Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is the nation’s premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org. 

Posting Information: 

Salary/Hourly Rate: $16 -$18 

Hours per week: Variable, up to 40 

Job Classification: Seasonal, Non-Exempt, Limited Term 

Job Type: Onsite 

Duration: September – January 

Location: Bradley Estate, Canton, MA 

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact: 

Winterlights is an outdoor light event that highlights the beauty of select Trustees properties. The gardens at two of our most popular historic homes, The Bradley Estate in Canton and Naumkeag in Stockbridge, will sparkle with thousands of shimmering holiday lights. This event brought over 16,000 visitors to Bradley in 2025.  

The Role: 

As part of the Winterlights Production Crew, you will report to the Regional Events Manager to deliver excellent standards of visitor service at the Bradley Estate in Canton, MA, including admissions, check-in, retail and concessions sales, and event setup for our seasonal Winterlights display. The Signature Events Steward also supports stewardship projects and provides support for this specific event as assigned. The signature events steward position will begin as early as September 15 and continue as late as January 31. This employment window is subject to change depending on site staffing needs. This event runs November 27-January 2 from Wednesday-Sunday (closed December 24-25; open December 21-22, 28-29, and Janaury 1). This employment window is subject to change depending on site staffing needs. 

Specifically, you’ll: 

• Support the Bradley Estate team with set up to produce a successful event. This includes but is not limited to the planning and installation of lights, sets, and decorative displays, stocking supplies, preparing the property for public visitation, etc.   

• Support day of event visitor experience through admission, retail support, concessions, and ensuring proper wayfinding. 

• Support day of event visitor experience, safety, and services through safety patrols, monitoring, and ensuring clean and functioning facilities.  

• Other duties as assigned with or without accommodation. 

This is a limited term, nonexempt position [40 hours/week] reporting directly to the Regional Events Manager.  

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

Skills and Experience: 

• Required: 

• Excellent “people skills” to lead, inspire, motivate and work cooperatively and harmoniously with fellow employees, volunteers, committees, members and the public.  

• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively as a team member.  

• Demonstrated ability to complete assigned tasks and projects, meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks.  

• Strong commitment to the mission of The Trustees of Reservations.  

• The ability to work nights and weekends is required.  

• Must be willing to climb ladders and lift heavy objects (30 pounds). 

• Must be able to stand for hours at a time. 

• Preferred: 

• Point of sale experience (i.e managing cash registers, Toast, etc) 

• Previous experience in a food service or customer service environment (i.e barista, restaurant, department store).  

• Previous experience or strong interest in lighting, design, decor, or staging.  

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment. 

• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check. 

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.  

Questions? Reach out to our People Team by emailing [email protected]. 

Benefits

Your Benefits:

• Sick Time: 40 hours of paid sick time upfront. 

• Reciprocity: Enjoy access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions for Trustees Staff, Volunteers and Interns. 

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.  

Equal Opportunity and Diversity: 

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.    

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity. 

 It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.  

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected].