Department Summary

As an essential partner in the University’s educational, research, and public service mission, the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History (MNCH) enhances knowledge of Earth’s environments and cultures, inspiring stewardship of our collective past, present, and future.

The museum is a center of interdisciplinary research and education, serving the State of Oregon, the University of Oregon, Native American Tribes, the research community, K-12 students and teachers, and the wider public in Oregon and beyond.

An established major engine of archaeological research in the American West, the museum’s Archaeological Research Division works across the state on dozens of archaeological projects each year.

The MNCH is also the State of Oregon’s official repository for publicly owned collections and is home to hundreds of thousands of ethnographic and archaeological objects, fossils, and biological specimens from Oregon and around the world.

The museum annually welcomes more than 30,000 visitors and serves another 20,000 Oregonians through its statewide educational programs.

A winner of the 2018 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the museum is fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, distinguishing it as one of the very best museums in the nation.

The Museum employs a staff of approximately 40 faculty, researchers, classified, administrative, and student employees across several facilities on the University of Oregon, Eugene campus.

Annual expenditures are about $3 million, from dozens of funding sources and allocated among a variety of projects across four museum divisions.

Position Summary

The NAGPRA Program Specialist (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) follows policies and procedures outlined in UO MNCH Collections policies, Code of Ethics, and aligns with UO, state, and federal guidelines and regulations.

The NAGPRA Program Specialist is responsible for maintaining and updating NAGPRA- and human remains-related documentation, consulting with tribes, and following all federal guidelines.

This position researches and implements current archival and preventive conservation best practices to ensure long-term preservation of collections, manages their documentation, and facilitates access, balancing access and preservation needs.

This position works closely with the Director of Anthropological Collections and the Assistant Director of Anthropological Collections.

The Assistant Director of Anthropological Collections assigns and evaluates registrar duties and the Director of Anthropological Collections assigns and evaluates NAGPRA-related duties.

The NAGPRA Program Specialist reports to the Director of Anthropological Collections.

This position needs to have a commitment to equity and inclusion.

Minimum Requirements

• Experience working with museum collections and Tribes.
• Experience with collections preservation, handling, storage, and security.
• At least two (2) years of experience with ethnographic collections including object handling and records-management.

Last updated : 2024-05-21