NAGPRA Repatriation Provenance Specialist (6127C) Government and Community Relations - 85094

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Departmental Overview

The NAGPRA Repatriation Team reports to the Assistant Chancellor, Government and Community Relations. The Government and Community Relations (GCR) office builds relationships with community leaders, elected officials, government agencies and third-party advocates to further the mission of UC Berkeley in the public sector. The issues of primary focus for the GCR team include student financial aid, admissions, scientific research, Tribal relations and other policies at the forefront of higher education and government. GCR also coordinates the University's response to a wide range of political and policy issues, and advises administrators and faculty on strategies to gain constructive dialogue with government, Tribal nations and community leaders.

Position Summary

Reporting to the NAGPRA Program Manager, this role assists the UC Berkeley NAGPRA team in maintaining the legal and ethical integrity of the repatriation process. The team is responsible for ensuring the campus complies with federal (NAGPRA) and state (CalNAGPRA) laws, along with University of California policies regarding cultural affiliation and the return of ancestral remains and items.

The person in this position aids Tribal and descendant consultations by researching and organizing archival data from various campus collections. Key responsibilities include conducting archival research, managing department files, and preparing finding aids or biographical reports. Additionally, the incumbent may participate in on-site Tribal visits to support the consultation and repatriation of Native American ancestors and belongings.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 04/02/2026.

Responsibilities

Historical Research & Synthesis

• Biographical Research: Author detailed biographies and briefs on private collectors, donors, informants, Indian Agents, and field collectors (including linguists and anthropologists) related to belongings and archives.
• Collection Histories: Document the past utilization of collections, including exhibition history, loans, and trades with other institutions.
• Provenance Research: Synthesize available information to support liaisons' efforts to identify original artists, families, societies, or clans connected to regalia, baskets, and other cultural items, as well as ownership history.
• Resource Integration: Locate and digitally synthesize primary documentation from various campus units, including The Bancroft Library, Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, California Language Archive, Museum of Paleontology, Museum of Zoology, and the Archaeological Research Facility (ARF). Works with scholars across the UCB campus to encourage collaboration and sharing of institutional knowledge for the benefit of NAGPRA and tribal communities in general.
• Creating Finding Aids: Identify or create finding aids to be shared with Tribal stakeholders. Finding aids will consolidate information from multiple archives and museums on the UC Berkeley campus with a geographic, linguistic, cultural, person-based, or object-based focus as needed for the consultation.
• Geospatial & Cultural Research: Assist in locating archival data to identify and correlate historic placenames associated with burial sites and ancestral belongings.

Records Management & Digitization

• Document Organization and Digitization: Digitize and index NAGPRA relevant accession files, site records, maps, ledgers, and collected archives and institutional archives. Organize and index records of historic and ongoing NAGPRA related efforts of the University.
• Database Enrichment: Associate archival information from multiple campus sources with existing object entries in the collection management system (CMS) to streamline repatriation consultations. Uses existing hierarchies and vocabularies, and suggests improvements or additions to improve organization and discoverability. Identifies, digitizes, and attaches media as supporting documentation for provenance history.
• Policy Development: Collaborate with the NAGPRA team to establish standards for documentation retention and the safe-keeping of sensitive records. Participate in multi-unit efforts to find and use culturally appropriate terminology and how it can be applied to existing archival finding aids and CMS hierarchies.

Cross-Unit Collaboration

• Collaboration: Establish and maintain positive relationships among multiple campus units.
• Collections Management: Participates in broader campus initiatives to make archival collections more accessible and discoverable.
• Sharing results: Assures digital assets and metadata can be reintegrated into the campus institution it derives from, as appropriate guided by Tribal partners, using institutional systems including existing or newly adopted Catalogs, Archival Databases, Digital Asset Management software, and Collections Guides.

Training and Professional development

Through trainings, readings, professional networking, and conferences keeps abreast of:

• Changing NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA legislation and its application to the University's holdings
• Current archival practices and methodologies Tribal archival practices and trends

Required Qualifications

Archival Expertise:

• Demonstrated experience in maintaining and organizing archives, including a strong command of professional metadata standards, controlled vocabularies, and data principles.
• Knowledge of best practices in handling and digitization of primary source materials.

Regulatory & Ethical Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of NAGPRA regulations and other legal/ethical frameworks governing Indigenous data and cultural items.

Data Sovereignty:

• Working knowledge of Indigenous data sovereignty and its application to the management of historical records.
• Able to apply World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) protocols for Traditional Knowledge.

Community Engagement:

• Proven experience collaborating with Tribes, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and First Nations communities.

Tribal Sovereignty:

• Understands how to work in a framework of government-to-government relationships respecting the inherent rights and protocols when working with Tribal governments.

Information Synthesis:

• Expertise in summarizing complex, technical, or sensitive archival information into accessible formats.

Discretion:

• Proven ability to handle sensitive records with a high degree of confidentiality and professional discretion.

Toolsets:

• Advanced knowledge of applicable systems and databases.

Supervision:

• Past experience in integrating students and/or part-time assistants into workflows

Education/Training:

• Advanced degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

• This is a full-time (40 hours/week), career position that is eligible for UC Benefits.
• This is an exempt monthly-paid position.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Driving Required

• Required to hold valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.