NAGPRA Senior Collections Manager (9722C), Government & Community Relations #85023

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

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 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 and community leaders.

The University of California adopts as a fundamental value, and priority, the repatriation of Native American and Native Hawaiian human remains and cultural items (funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony), in accordance with state and federal law. Reporting to the Assistant Chancellor for GCR, the UC Berkeley NAGPRA team is charged with facilitating outreach to, and consultation with Native American and Native Hawaiian tribes to facilitate the timely repatriation of ancestors and cultural objects currently held by the university, in compliance with state and federal and state law, and UC policy.

The First Review Date for this job is: April 3, 2026

COLLECTIONS VERIFICATION WORK

• Ensures the quality and accuracy of museum collections documentation through planning and conducting physical inventories and catalog verifications with permission from and following guidance from Tribes.
• Honors rehousing and cultural care requests in consultation with Tribal stakeholders.
• Completes and tracks Duty of Care requests in the museum database resulting from consultation.
• Plans and implements searches for missing items.

CONSULTATION RELATED COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES ACCESS

• Assist the Director of Repatriation and NAGPRA Liaisons in facilitating NAGPRA-related consultations, by planning, managing, and documenting access to Native American cultural belongings and ancestors from the United States, primarily held at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
• Participates in virtual and in-person NAGPRA consultations when required and creates a welcoming environment for tribal and agency representatives.
• With the NAGPRA team, assists in fulfilling NAGPRA records requests, including identifying and ensuring accessibility of available documentation and photographing collections when requested.

NAGPRA INVENTORY AND SUMMARY WORK

• Responsible for managing and entering data related to NAGPRA activities including affiliation, descriptions, and accession status of cultural belongings and ancestors, and physical location records in the database.
• Assists in the integration of datasets from various sources including museum databases and paper records, publications, and information obtained in consultation to generate accurate NAGPRA Inventories.
• Generates reports to assist in the consultation process.
• Creates and maintains groups in the database to record museum numbers that are associated with Claims, Inventories, and Summaries

LOGISTICS

• Under tribal guidance, move cultural items and ancestors between campus repositories.
• Planning and couriering transfers and repatriations as needed.
• With the Registrar, plans complex logistics for oversized, large, sensitive, local and interstate repatriations and transfers.
• Working with contractors to organize conservation, crating, and transport needs.
• Completes pXRF review of cultural belongings as requested by Tribes and lineal descendants to assist with repatriation and use plans
• Procurement and organization of rehousing and packing supplies required for NAGPRA collections curation and preparation for return.
• Assists the Registrar with generating relevant paperwork documenting transfer of legal control and physical possession.
• Under the direction the NAGPRA Liaisons and Director of Repatriation, safely packs ancestors and belongings for repatriation and transfer in consultation with Tribal constituents and Museum staff, including creation of specialized boxes and supports, and procurement of materials required by the Tribe for storage, transport, reburial, and care.
• Works with other collections staff to track and maintain facilities and integrated pest control systems

OTHER

• Scopes specifications and costs for collection storage furniture, equipment, and supplies.
• Contributes to maintaining tracking and filing of NAGPRA records.
• May supervise interns or student workers including training, planning day-to-day tasks, and selecting and scheduling interns.
• Engage in professional development activities to increase knowledge and skills, such as attending professional meetings and conferences.
• Keep current with standard practices by reviewing literature in the field and by networking with peers at other institutions.
• Assists with mailouts for consultation.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of how to navigate locating additional information related to a cultural item to aid consultation and repatriation.
• At least 1 year of experience working in an archive, cultural center, gallery, laboratory, or museum.
• Possess a strong knowledge of collections databases and be able to accurately input, retrieve, and use available tools to present and analyze data.
• Experience working with archaeological methods and/or archaeological collections.
• Demonstrated capacity for implementing collections care procedures including cultural requests, identifying materials used for safe housing and transport, and couriering.
• Working knowledge of collections management protocols including security, pest mitigation, climate control, risk mitigation, and responding to collections disasters.
• Experience working with culturally sensitive collections. This position directly handles and prepares ancestral remains and sacred belongings for repatriation in consultation with tribes.
• Excellent communication and diplomacy skills including: demonstrated ability to convey complex museum-related nomenclature to external stakeholders, and flexibility to adapt procedures to incorporate required cultural protocols and information shared in consultation.
• Experience participating in consultations and repatriations to Native American and/or First Nations government officials, people, and/or communities.
• Experienced in assessing and utilizing equipment required to facilitate the movement of a variety of collections. This position involves repetitive movements including pushing, pulling, climbing ladders, crouching; regularly lifting and moving materials up to 25lbs; use of lifting aids such as pallet jacks, trolleys, forklift trucks/walkies, mechanical lift tables, and driving a van.
• Ability and willingness to work with all collections housed on the UC Berkeley campus and at off-site Richmond collections storage.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically to facilitate physical transfer when required.
• Experience establishing goals, workload priorities, and following through to successful completion.
• Highly proficient in the use of museum collections management databases, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Word, data and workflow management tools.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, Native American Studies, History, Museum Studies or a related field, or an equivalent level of professional experience.

License

• California state Driver's license or the ability to obtain one within a reasonable time period (and driver's record check)

• Experience using Collection Space (Cspace) database highly desirable.
• 3 years of experience working in an archive, cultural center, gallery, laboratory, or museum in a collections management or registration-aligned capacity.
• Working knowledge of NAGPRA and Cal-NAGPRA legislation.
• Experience in couriering museum collections.

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.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $79,033.27 (Step 1) - $94,438.23 (Step 10).

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

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.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.