NAGPRA Support Technician

The State Historical Society of North Dakota is seeking a detail-oriented and dependable NAGPRA Support Technician to assist the agency in meeting its regulatory responsibilities under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). This position will play a critical role in helping the agency fulfill federal requirements, such as assisting with inventories and summaries, organizing and researching records, and updating related documentation. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in archaeological, ethnographic, and archival collections environments and able to quickly learn and apply data standards with accuracy.

This position is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in museum collections, anthropology, archaeology, cultural resources, or repatriation processes who enjoy focused, detail-driven work. The position reports directly to the NAGPRA Program Specialist. It is full-time, with a 40-hour workweek and no projected end date, and it qualifies for Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance benefits.

Key responsibilities include assisting with various tasks related to the agency’s NAGPRA responsibilities, including:

• Supporting detailed reviews of collections to identify cultural items subject to the 2024 NAGPRA regulations, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Complete NAGPRA-related administrative tasks, such as note-taking, letter formatting, mailing, scheduling, and other duties as assigned.
• Assist with preparing, updating, and reconciling NAGPRA inventories and summaries in accordance with regulations and agency procedures.
• Assist with reviewing and updating NAGPRA-related information in agency’s collection management database, Re:Discovery Proficio, ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and alignment with agency standards.
• Aid in compiling, organizing, and digitizing supporting documentation, including provenience data, archival materials, and acquisition and collection records, to support long-term compliance, and increase accessibility for repatriation determinations.
• Researching to resolve gaps in documentation and assist in determining cultural affiliation.
• Ensuring confidentiality and cultural sensitivity in handling all NAGPRA-related information.

• Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology, museum studies, Native American studies, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of NAGPRA regulations, consultation procedures, and the repatriation processes.
• Teamwork-oriented attitude with willingness to adapt to varying tasks and working with diverse communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience or education with federal, state, and Tribal cultural resource laws and policies.
• Familiarity with collections management systems, databases, and collections management procedures.
• Experience assisting with NAGPRA inventories, summaries, and Notices to the Federal Register.
• Knowledge of electronic database management and GIS applications.

About Team ND

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More than 7,500 talented, hard-working people across sixty-three agencies have come together as Team North Dakota. At Team ND, we are driven to succeed through gratitude, humility, curiosity and courage. Our purpose is to empower people, improve lives, and inspire success. Join us in being legendary.