Job Description

Staff - Union
Job Category
CUPE 116
Job Profile
CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3
Job Title
Archaeology Collections Research Assistant
Department
Administration Support | Department of Anthropology
Compensation Range
$4,757.00 - $5,187.00 CAD Monthly
Posting End Date
July 14, 2025
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
Jun 30, 2026
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary

The primary responsibility of the Archaeology Collections Research Assistant / Tech 3 is to perform curatorial and related tasks for the Laboratory of Archaeology's (LOA's) collections, equipment and field gear located in LOA collections laboratories, research rooms, photo studio and repository facilities (including the belonging repository, the Iona facility and Ancestral Housing). This individual will be responsible for daily activities in the LOA collections storage repository, and will ensure that collections, supplies, and facilities are prepared for users and that equipment and collections are correctly stored after each use. This position requires good knowledge of and experience in First Nation procedures and protocols for working with belongings and other cultural material, and knowledge of the heritage inspection and investigation permits issued by the province under the BC Heritage Conservation Act (HCA). The incumbent takes direction from the LOA Manager. Under this guidance, the incumbent can independently plan, perform and troubleshoot collections work and equipment utilizing varied procedures and incorporating multiple complex guiding principles and voices including First Nations, provincial regulations, the unit (LOA) and department (Anthropology). Tasks are assigned by and discussed regularly with the LOA Manager. The incumbent requires good organizational skills and must work independently to coordinate and complete assigned projects. The nature of the work demands planning the sequence of duties and work methods in consultation with the LOA Manager. The Archaeology Collections Research Assistant must exercise good judgement based on a knowledge of procedures, guidelines, protocols, and regulations in making decisions.



Organizational Status

Relevant to tasks, the Archaeology Collections Research Assistant reports to LOA Manager who organizes work in consultation with the LOA Director. Work is supervised by the LOA Manager and is reviewed in terms of achievement of general and specific goals. The Archaeology Collections Research Assistant will demonstrate efficiency and timeliness in all tasks assigned to them and including new requests for LOA services or access to collections are received from Indigenous communities or researchers inside or outside the university. The Archaeology Collections Research Assistant performs most duties independently or with student assistants and volunteers working under their supervision.



Work Performed
Archaeology collections and related administrative curatorial duties make up 90% of the work and relate to tasks assigned for the care of all materials in the archaeological collections and include working with databases, storage facilities, equipment, and facilities in teaching and curatorial/collections spaces.Plan daily curatorial work to accomplish tasks assigned by LOA Manager and create schedules including for student assistants, graduate students, faculty or visiting researchers as needed. Plan tasks and schedules to prepare for visits by First Nations community members, faculty, students, and researchers. Ensure that the concerns of originating communities are respected in procedures for storage and use of archaeology collections. Provide access to information about collections to First Nation communities, faculty and students, researchers, and members of the public, following established guidelines. Rehouse collections and update database(s) when collections are moved for community visits, loans, research and exhibitions. Receive and review HCA permit proposals from registered professional archaeologists requesting permission to designate LOA as the repository. Identify the nature of the site from the maps and draft permit and assess if details for amounts collected, wet site material conditions, or ancestral remains comply with LOA repository guidelines. Contact the archaeologist for more information if needed and add LOA's explicit conditions regarding deposits to the letter approving the request. Update the master LOA inventory with details of pending acquisition in consultation with the Curatorial Research Assistant. Set up, test, troubleshoot and maintain the technical equipment and software in the repository and teaching facilities. Support the curation and use of teaching collections in archaeology and bioanthropology. Provide training to undergraduate students and Work Learn assistants in the use of equipment, techniques and procedures in coordination with the Curatorial Research Assistant. Support safety in LOA facilities and research labs, as requested. Arrange all aspects of artifact, sample, and archives materials received from archaeology consulting CRM clients. Coordinate with LOA Archivist as needed. Create transfer of custody forms and conduct cross-checks when archaeological materials are received to LOA Repository. Apply pest mitigation to existing and new collections following all Laboratory of Archaeology procedures. Present a verbal report on task and project progress at the weekly LOA staff meeting. Assist the LOA Manager with purchasing supplies, catering, and reconciling accounts. Attends and supports LOA committee meetings. Support the LOA Manager and Curatorial Research Assistant team to determine appropriate treatments and care of belongings and associated materials. Carry out any other related duties as required in keeping with training and experience.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

LOA is a public trustee of archaeological collections acting as an official but closed repository for the province of British Columbia. These collections are held in trust for the First Nations of British Columbia and the peoples of British Columbia. The Archaeology Curatorial Research Assistant is responsible for ensuring that these collections are looked after according to Laboratory of Archaeology policies and First Nations protocols and in particular with consultations with Musqueam Indian Band. Errors could have financial, legal, ethical, and other consequences for the Laboratory of Archaeology and UBC and could damage relationships with the provincial government, First Nation communities, the academic community, and the general public.



Supervision Received

Works under general supervision of the LOA Manager. Must work collaboratively and under guidance of existing Curatorial Research Assistant and LOA Archivist. Receives detailed instructions on the assignment of new duties and thereafter only on new or unusual problems.



Supervision Given

May oversee and the work of one or two employees at lower classifications in which case the incumbent is responsible for the accuracy, productivity, and efficiency of the work unit.



Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a
minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and
experience.



Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications
Relevant experience includes knowledge related to archaeology collections, analysis, fieldwork and working with archaeology collections databases. Productive attitude and collaborative ethos must guide the incumbent's role in LOA. LOA collections are primarily from local First Nations, but include materials from around the world. Consultation with communities, especially First Nations, is preferred but awareness and sensitivity to issues concerning collections originating from these communities is required. Previous experience working with British Columbia's Heritage Conservation Act and its implications for the Laboratory of Archaeology repository will also be an asset.

Skills/KnowledgeThe incumbent must have been involved with collections, artifact types, collections databases and collections curation. Experience working with digital catalogues and spreadsheets is preferred. Experience working with digital cameras, lightbox photography and producing images for digital publication would be an asset. Must demonstrate effective analytical skills and report-writing skills. Must demonstrate the ability to manage multiple deadlines and schedule tasks to meet departmental and project requirements. The ability to exercise judgement, discretion, and confidentiality is essential. * Must demonstrate the ability to work both independently and in a team environment, effective interpersonal oral and written communications, and the ability to organize and supervise lower classification workers and work teams of undergraduate student and volunteer workers