Historical Workshop Craftsman

Babylonstoren is looking for a passionate team of individuals eager to work in a historical workshop for blacksmithing and woodwork. The ideal candidates have a love for history, exceptional people skills, and importantly, hands-on knowledge of traditional woodwork and blacksmithing.

The successful candidates will demonstrate the traditional, historical crafts of woodwork and blacksmithing to the public at a tourism site called Soetmelksvlei. Soetmelksvlei will be a living history museum where life on a Boland farm in the late 19th century will come alive through activities and demonstrations by costumed interpreters.

Requirements

• Formal or informal training in woodwork (carpentry), blacksmithing, or possibly leatherwork.
• Matric or a relevant higher qualification would be advantageous.
• Experience with working in a small team.
• Fluent in written and spoken Afrikaans and English.
• Exceptional people skills – both public-facing in a hospitality context and working within a small team internally. Previous experience in a hospitality or tourism context would be beneficial.
• Reliable and well organised.
• Able to work in a fast-paced, guest-facing environment, according to hospitality hours (including weekends)
• Creative mindset.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily demonstrations of woodwork and blacksmithing tasks and activities to the public and school groups.
• Prepare the workshop for daily demonstrations and debriefing after daily activities – stocking of supplies, tidying, sharpening tools, general maintenance, and liaising with the Activities Manager.
• Engage with visitors by explaining the work being carried out, as well as the historical context, and answering any questions that they might have.
• Make custom products as part of daily demonstrations, intended for sale in the Soetmelksvlei shop.

Please send CV (with references) and covering letter to [email protected].