NAGPRA Coordinator: Repatriation & Tribal Partnerships

Lawrence University Department of Theatre Arts; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawrence University, located in Appleton, Wisconsin, seeks a NAGPRA Coordinator to lead the university’s NAGPRA compliance program. You will manage inventories, documentation, consultations with Tribal Nations, and repatriation processes for LU collections, ensuring adherence to federal regulations updated in 2024 and alignment with best practices.

You will collaborate with faculty and external advisors, maintain secure records, train student staff, and help shape long-term institutional

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, Museum Studies, or a related field with two or more years of museum, curatorial, NAGPRA, or related experience; OR a bachelor’s degree with six or more years of such experience.
• Experience with NAGPRA implementation and familiarity with the 2024 updated regulations and current best practices in repatriation.
• Experience with the federal inventory and documentation process.
• Experience with database management and/or museum cataloging procedures.
• Demonstrated capacity for culturally sensitive communication and strong interpersonal skills; prior experience coordinating and communicating with Tribal representatives strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of osteology strongly preferred; knowledge of both human and faunal osteology especially valued.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate institutional compliance with NAGPRA, including regulatory timelines, reporting requirements, and communications with the National NAGPRA Program.
• Conduct and document inventory and consultation for Ancestors, associated and unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony.
• Prepare federal inventories, summaries, notices, and supporting documentation, including submissions for the Federal Register.
• Support and facilitate consultation with Tribal Nations, coordinating correspondence, meetings, collection visits, and repatriation logistics.
• Serve as NAGPRA liaison between the University, tribal nations, the National NAGPRA program and other agencies.
• Develop and maintain databases, catalog records, and secure documentation systems for NAGPRA collections.
• Provide care and handling of archaeological materials and culturally informed storage practices.
• Collaborate to establish policies, procedures, and infrastructure for long-term compliance and stewardship.
• Manage project timelines, priorities, and deliverables to meet federal deadlines.
• Train and supervise student workers; potential to teach a related course.
• Maintain confidentiality of culturally sensitive information and comply with regulations.
• Respond to special projects as assigned.

Skills

NAGPRA knowledge

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Tribal consultation

Database management

Collections care

Education

Master’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, Museum Studies, or related field

Tools

Museum cataloging software

Cataloging procedures

Job description

Lawrence University, located in Appleton, Wisconsin, seeks a NAGPRA Coordinator to lead the university’s NAGPRA compliance program. You will manage inventories, documentation, consultations with Tribal Nations, and repatriation processes for LU collections, ensuring adherence to federal regulations updated in 2024 and alignment with best practices.

You will collaborate with faculty and external advisors, maintain secure records, train student staff, and help shape long-term institutional