Job Description

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 88 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, 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

Drives carriages in the Historic Area, taking visitors for scheduled rides. Drives carriages and wagons for special events and programs. Interprets driving, travel and transportation in 18th-century Virginia with emphasis on carriages and horses. Follows procedures for care of horses and carriages. Assists Livestock Husbanders in care and movement of sheep, cattle, poultry as assigned; other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions:

1. Prepares horses for street work, including grooming, washing, checking hooves and condition of the shoes. Advises Head Coachman or Stable Operations Supervisor of any issues.
2. Assists with cleaning of harnesses and carriages daily as needed to meet the Foundation's standards.
3. Fits harnesses to horses in a safe and efficient manner; advises Supervisors of any worn or damaged parts that need replacing.
4. Within 1-4 months, learns to drive horse-drawn carriages. Drives carriages taking visitors for scheduled rides throughout Historic Area; drives for special programs and events as assigned.
5. Work toward earning Level 1 CAA certification.
6. Provides interpretation of transportation and movement in 18th-century Virginia, with emphasis on use of carriages and horses. Basic interpretation of roles of other livestock (cattle, sheep, poultry).
7. Monitor horses for illness, injury, shoe problems; report issues to the Supervisors, and assist in treating the animal as necessary.
8. When needed, help maintain pastures, fencing and watering devices.
9. When needed, drive trucks and trailers to feed and move livestock. Assist in basic maintenance of trucks, trailers, golf carts, mowers, and tractors.
10. Assist with special programs including giving tours of the stables to special guests as assigned.
11. Participates as an active member of a team and model the organization’s personal/professional expectations.
12. Assist Livestock Husbanders in care and moving of sheep, cattle, and poultry as assigned. Occasional supervised work with ox-driving, sheep, cattle, or poultry as assigned.
13. Work a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings, and holidays. Be available for work on an emergency basis, seven days a week, 24 hours per day.
14. Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications:

• General Knowledge and practical skills in working with horses and carriages, usually gained by working full time with the Coach and Livestock department or similar operation for at least two years.
• Full knowledge of Colonial Williamsburg’s pastures and livestock waterers and how to access them, gained by working with the Coach & Livestock Department at least for 9 months.
• Must be able to administer medical aid to livestock as assigned by the veterinarian.
• Must be able to enter information into RTP system for purchased carriage rides.
• Apprentice Level 3 and higher must possess a valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record based on Colonial Williamsburg’s criteria.
• Must have a proven ability to handle machinery, such as mowers, trucks, and trailers. Generally gained through at least 4 years of working with this type of machinery.
• Proven ability to work alone with livestock both safely and having initiative to handle unforeseen circumstances in dealing with Livestock.
• Must possess good communication skills, and ability to work in a team.
• Ability to comprehend and follow oral and written instructions and possess good communication skills.
• Must display a willingness to work occasionally in costume and work in all weather conditions, also participate in special events as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in driving horses
• CAA Certification Level 1
• Knowledge of the care of sheep, cattle, and / or poultry
• Ability to drive oxen and herd sheep
• Knowledge of dairy operations
• Ability to operate heavy equipment such as loader, forklift, tractor.