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

The Journeyman Carpenter will provide support to all Foundation operations as called upon, and when recognized as necessary, in the most appropriate, direct, cost effective, and timely manner without limitations. Provide high level carpentry skills for the alteration, construction, or repair of 18th century original or reconstructed buildings, support buildings, and building components such as shingles, doors, windows, framing, and hardware.

Essential Functions:

1. Successful candidate must produce first-class work according to the standards of the trade.
2. Provide carpentry skills using 18th century techniques and hand tools to repair, alter, or construct buildings, fences, gates, signs and shape timbers, to include mortise and tenon joinery and other woodworking joints to Colonial Williamsburg’s quality and historical standards.
3. Provide carpentry skills in the use of power tools to replicate joinery techniques used in modern construction as well as those used in the 18th century
4. Provide carpentry skills for tasks of work layout, framing, installing shingles, flashing, stairs, handrails, flooring (wood and tile), hanging doors, cutting, replacing and glazing window panes, installing and rekeying locks, preservation of original and reproduction work: integrate installation of plumbing, wiring, heating and air conditioning; insulation, hanging pictures, installing shutters and draperies, and installation and repairs of modern and 18th century hardware
5. Perform other duties as assigned

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years of carpentry experience.
• Must possess a valid Commonwealth of Virginia driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record as measured against Colonial Williamsburg’s criteria.
• Within three months after hire-in date individual must possess and keep current certifications in Renovation, Repair and Painting (Lead Safety), Asbestos Class 3 Training, and Supported Scaffold Competent Person.
• High School diploma or G.E.D. required.

Preferred:

• 8 or more years’ experience gained on restoration carpentry/millwork at museums, historic sites, colleges, or universities, National Park Service or similar organization engaged in building preservation and maintenance.

Qualifications:

• Incumbents work will be inspected by a foreman. This individual is expected to be a self-starter requiring minimum supervision.
• This position has been designated Essential and has been determined to be critical to the support of the company.
• Must be able to work additional hours in and around set schedule as needed during inclement weather conditions, emergencies and/or liberal leave situations.
• Must be available for routine work scheduled on weekends, nights, holidays, and respond positively at emergency recall to work
• Final candidates are to present in person to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Employment Office a valid driver’s license and an original Motor Vehicle Record transcript (MVR). The MRV is to be no older than 30 days, issued by the same state as the driver’s license, and must cover the past seven years. Within sixty days new residents must obtain a Virginia driver’s license.
• Final candidates must satisfactorily complete Respirator Fit and Pulmonary Function Testing.

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