NAGPRA Bioarchaeologist & Coordinator

Submitted: 10/10/2025
Submitted By: Florida Museum of Natural History
Department: Florida Museum of Natural History
Institution: Florida Museum of Natural History-University of Florida
Job type: Full time
Apply by: 10/31/2025
Application Email:
Application URL: https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/537252/nagpra-coordinator

The Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida (UF) seeks applicants for a full-time NAGPRA Bioarchaeologist and Coordinator within the Department of Natural History. The Florida Museum currently cares for thousands of Native American ancestors and numerous cultural belongings and is committed to fully complying with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Working with curators and collections managers, this full-time, TEAMS exempt staff position will contribute to the FM’s NAGPRA program by inventorying the NAGPRA osteology collections, assisting with inventories and summaries of cultural belongings, and facilitating NAGPRA communications. This staff member will collaborate closely with appropriate FM Natural History Department curators and collections managers and report to the Natural History Department Chair. With this position we seek to strengthen the FM’s efforts to fulfill our NAGPRA legal and ethical obligations.

The Florida Museum is the official state museum of Florida and is located on the University of Florida campus, the State of Florida’s flagship university, currently ranked No. 7 among the nation’s top public research universities by U.S. News and World Report. The Florida Museum’s mission includes stewardship of ~40 million specimens and artifacts, award-winning exhibitions, diverse public programs, and emerging virtual and digital engagement. The research and collections programs of the Department of Natural History are world class and attract ~$10 million annually in government and philanthropic support. The Florida Museum is a national and international leader in biodiversity informatics, enhanced by its formative role in iDigBio, the national hub for digitization of natural history specimens.

The Florida Museum, a college-level unit within UF, is a vibrant community of ~300 employees, including 29 full-time faculty, UF undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral research associates, and museum collections, education, and administrative support staff. The museum has dedicated labs for digital imaging, molecular genetics and genomics, and preparing skeletal specimens, as well as a new building dedicated to housing fluid-preserved collections. The Florida Museum enjoys cross-campus collaborations with many of the 16 UF colleges, including: Agricultural and Life Sciences (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences), Education, Engineering, Libraries, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. Other campus resources likely of interest to the holder of this position include the UF Genetics Institute, UF Biodiversity Institute, and the Ordway-Swisher Biological Station that is part of National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON).

Job Description

Perform documentation and analysis of osteology collections pursuant to NAGPRA compliance.
Update and manage inventories of ancestral human remains and, in collaboration with curators and collections managers, assist with managing summaries and inventories of NAGPRA-eligible objects in FM collections, compile cultural affiliation documents, and prepare Federal notices and communications.
Serve as the FM institutional point of coordination for NAGPRA-related inquiries, contribute to developing and nurturing relationships with Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPO), and serve as liaison between THPOs, the National NAGPRA program, and various state and federal agencies. Facilitate FM NAGPRA consultations with THPOs and appropriate FM staff. Prepare for repatriations and disposition site visits.
Recruit, employ, train and supervise graduate and undergraduate assistants and volunteers. In collaboration with curators and collections managers, establish work priorities and supervise all employees assigned to them in support of tasks.
Participate in developing and submitting grant proposals and funding requests to support NAGPRA activities.
Assist with the administration of NAGPRA-related budgets and the purchase of necessary materials and supplies. Coordinate use of materials and supplies across FM collections.
As time and funding permits, advance the FM’s NAGPRA standing through attendance at conferences and workshops and serve in relevant committee assignments in professional organizations.
Expected salary: $55,000.00 – 72,900.00, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Minimum Requirements

Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and two (2) years of appropriate experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Anthropology or Archaeology
Demonstrated knowledge of, and aptitude for identification of fragmentary human remains and their differentiation from non-human fauna.
At least three years of experience in identification, care, analysis and inventory of fragmentary human osteological collections.
Experience managing and updating an inventory of osteological and associated collections for NAGPRA compliance.
Evidence of a working knowledge of NAGPRA regulations and their implementation.
Ability and willingness to understand culture history, Native American archaeological sites, and associated collections of Florida and the southeastern United States from academic/scientific and Indigenous perspectives.
Experience in collections care and management informed by museum standards and Indigenous perspectives.
Familiarity with Tribal nations of North America, particularly Florida and the Southeast, and ability to successfully navigate interactions requiring collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and confidentiality.
Evidence of strong organizational skills and ability to successfully work as part of a team.
Evidence of effective written and verbal communication.
Experience with database management.
Special Instructions to Applicants

Interested applicants must apply online at https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/537252/nagpra-coordinator. To be considered you must upload 1) a professional CV or resumé, 2) a cover letter highlighting relevant experience in bioarchaeology, human osteological analysis, NAGPRA compliance, collections management, and other professional background, and 3) a list of three professional references. Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) on October 31, 2025.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.