Job Description

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Midwest Region (Region 3) is seeking a graduate-level or above individual to assist with compliance efforts in support of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and 36 CFR § 79, Curation of Federally Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections. The position would work closely with the USFWS National Curator and Headquarters (HQ) NAGPRA Lead and Region 3 Cultural Resource (CR) and Visitor Service professionals. The position would sit in the USFWS Region 3 office but would regularly correspond and work with USFWS HQ staff. The goal of the position is to help Region 3 with NAGPRA compliance based on deadlines outlined in 43 CFR § 10. The position would also provide insight into the responsibilities surrounding federal curation, specifically within the Department of Interior (DOI), and NAGPRA compliance. The position would also play a role with the development of agencywide training for CR professionals.

Location

Bloomington, MN

Schedule

May 25, 2026 - May 21, 2027

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The individual would work directly with the USFWS National Curator on various components of NAGPRA compliance, including drafting and submitting Itemized Lists (43 CFR § 10.10) and Summaries (43 CFR § 10.9) to Tribal Nations. The individual would review known information regarding collections under USFWS stewardship and recently-received Museum Statements to ensure agencywide NAGPRA tracking is up to date. The individual would also work with the USFWS Region 3 Native American Liaison in various capacities, including identifying appropriate Tribal Nations for consultation-related purposes, updating Tribal contact information (as needed), and accompanying USFWS staff members on consultation-related travel, as appropriate and when approved by Tribal Nations. Per 43 CFR § 10.7(c), the individual would work on drafting letters for ancestors and cultural items whose disposition was not completed prior to January 12, 2024. For curation-related compliance purposes, the individual would assist the National Curator with site visits in order to complete DOI Facility Assessments, conduct necessary inspections on collections under USFWS stewardship, complete box-level inventories (as required), and identify additional collections possibly containing ancestors or cultural items. The individual would review and update existing Memorandums of Understanding with non-federal repository staff and assist USFWS National Wildlife Refuges and Hatcheries on updating their Scope of Collections (SOC) documents, as needed, based on a USFWS template.

Marginal Duties

The individual may work with other Region 3 CR staff members on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act if they possess the capacity and necessary skills; The intern may present or support presentations on NAGPRA or curation-related briefs to USFWS leadership; The individual may represent USFWS at professional conferences, as appropriate and as funding allows.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Native American studies, history, anthropology, or a related field with experience working with archaeological collections
• Currently pursuing a graduate degree in Native American studies, history, anthropology, or a related field.

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to prioritize work products based on due dates
• Self-motivated and ability to work with minimal supervision
• Willingness and comfort to communicate via email, video conference calls, and phone calls with supervisor, as needed
• Skilled in reviewing and quality controlling their own work products prior to submitting them to a supervisor for review
• Comfortable accepting edits to work products in order to create a more refined deliverable
• Open to learning new things, asking questions, and developing themselves professionally.

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

Housing is not provided for this position

Compensation

• Living Allowance: $600/week
• Housing Allowance: $1,800/month (13 payments)
• Commuting Allowance: $50/week; up to $2500 in reimbursable expenses for duty travel

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

Required

Additional Benefits

AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.