NAGPRA Specialist

Join our team as a NAGPRA Specialist!

This grant-funded position begins on or around December 1, 2025, and runs through August 31, 2027. The annual salary is $50,000, with benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; 403(b) plan with up to 3.5% match; and paid vacation and sick leave. The role is on-site and includes travel; remote work is not available.

IMMEDIATE OPENING—APPLY TODAY by sending your cover letter and resume to Kelly Lao at klao@putnam.org.

POSITION SUMMARY: The NAGPRA Specialist is a professional position focused on researching the Putnam’s NAGPRA collection to identify cultural affiliation, inviting tribes to consult, participating in resulting consultations, and assisting in the preparation of objects and individuals for repatriation as directed by the culturally affiliated tribes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (include but are not limited to)
Inventory funerary objects, sacred objects, objects of cultural patrimony, and ancestors in the Putnam’s collection to verify presence and location in the Museum

Conduct research on NAGPRA collection items to determine the Nations that could be culturally affiliated with the individuals and objects

Work with the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) of Iowa to communicate and connect with tribal representatives of the Nations tracing their heritage to Iowa

Notify tribes of potential culturally affiliated objects and ancestors

Schedule and participate with other Putnam curatorial staff in virtual and in-person consultations with relevant tribes—when contacted by tribes

Document consultations and other processes related to NAGPRA

Complete Notification of Intent to Repatriate when a tribe claims an individual or object and complete other NAGPRA-related paperwork

Create and issue notices and summaries if new objects needing repatriation are identified; Participate in preparations for such repatriation

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Native American studies, archaeology, museum studies, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.

Putnam Museum and Science Center is an equal opportunity employer.