Cultural Resource Steward, Native American Initiatives

Job Description

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Cultural Resource Steward, Native American Initiatives

OPEN TO: This job is open to current MNHS staff.

LOCATION: History Center - 345 W Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102

COMPENSATION: Typical starting range $66,185.60- $76,939.20 annually

STATUS & HOURS: Full-time, regular (approximately 2080 annual hours) position.

BENEFITS: Eligible to participate in the State Employee Group Insurance Program and a retirement program with employer contribution. Generous vacation and sick time accruals with additional paid holidays.

DESIGNATION: Bargaining Unit AFSCME Local 3173

POSTING DATE: July 24, 2026

DEADLINE DATE: July 31, 2026

TO APPLY: Interested applicants must apply online at the Minnesota Historical Society’s career center at and include a resume and cover letter by the application deadline date.

DESCRIPTION: This cultural resource stewardship role aligns directly with the Minnesota Historical Society 2027-2031 Strategic Plan, specifically the “Develop Sustained Relationships and Impactful Experiences” strategy and the “Galvanize Statewide Alliances” strategy.This position will fulfill Cultural Resource Stewardship responsibilities that promote the identification, evaluation, documentation, registration, protection, treatment, continued use, and particularly the interpretation of MNHS prehistoric and historic resources. This person will collaboratively develop Native American cultural resource stewardship plans from concept to completion, ensuring thorough planning, coordination, communication, and facilitation. This work requires coordination with both internal teams and external partners, and contributes to historical interpretation, Native American program development, mounds management, and the overall preservation of the MNHS historic sites network. Project management responsibilities include developing inventories, consultation, cross-functional project team development, scoping, scheduling and achieving key project objectives.

The position exists as both a content expert in Native American history and serves to engage with, learn from, and advocate for Native American communities within Minnesota and surrounding regions. This position helps to strengthen existing relationships between Tribal Nations, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO), and the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS), and prioritizes community needs, while also serving to help broaden and enrich MNHS resources and programs to be inclusive and respectful of American Indian people. The Cultural Resource Steward is a member of the Native American Initiatives (NAI) Department and also serves MNHS at large, as together we also deepen relationships with the MNHS Indian Advisory Council (IAC), the MNHS Dakota Community Council (DCC), and the State of Minnesota’s Indian Affairs Council (MIAC).

SUMMARY OF WORK: 1) Provide subject matter expertise to support the development and implementation of Native American interpretation, exhibits, public programs, and historic sites initiatives; 2) Collaboratively lead the development and implementation of Cultural Resource Stewardship Plans for MNHS historic sites; 3) Build and sustain relationships with Tribal Nations, Native communities, and organizational partners; and 4) Provide subject matter expertise and coordinate cultural resource management and preservation activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in history, museum studies, heritage studies, urban studies, ethnic studies, American Indian studies or related program.

• Three years of experience in American Indian community engagement and/or industry-specific inclusion work.

• Knowledge of American Indian cultural resources and regulations.

• Knowledge of cultural resource management principles.

• A working knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

• Ability to apply current practices and trends regarding Native cultural resource stewardship in the workplace.

• Strong interpersonal skills to negotiate, mediate, and collaborate with a wide variety of people with a diverse range of knowledge and skills and diverse backgrounds, education, and interests.

• Strong organizational skills are needed to facilitate connections between multiple communities and internal partners.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to create networks and connections among diverse groups.

• Experience using a shared database to track work.

• Interest in history and how its study can positively impact future social decisions.

• Valid driver’s license.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Broad knowledge of Minnesota and American history and familiarity with current work and trends in historiography.

• Experience in working with Archaeology and Cultural Resource management

• Knowledge of the Department of Native American Initiatives philosophy at the MNHS.

• Knowledge of the MNHS’ Inclusion & Diversity strategic priority.

• Experience with multiple Department of American Indian or American Indian related programs as a participant or in a support position.

Should you have questions with the application process, email View email address on ziprecruiter.com or call MNHS Job Line at View phone number on ziprecruiter.com.

At MNHS, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on diversity for the benefit of our employees, our products and services, and our community. The Minnesota Historical Society believes that an inclusive culture among our team members is critical to our success as a historical society and museum, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The Minnesota Historical Society is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and employer.