NAGPRA Curatorial Research Associate

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Part-Time Hourly Boston, MA, US

Under the supervision of the Chair for Provenance, the NAGPRA Curatorial Research Associate will support the MFA’s implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and assist in proper care for and cataloging of the MFA’s Native American collection.

The NAGPRA Curatorial Research Associate will work closely with colleagues in Curatorial, Conservation, and Collections to support the legal and ethical stewardship of the Native American collections at the MFA. The work includes but is not limited to facilitating logistics around NAGPRA consultations, database management, responding to Tribal requests for information and repatriation, and assisting with reporting.

The position is a one-year term, with the possibility of an extension for a second year.

Key responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with curatorial and conservation staff to ensure proper curation and care for belongings under NAGPRA’s Duty of Care requirements;
• Maintaining physical and digital NAGPRA-related records, including correspondence, requests for consultation, repatriation claims, and internal paperwork;
• Helping to track communication with Tribes;
• Assisting with the logistics of consultations;
• Managing timelines to ensure Tribal requests can be met;
• Assisting in compiling summaries and composing written communication;
• Arranging for photography, as needed;
• Other job duties as required and instructed.

Job Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to ethical stewardship of Native American collections.
• Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology, Indigenous or Native Studies, museum studies, or a related field.
• 1-3 years professional experience in NAGPRA research, compliance, and/or repatriation coordination, preferably in a museum, university, or cultural center.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Schedule and Wage:

Rate: $28.60 per hour

One year term, with the possibility of an extension for a second year

This position is affiliated with the United Auto Workers Union.

The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.