Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO)

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe•Port Angeles, WA

8d•$30 - $34

About The Position

The Tribal Historical Preservation Officer (THPO) plans and conducts research to identify, document, and protect the cultural and historical aspects of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (Tribe). This position involves both fieldwork and office-based administrative, regulatory, and legal compliance tasks. The THPO serves as a principal advisor on cultural resource management to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s Business Committee, Executive Director, and the Tribal Attorney’s Office. The THPO administers the Tribal Historic Program, whose mission is to promote, protect, preserve, and manage all matters relating to the Tribe’s cultural resources, traditional cultural properties, and sacred sites. This position will be responsible for coordinating cultural restoration and preservation with special emphasis on Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106, regulatory policies, archival preservation, and the long-term development of a tribal cultural center. The THPO acts as the primary point of contact for consultations with federal, state, and local agencies regarding the Tribe’s historic preservation and cultural resources. This role requires a high degree of independence, diplomatic communication, technical legal literacy in environmental and cultural frameworks, and strict adherence to the grant requirements of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant program funded through the National Park Service (NPS).

Requirements

Enrolled Lower Elwha Tribal Member: High School Diploma or GED equivalent combined with documented, community-recognized traditional cultural knowledge, oral history experience, or leadership in tribal cultural preservation.
Non-Tribal Member Applicants: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in Anthropology, Archaeology, History, Native American Studies, Cultural Resource Management, or a closely related field, meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards (36 CFR Part 61), plus a minimum of two (2) years of professional field experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of, or deep respect for, the culture, history, traditions, and geography of the Tribe.
Knowledge of (or a strong, proven ability to quickly learn) federal and state cultural resource laws, archival preservation techniques, and standard operating policies and procedures of a THPO office.
Exceptional oral, written, and diplomatic communication skills; ability to represent the Tribe assertively, yet professionally in high-stakes consultations with state and federal agencies, corporate entities, and other relevant entities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), database management, and internet-based research.
Must possess a valid, unrestricted Washington State Driver’s License (or obtain one within the 90-day probationary period) and maintain insurability under the Tribe’s automobile insurance.
Ability to travel frequently to remote field sites, regional consultation meetings, professional conferences, and other areas as required.
Must pass a comprehensive background check.
Maintain professional demeanor, professional appearance, and confidentiality at all times.
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Possess a deep respect for Native American traditions, community dynamics, and tribal sovereignty, while practicing humility and maintaining strict confidentiality at all times.

Nice To Haves

First Preference will be given to an enrolled Lower Elwha Tribal member possessing deep historical knowledge of the Tribe’s culture, oral histories, and traditions, along with a strong, demonstrated commitment to preserving them.
Master’s degree in Anthropology, Archaeology, History, Native American Studies, Cultural Resource Management, or a closely related field.
Two (2) or more years of practical experience working within a Tribal historic preservation program, state historic preservation office (SHPO), or conducting cultural resource management (CRM) field surveys.
Familiarity with GIS mapping software is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Manages core program development, implementation, budget monitoring, and performance evaluation to ensure department efficiency and alignment with Tribal goals.
Tracks deliverables and manages timelines specifically required for the preservation and continuation of the NPS HPF.
Identifies and pursues alternative funding resources opportunities to fund the Tribe’s cultural resources management activities.
Oversees all external contracts engaged by the Tribe for historic preservation and cultural resource management activities to mitigate adverse impacts on cultural resources (e.g. Memoranda of Agreements and Programmatic Agreements.)
Prepares clear, comprehensive written quarterly and annual departmental progress reports for the Executive Director and grantors.
Attends and periodically presents at regional or national professional conferences, inter-tribal working groups, and agency meetings to advocate for the Tribe’s historic preservation interests and maintain professional development.
Provides public information, education, training, and technical assistance in historic preservation via presentations, planned cultural activities, and tribal youth engagement.
Conducts all aspects of formal government-to-government and interagency consultations under NHPA Section 106, SEPA, NEPA, NAGPRA with local, state, and federal entities while strictly managing statutory review timelines to safeguard the Tribe's right to consult.
Assists in evaluating local, state, and tribal permit applications for construction and development activities to identify and mitigate potential risks involving the discovery, disturbance, excavation, or removal of cultural, historical, or archaeological resources.
Exercises the authority to recommend or issue immediate, temporary stop-work orders on active project sites in the event of an inadvertent discovery of cultural resources, archaeological artifacts, or human remains, pending formal evaluation.
Establishes and maintains professional, diplomatic relationships with surrounding tribal, local, state, and federal governments, as well as private developers, regarding historic preservation and cultural resource management within Lower Elwha Tribal Usual and Accustomed (U&A) territories and ancestral lands.
Conducts or facilitates hands-on field work, archeological field reconnaissance, and active construction cultural monitoring as needed to ensure the ground-distributing activities do not adversely impact tribal cultural resources.
Mandates and ensures strict confidentiality of all culturally sensitive data, archaeological site locations, and oral histories in compliance with NHPA Section 304, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), and Tribal data sovereignty protocols to prevent unauthorized public disclosure.
Coordinates comprehensive surveys of historic properties to maintain secure, updated inventories and archaeological collections catalogs in cooperation with tribal, federal, state, local, and private entities; periodically revises public or tribal exhibits of archaeological and cultural materials.
Utilizes or coordinates the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for accurate cultural mapping.
Establishes and maintains strong relationships and agreements with museums and federal agencies under NAGPRA regarding the respectful repatriation of tribally affiliated human remains, funerary objects, and sacred items.