Tour Guide & Guest Experience Specialist (Part Time)

Are you passionate about history, nature, and engaging with the public? Are you interested in dedicating some of your time to a local community-based non-profit? The Augusta Canal Authority is seeking several enthusiastic, dynamic Part-Time Tour Guides and Guest Experience Specialists to join our team to share the rich story and natural beauty of the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area with visitors of all ages.

Position Overview

  • Role: Tour Guide & Guest Experience Specialist
  • Status: Part-Time (Non-exempt)
  • Hours: Approximately [10-20] hours/week
  • Compensation: $12.00/hour
  • Reports To: Education and Programs Coordinator
  • Location: Discovery Center, Gift Shop, Petersburg Boats, and Heritage Area Grounds

As a Tour Guide and Guest Experience Specialist, you will serve as one of the faces of the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, delivering exceptional customer service while leading interactive boat tours, teaching educational programs, supporting daily operations, and assisting with facility rentals and special events.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Tour Execution & Educational Programs

  • Lead informative and engaging public boat tours, including history tours, Civil War tours, music cruises, and student science/social studies field trips.
  • Teach interactive student lessons, present puppet shows and lead guided walks throughout the Heritage Area.
  • Operate the Discovery Center theater and monitor museum exhibits to ensure a top-tier visitor experience.

Customer Service & Visitor Engagement

  • Warmly greet all guests in person and via phone with a positive, professional attitude.
  • Staff the Discovery Center reservation desk and gift shop, assisting customers and processing transactions through a point-of-sale system.
  • Provide accurate information to visitors regarding the canal, local historical sites, dining, lodging, and community events.
  • Assist visitors in the Discovery Center, gift shop, and rental facilities.

Daily Operations & Event Support

  • Communicate smoothly with the Boat Captain and Reservation Desk; assist the Captain with boat duties as needed.
  • Maintain clean, fully stocked brochure racks, educational worksheet racks, and visitor areas.
  • Assist with setup and takedown for boat, Cotton Room, and Discovery Center facility rentals, ensuring guests have required amenities.
  • Support team operations by monitoring restrooms, restocking inventory, and stepping in where needed.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Public Speaking & Storytelling: Clear, pleasant speaking voice with the confidence to speak engagingly in front of groups. Ability to memorize and present historical facts, dates, local flora/fauna, and anecdotes in an entertaining way.
  • Customer-Focused: Friendly, patient demeanor with an enthusiastic attitude toward the local community and diverse guest groups.
  • Problem-Solving & Safety: Ability to act calmly and safely during emergencies or drills.
  • Physical Requirements: Ability to stand/sit for extended periods, climb stairs, bend, and lift up to 40 lbs.
  • Work Environment: Comfortable working both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions (summer heat, winter cold) on boats, trails, and towpaths.
  • Schedule Flexibility: Ability to work varied shifts, including regular weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and occasional evenings for special events.

Education & Experience:

  • Required: High school diploma (or equivalent) with a minimum of 1 year of relevant experience in customer service, public speaking, or tourism.
  • Preferred: College degree in history, education, environmental science, or a related field. (Ideal job for a retired teacher seeking a satisfying part-time position.)

Why Join Us?

At the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, we value teamwork, mutual respect, and shared dedication to bringing history to life. If you love Augusta, the outdoors, local history, and delivering memorable experiences to visitors, we encourage you to apply! HOW TO APPLY Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing relevant experience and qualifications to:

Augusta Canal National Heritage Area
Attn: Tour Guide & Guest Experience

Brian J. Graham, Senior Director
Email: bgraham@augustacanal.com
Location: Augusta Canal Discovery Center, 1450 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901

The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area is an equal opportunity employer.

About Augusta Canal National Heritage Area

Designated by the U.S. Congress in 1996, the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area protects and interprets the unique story of the American South’s Industrial Revolution. Built in 1845 to harness the power of the Savannah River for transportation, water supply, and manufacturing, it is the only fully intact industrial canal in the nation still in continuous operation for its original purposes.

Today, the heritage area has transformed from a 19th-century manufacturing hub into a vibrant, multi-use green space. Visitors can explore history exhibits at the Canal Discovery Center (housed inside the historic Enterprise Mill), ride guided replica cargo boats, and enjoy outdoor recreation along the canal's scenic towpath trails, which host an urban wildlife refuge teeming with local flora and fauna.

The Augusta Canal Authority

The Augusta Canal Authority is a special-purpose government agency created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1989 to serve as the official management entity for the National Heritage Area. Working in tandem with the City of Augusta (which owns the canal itself), the Authority is driven by a master plan to preserve, develop, and promote the canal as a vital natural, historical, and economic resource.

The Authority oversees day-to-day tourist and educational programming, manages the Discovery Center and the Petersburg Boat tours, and maintains the waterway's recreational access. Financed through a mix of federal appropriations, boat ticket sales, and clean hydropower revenues generated directly by the canal's waters, the Authority ensures this historic landmark remains protected and preserved for future generations.