LOA Archaeology Repository and Collections Manager

University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian university in Metro Vancouver is seeking an LOA Archaeology Repository and Collections Manager. This position involves managing archaeological collections and ensuring compliance with professional standards. The ideal candidate will have a Master's degree, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and excellent organizational skills. This role is vital in maintaining relationships with various stakeholders including First Nations. The compensation range is $6,747.50 - $9,701.42 CAD monthly.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial, physical, and staffing resources in collections and archives.
• Engage in long-term planning and management of LOA’s repository obligations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with UBC units and stakeholders.

Skills

Ability to work independently

Excellent organizational skills

Oral and written communication skills

Consultation with communities

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Master's degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Museum, Level C Job Title LOA Archaeology Repository and Collections Manager Department Administrative Support | Department of Anthropology Compensation Range $6,747.50 - $9,701.42 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

December 16, 2025

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Laboratory of Archaeology (LOA) Archaeology Repository and Collections Manager is responsible for operations related to collections cared for and received by LOA in repositories of belongings, associated materials, archives, and Ancestral Housing.

The LOA Manager is a self-directed position that works within a general professional and administrative framework within the Department of Anthropology. The LOA Manager makes decisions regarding the accession, conservation, security and archives management of collections.

Primary working conditions include offices, archives, collection storage rooms, accessioning facilities, and work areas embedded in these spaces.

LOA is a public trustee of archaeological collections, acting as an official repository for the province of British Columbia; provincially permitted collections are held in trust for the First Nations of British Columbia and the peoples of British Columbia. LOA’s responsibilities also include materials from beyond British Columbia and Canada. The LOA Manager is responsible for the safe-keeping of these collections and for assuring that the records associated are conserved.

The LOA Manager complies with and maintains the professionally-recognized standards such as defined by the Canadian Archaeological Association, BC Museum Association, and Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. The LOA Manager adheres to the BC Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), and the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan.

Work Performed

• Engages in long-term planning and management of LOA’s repository obligations within which it operates, including archives, collections storage rooms, and databases. This includes matters and concerns raised by First Nations and other descent communities regarding the collections and LOA’s handling and access policies.
• In consultation with the Department Administrator, manages financial, physical, and staffing resources in collections and archives.
• Leads projects that may involve facilities, staffing, repatriations/rematriations, collections safety, and projects in cooperation with First Nations and other descent communities.
• In consultation with the Department Administrator, manages LOA funds and projects budgets for LOA activities and operations.
• Develops and maintains the schedule of LOA service fees, and oversees LOA revenue collection.
• Working with the Anthropology Department Administrator, periodically prepares budget reports and performs financial analysis.
• Develops and maintains relationships with UBC units and stakeholders outside the university (including, but not limited to, First Nations, BC Archaeology Branch, and professional archaeologists).
• Coordinates maintenance of workspace and field equipment managed by LOA, borrowing of equipment and access to repository work spaces as requested by research faculty.
• Develops and implements risk-management strategies and disaster-management policies as required by UBC, including developing disaster management plans and procedures for archaeological collections, LOA workspaces, and safety. Liaises with buildings management housing, LOA facilities (e.g., MOA, IONA, ANSO) to be in compliance with local risk-management and disaster management strategies.
• Develops and updates LOA policies for collection and archives management, collection data safety.
• Manages and develops protocols for the collections and archives database systems content and use, and works alongside technical contractors and UBC technical staff on the design and maintenance of the systems.
• Implements access protocols for First Nations and other descent communities, scholars, and students, and the public as developed by LOA.
• Oversees and delegates responsibility for collections and archives management, accessioning, acquisition, registration, assessment, condition reporting, preservation/conservation, deaccessions, and storage including the creation of finding aids and manual and digital records.
• Manages incoming and outgoing object loans and transfers according to descent community, LOA, and UBC policies and guidelines, adhering to all applicable provincial, national, and international laws and procedures.
• Hosts, arranges hospitality, and manages all aspects of First Nation and other community visits to collections cared for at LOA.
• Manages rematriation/repatriation requests made to LOA, writes and develops rematriation/repatriation documentation. Assists in the development of appropriate rematriation/repatriation policies and protocols in consultation with descent communities.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Errors could have financial, legal, ethical, and other consequences for the University, First Nations, and the province of British Columbia.

Supervision Received

Considerable professional initiative is expected and latitude in decision-making is permitted with the expectation that meaningful consultation and collaboration will occur with the LOA Director and Department Administrator. Work is reviewed in terms of achievement of general goals. Work is supervised and reviewed by the Director of the Laboratory of Archaeology, with input from the Department Head, as appropriate. HR and financial management is conducted by the Department Administrator.

Supervision Given

Manages, recruits, mentors, and trains LOA staff, technical and cultural contractors, volunteers, and student staff. The LOA Manager is responsible for hiring, evaluation and termination. Works collaboratively with staff and with external departments and communities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of relevant laws relating to cultural property.
• Ability to work in a highly organized and independent manner, following policy guidelines, without supervision.
• Ability to work with, train and supervise a variety of students and volunteers.
• Detailed knowledge of the relevant professional standards for computerized collections management and a demonstrated involvement in the profession.
• A demonstrated ability for consultation with communities, especially First Nations, and awareness and sensitivity to issues concerning collections originating from these communities.
• A valid Class 5 B.C. Driver’s License.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts.
• Ability to efficiently work under deadline pressures and budget limitations.
• Excellent organizational, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Ability to support and motivate employees.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion.
• Ability to lift boxes up to 10 kg.
• Ability to operate at heights and on ladders.