Repatriation Program Manager

23761BR

Audit, Risk & Compliance

Position Overview

The University of Kansas Office of the Chancellor invites applications for a Repatriation Program Manager (RPM). The RPM coordinates federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act compliance (NAGPRA), consultations, repatriations, and other activities by managing inventory and curation of Native American and Indigenous artifacts and remains across the university. This position will advance KU’s Repatriation Program and serve as a liaison between the university, tribal nations, the National NAGPRA program, and other federal, state and/or international agencies. The position will report to the Vice Chancellor for Audit, Risk & Compliance.

In addition to the professional requirements listed below, the person hired to fill this position must be culturally aware, a good listener with excellent verbal and written communication skills that effectively employ tact and discretion with sensitive matters, highly organized with attention to detail and accuracy, and have a strong work ethic and positive attitude.

Job Description

55% Compliance and Repatriation:

• Develop and implement a university NAGPRA policy and related procedures in coordination with KU’s NAGPRA committee and key stakeholders, ensuring compliance with NAGPRA and all applicable laws and policies
• Coordinate with collection managers in KU’s Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum, Spencer Museum and other university and community stakeholders in updating and managing inventories of ancestral human remains and NAGPRA-eligible objects in KU collections, keep accurate records of communications, manage program databases and perform data entry, and prepare Federal notices and communications with national NAGPRA staff
• Work closely with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO) and/or their designees to coordinate tribal access to as well as repatriation and disposition of human remains and cultural items and archaeological collections in KU’s custody
• Oversee additional repatriation and disposition; maintain records of outreach, notification, and consultation; track responses, assemble and maintain documentation and prepare status report
• Represent the university as the lead NAGPRA representative at regular meetings with tribal government officials and representatives to coordinate compliance, address tribal concerns, and when possible, negotiate culturally sensitive resolutions
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all NAGPRA inquiries seeking information about Native American remains and objects falling under NAGPRA regulations
• Collaborate and consult closely with the university’s NAGPRA Committee in matters of compliance and procedure
• Work with the key stakeholders on efforts for non-NAGPRA repatriation

 

25% Capacity Building:

• Manage administrative aspects of the university’s Repatriation Program, including developing and project managing the repatriation implementation plan
• Participate in promoting and coordinating outreach activities for research and education
• Develop and submit grant proposals and funding requests to support NAGPRA activities
• Administer repatriation-related budgets

 

15% Relationships/Personnel:

• Establish and maintain relationships with tribal communities and serve as an institutional point of contact for NAGPRA inquiries seeking information about Native American remains and objects falling under NAGPRA regulations
• Build and maintain strong relationships with university and external partners through collaboration and institutional community involvement and be recognized as a solution-driven, trusted advisor
• Maintain a strong service focus by developing productive working relationships and regular communication with university leadership and key personnel
• Participate and partner with key personnel on advisory groups and/or steering committees
• Supervise, coach, and mentor student employees in performance of their work to support the program’s mission

 

5% Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, Museum Studies, Native American or Indigenous Studies, or related discipline from an accredited university; or a High School diploma/GED equivalent and five years related experience or equivalent training in working with American Indian tribes or descent communities, or culturally significant objects.

Three years of experience in identifying, analyzing, organizing and/or managing Native American artifacts, human remains, and associated funerary objects; or working with American Indian tribes to repatriate NAGPRA related or other items of cultural significance, or working with descent communities and caring for culturally significant objects; and/or equivalent training, education or experience with traditional Tribal Elders, Tribal Cultural Departments and Historians, or Tribal Historic Preservation Officers

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in a required field from an accredited university.

Experience with NAGPRA compliance, tribal consultation, and/or working with descendent communities

Experience with collections care and management in a museum, academic, or other research environment informed by museum standards and Indigenous perspectives

Knowledge of archaeological collections Central Plains-Midwest archaeology and ethnohistory

Knowledge and understanding of field, laboratory, and analytical methods and terminology

Highly skilled communication and interpersonal skills to communicate both verbally and in writing.

Ability to perform work to quality, timeliness, and ethical standards while working independently and with a variety of individuals, groups, and organizations

Ability to evaluate and synthesize multiple lines of different kinds of information.

Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.

Contact Information to Applicants

John Curran
[email protected]

Additional Candidate Instruction

 In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.

Resume or curriculum vitae.

Contact information for three professional references.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Application review begins Monday, November 14, and will continue until a qualified pool of candidates has been identified.

Advertised Salary Range

$60,000-$80,000

Application Review Begins

14-Nov-2022

Anticipated Start Date

05-Dec-2022

Primary Campus

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

FLSA Status

Administrative

Employee Class

U-Unclassified Professional Staff

Work Schedule

8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Mon-Fri

Job Family

Administrative/Management-KUL

Work Location Assignment

Hybrid

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, [email protected], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).