NAGPRA Coordinator

Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) seeks a qualified individual to serve as NAGPRA Coordinator in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work. This is a 12-month, non-tenurable, position with full benefits. The NAGPRA Coordinator will ensure AUM's compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) federal regulations through coordinating inventory and curation of Native American artifacts and ancestral remains, consultations, repatriations, and other associated activities. The successful candidate will also coordinate the disposition and repatriation of culturally identifiable and unidentifiable ancestral remains and objects, will establish and maintain relationships with tribal communities, and serve as an institutional point of contact regarding Native American ancestral remains and objects. The position is for one year, renewable for a second year.

Duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Initiate, manage, record, and complete multiple inventories of AUM’s Native American artifacts, ancestral remains, and related objects located on the AUM campus. 

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with Native American and tribal communities. Work with federally recognized tribal representatives to determine whether ancestral remains and/or funerary objects can be culturally affiliated with tribal groups and nations known to inhabit the region where these items were discovered and be returned to the tribe of origin.
• Serve as the institutional point of contact and coordinator for all NAGPRA inquiries seeking information about Native American ancestral remains and objects, to include consultation, repatriation, disposition, and access to remains and objects in AUM’s possession.
• Collaborate and consult closely with anthropology faculty in matters of compliance and procedure, and with the department chair of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work to ensure that regulations are being followed.
• Collaborate and consult closely with Auburn University’s NAGPRA Coordinator in matters of compliance and procedure for shared collections.
• Oversee the disposition of ancestral remains and objects in culturally sensitive ways and prepare them for repatriation and/or short and long-term curation.
• Prepare and file required documentation with the National NAGPRA Program. Develop and submit grant proposals and funding requests to further support NAGPRA activities.
• Train and supervise students in best practices associated with collections and curation management.

Required minimum qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Anthropology, Museum Studies, Native American Studies, or closely related field.
• A minimum of two years’ experience in identifying, analyzing, organizing, and managing Native American ancestral remains, associated funerary objects, and artifacts.
• Must be able to physically raise arms, lift 30 pounds (or more), and have the ability to climb stairs and ladders.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, Museum Studies, Native American Studies, or closely related field.
• Prior experience participating in NAGPRA consultation processes.

AUM is committed to building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all students, staff, and faculty. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver solutions. Prospective candidates will help further the institutional goals of promoting equity, diversity, and inclusivity.

AUM is the metropolitan campus of Auburn University with approximately 5,300 students and 200 faculty in five academic colleges: Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Nursing and Health Sciences, Sciences, Business, and Education. Located in the state capital, AUM serves a diverse student body including traditional and non-traditional students. Montgomery offers diverse cultural and recreational opportunities including the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, world-class museums, the Civil Rights Memorial, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, a ballet company, a natural habitat zoo, a chamber music society, an independent film theater, and the Montgomery Biscuits baseball team. Further, Montgomery is the home of the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Equal Justice Initiative.

How to Apply:

Visit www.jobs.aum.edu and complete an online application. Completed applications will include 1) a letter of application highlighting relevant experience, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) unofficial graduate transcripts (official transcripts will be required for hiring), and 4) contact information for three professional references. Screening of applications will begin immediately with priority given to applications received by May 1, 2023. While the position will remain open until filled, AUM reserves the right once interviewing begins to stop accepting applications. Questions regarding the position can be directed to Dr. Kimberly Pyszka at kpyszka@aum.edu.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

Auburn University at Montgomery is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity; therefore, we encourage applications from historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.