Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society Incorporated

Part-Time Tour Guide & Office Assistant

De Smet, South DakotaPart-time
$11.85 - $14.10 hourly
About the Job
Tour Guide & Office Assistant

About Us:
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society (Discover Laura) is a nonprofit museum and historic site dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder and pioneer life on the South Dakota prairie. We welcome visitors from around the world and provide engaging, educational experiences.

Position Summary:
Discover Laura is seeking a friendly, organized, and enthusiastic Tour Guide & Office Assistant. This role combines visitor engagement with administrative support and is ideal for someone who enjoys working with people, local history, and nonprofit service.

Schedule:
  • Winter (off-season): Approximately 14 hours per week.
  • Summer (tourist season): 35+ hours per week.
  • Flexible schedule required, including weekends, holidays, and special events.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Welcome visitors and tour groups.
  • Lead engaging tours about Laura Ingalls Wilder, her family, and the history of De Smet.
  • Provide outstanding customer service and answer visitor questions.
  • Assist with admissions, retail sales, and visitor services.
  • Maintain museum and visitor areas.
  • Create and manage documents, spreadsheets, and records using Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Answer phones, emails, and correspondence.
  • Support memberships, donations, event registrations, data entry, filing, and special projects.
  • Provide general administrative support to staff and leadership.

Qualifications:
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Strong communication, customer service, and organizational skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
  • Comfortable speaking to groups of all ages.
  • Reliable, flexible, and detail-oriented.
  • Interest in history, tourism, museums, education, or nonprofits preferred.
  • Ability to stand and walk during tours and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Ideal Candidate:
A people-oriented individual who enjoys storytelling, public interaction, and supporting the mission of a small nonprofit organization. Seasonal flexibility is essential.