What are the responsibilities and job description for the Accessories Craftsperson position at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation?
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
As part of the Historical Clothing and Dress Team, the Accessories Craftsperson works collaboratively with other members of Accessories, HCD and ERHI teams to provide appropriate researched reproduction costume accessory items for Colonial Williamsburg’s costumed interpretive staff.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
This job description reflects the general responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Duties and responsibilities may evolve over time based on operational needs.
Required Education and Experience:
Knowledge of eighteenth-century attire and material culture as it relates to the Chesapeake. Additional fiber arts skills include lacemaking, spinning, finger weaving, crochet, tatting, and fan making.
Key Skills / Competencies:
Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
Ability to work in collaboration
Strong knowledge of computer systems, including Microsoft 365
Provide Excellent Customer Service to internal and external clients
Maintain an accurate and organized inventory
Able to provide logical and creative solutions within a fast-paced environment
Ability to work independently and with minimal direction, meeting deadlines and shifting priorities.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
Stand: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Walk: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Sit: Frequently (2-5 hrs/shift)
Use hands/fingers: Constantly (5-8 hrs/shift)
Climb or balance: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Reach with hands/arms: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Talk or hear: Constantly (5-8 hrs/shift)
Lifting up to 10 lbs.: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Lifting up to 25 lbs.: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Work near moving mechanical parts: Frequently (2-5 hrs/shift)
Fumes/airborne particles: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Typical Work Schedule:
Monday to Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
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
As part of the Historical Clothing and Dress Team, the Accessories Craftsperson works collaboratively with other members of Accessories, HCD and ERHI teams to provide appropriate researched reproduction costume accessory items for Colonial Williamsburg’s costumed interpretive staff.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Works collaboratively with other Accessories Team members and the Manager to maintain a cohesive and balanced workflow and ensure established standards of production quality and efficiency.
- Provides responsive, empathetic customer service by producing, fitting, and maintaining accessory items, including but not limited to shoes, hats, gloves, jewelry, kerchiefs, stockings, etc. Provides instruction and guidance to costumed staff on proper wear and maintenance of costume items.
- Produces and maintains (repairs and refurbishes) accessory stock using a variety of sewing equipment (machines, sergers, industrial irons, knitting machines) and techniques (patterning, machine and hand sewing); occasionally working with chemical cleaners.
- Monitors Accessory stock levels and initiates requisitions for items to be constructed (caps, neckerchiefs, trimmed hats, mitts, bows, etc.) Maintains adequate stock levels for purchased items (stockings, shoes, hat blanks, supplies, etc.). Works with other team members and manager to ensure appropriate stock levels. Serves as a liaison between customers, other ERHI units and vendors.
- Works with other team members(s) and manager to develop and research dress accessory items for potential use in historic area programming. Prepare reports on research findings and suggested implementation.
- Prepares reports regarding inventory, production and interdepartmental traffic.
- Patterns and produces specialty items, prototypes, reproduction dress items and accessories from study of antique dress items, period depictions, and descriptions. Creates (writes) process instructions for construction of newly introduced items.
- Coordinate with other team members to perform other related duties as required.
This job description reflects the general responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Duties and responsibilities may evolve over time based on operational needs.
Required Education and Experience:
- High School Education or G.E. D diploma
- Excellent sewing skills (hand and machine), Additional fiber art skills, including, but not limited to, embroidery (hand and machine), knitting (hand and machine), Hat making (felt and straw), finger weaving, basic knowledge of other weaving methods, and leather work.
- Must possess a valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record based on The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s criteria.
- Must be able to provide a 5-year Motor Vehicle Record prior to employment
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- May not have more than 1 moving violation or at fault accident within 12 months
- May not have more than 2 moving violations or at fault accidents within 36 months
- May not have any serious motor vehicle violations including but not limited to excessive speeding, reckless driving, DUI/DWI, suspended or revoked license, etc.
Knowledge of eighteenth-century attire and material culture as it relates to the Chesapeake. Additional fiber arts skills include lacemaking, spinning, finger weaving, crochet, tatting, and fan making.
Key Skills / Competencies:
Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
Ability to work in collaboration
Strong knowledge of computer systems, including Microsoft 365
Provide Excellent Customer Service to internal and external clients
Maintain an accurate and organized inventory
Able to provide logical and creative solutions within a fast-paced environment
Ability to work independently and with minimal direction, meeting deadlines and shifting priorities.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
Stand: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Walk: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Sit: Frequently (2-5 hrs/shift)
Use hands/fingers: Constantly (5-8 hrs/shift)
Climb or balance: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Reach with hands/arms: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Talk or hear: Constantly (5-8 hrs/shift)
Lifting up to 10 lbs.: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Lifting up to 25 lbs.: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Work near moving mechanical parts: Frequently (2-5 hrs/shift)
Fumes/airborne particles: Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)
Typical Work Schedule:
Monday to Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm