The Great Basin Institute is hiring a Museum Documentation Research Associate to work cooperatively with National Park Service Staff and under the direct supervision of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park/Aztec Ruins National Monument Museum Curator to support the Parks’ Museum and Archives Program. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Reconciles discrepancies between paper accession files and the Museum Collection Management System (MCMS) entries, supporting reconciliations with documentation.
• Produces updated paperwork for authorized signatures.
• Reviews primary field documents and reports from early excavations at AZRU and compares object information with object information in MCMS, associating original field catalog numbers with current museum catalog numbers.
• Compares reconciled catalog numbers to early custody documentation to produce a report of objects with problematic custody paperwork.
• Assists with preparing responses to NAGPRA-related tribal inquiries.
• Identify additional objects for tribal consultation or NAGPRA repatriations.
• Completes Accession Inventories.
• Attends staff meetings, safety trainings and briefings, and other park-related opportunities.

Contract Timeline:

• 12-month appointment beginning January 2025
• Full time (40 hrs/week)
• Position may be extended if additional funding is secured.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Wage: $29.05/hr
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available at no cost
• Paid leave and federal holidays
• Eligible to enroll in company 401k with matching contributions (following 90 days)

Job Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Museum Studies, Anthropology, Native American Studies, or related field with minimum 6 months work experience in anthropological museum context.

Technical Requirements:

• Knowledge and experience working with museum registration documentation, specifically accessions and loans.
• Experience with applying law, regulation, and policy and institutional guidance to complex contexts.
• Experience with primary document research in archival archeological field documentation.
• Experience collaborating with staff of other museum institutions.
• Sensitivity to respecting Indigenous Knowledge.
• Familiarity with historic and modern information formats.

Additional Desired Skills:

• Knowledge of NPS museum documentation systems desired, but not required.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Adaptability to changing project needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with co-workers and park staff, external museum institutions, and the general public.
• Ability to work independently or with limited supervision to resolve problems, demonstrating of self-direction and sound judgement.
• Academic background in anthropology or Native American studies desired.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift boxes up to 35 lbs. on a routine basis.
• Ability to sit at a computer and focus for long periods of time.
• Knowledge and technical proficiency in Microsoft Excel.