Job Summary

The Repatriation Coordinator reports to the Chief of Staff and works closely with the CSU NAGPRA Presidential Designee and the Tribal Relations Coordinator. The Repatriation Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the Cal Poly NAGPRA Program, compliance with both NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA, and Tribal, local, state, and federal engagement. The coordinator will help guide the actions of Cal Poly in meeting the goals of the NAGPRA program to continue ongoing NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA compliance; oversee the care of Native American Ancestors and cultural items at Cal Poly; develop and implement appropriate policies for NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA compliance; and implement respectful and expeditious repatriation of Native American Ancestors to Tribes in consultation with those Tribes. Additionally, the Repatriation Coordinator will represent Cal Poly on CSU systemwide committees related to Native American affairs; convene the Cal Poly internal NAGPRA University Committee; and provide regular status reports regarding repatriation efforts to Cal Poly executive leadership and the CSU Chancellor’s Office.

Department Summary

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (CalNAGPRA) together require all agencies and museums that receive state or federal funding and have possession or control over Native American human remains, associated funerary objects, unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or objects of cultural patrimony to repatriate those Ancestors and cultural items through a process of meaningful consultation. California Assembly Bill 275, passed in September 2020, requires every state agency with significant interaction with tribal issues, peoples, or lands to designate one or more liaisons for the purpose of engaging in consultation with California Native American tribes. California Assembly Bill 389, passed in September 2023, further requires each CSU university to have a full-time experienced repatriation coordinator.

Key Qualifications

1. Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA) regulations, and ability to read and analyze NAGPRA documents. 
2. Demonstrated knowledge of cultural sensitivities that are relative to tribal consultation and a demonstrated ability to perform successful consultation and collaboration with Native American Tribal leaders and representatives.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of Central California Native American history and culture, including federally recognized tribes, non-federally recognized tribes.
4. Experience working with culturally sensitive artifacts.
5. Demonstrated knowledge and skills in curatorial, collections, archival work, and cultural resource management, including knowledge of methods and processes for recording, classifying, and interpreting factual information.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in related area: Archaeology, Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, History (with a focus in California), Law, Native American Studies, Social Science, Sociology or a related field. Three (3) years of experience coordinating repatriation work, with at least one year experience working effectively with Native American communities. 

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $75,000 - $90,000 per year. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information. 

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Diversity Statement

At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an equal opportunity employer. 

Supplemental Information

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff positions (i.e. H-1B visas).