immigrants to Canada. If you are an unemployed or underemployed immigrant and facing barriers to meaningful employment this program may be an option for you.

We currently have an opening for a Heritage Interpreter as part of the 2025 Welcome Home to Canada program.

Job Title: Heritage Interpreter

Duration: 6 months from April to September/October 2025

Wages: $17.75 per hour

Reports to: Assistant Manager, Interpretation

Hours: 37.5 hours a week with two (2) paid rest periods of 15 minutes and one 30 minute unpaid lunch break each day. As the Museum operates 7 days a week, the workweek includes Saturdays and/or Sundays and irregular hours (evenings, weekends)

Program eligibility

• You must be either a permanent resident of Canada, Canadian citizen born outside of Canada (this means you have immigrated to Canada and have become a Canadian citizen) or a protected person as defined in Section 95 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act who is legally entitled to work in Canada and Nova Scotia.

AND

• You are unemployed or underemployed and facing barriers to employment such as lack of previous Canadian work experience, foreign credentials, language barriers or lack of professional networks.

The primary responsibility of the Heritage Interpreter is to provide excellent customer service to individuals, school groups and special interest groups on visits to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. You are expected to interpret the permanent, travelling and temporary exhibitions, describe particular areas of interest, answer questions and provide historically accurate information on immigration in a creative way that encourages the audience to participate. You must also complete accurate cash, debit and credit transactions at the front ticket counter, and may be asked to provide customer service in the Gift Shop occasionally.

• Deliver guided tours, and assist with presentations and workshops to individuals, school groups and special interest groups.
• Ensure visitor satisfaction by providing excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Meet and greet visitors in both official languages and provide general Museum and tourist information as required.
• Participate in the development of interpretive programming.
• Sell tickets, receive cash and perform end-of-day cash reconciliation according to instruction.
• Monitor the frontline conditions and report and/or remedy concerns appropriately (including the appearance of the lobby; changes in the state of exhibitions and workshop materials; equipment set-up; etc.).
• Assist with quality control in the Museum.
• Conduct ongoing and regular research to improve the quality of Museum presentations and to provide accurate and timely information.
• Develop a well-rounded, current knowledge of the Museum, including all departments and services in order to offer appropriate recommendations/information to visitors.
• Conduct daily opening and closing operations of the Museum.
• Assume additional responsibilities as requested by the Assistant Manager, Interpretation.
• Helping to orient and train new and seasonal Visitor Experience staff and volunteers.
• Cross train and provide customer service in the Gift Shop if required.

• Bachelor’s degree or certificate in related discipline such as history, education, tourism or an equivalent in years of experience through demonstrated ability.
• High level of customer service skills and knowledge.
• Well-developed communication, leadership and organizational skills.
• An outwardly consistent, positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• A demonstrated excellent understanding of how to provide exceptional visitor service.
• High accuracy in performing cash, debit and credit transactions.
• Dedicated to keeping all forms and reports constantly up-to-date and accurate.
• The ability to remain calm and professional under frequently changing and stressful circumstances.
• Comfort with public speaking.

• Fluency in English and French an asset.
• Experience serving the public within a high traffic environment either within a museum, visitor attraction and/or customer service position.
• Experience leading activities for children.
• Experience in a team environment.
• Experience working with volunteers.

• Customer Focus - knowledge and ability to provide high levels of service to both internal staff and external customers, leading to high customer satisfaction and established relationships.
• Communication - knowledge of various communication methods, and the ability to present and receive information in the most appropriate and effective manner.
• Problem Solving - knowledge of problem-solving and decision-making techniques, and the ability to generate solutions to problems, then decide on a course of action.
• Adaptability - knowledge and ability to effectively manage one’s own behavior and positively influence the actions of others during times of change, stress or uncertainty.
• Integrity and Trust - ability to operate with a high degree of honesty and openness, such that respect and trust is earned by coworkers and customers.

For further information on the Welcome Home to Canada Program please visit this link.