The Cultural Heritage Center in is looking to hire a contractor as a full time Regional Analyst. This position is DC-based. Candidates should expect to be in the office at least three days a week and be prepared for more in office days if needed.

The Cultural Heritage Center is a part of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State.  The Center supports the Bureau’s mission to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries by collaborating with a range of partners around the world to help communities protect and preserve their diverse forms of cultural heritage – from ancient and historic monuments to museum collections to intangible heritage like dance, music and language.

Within the Center, regional analysts function as experts on cultural heritage and cultural property issues in geographic regions outside the United States. With this contract position, the Center is particularly interested in gaining a regional analyst for either i.) Latin America, ii.) Africa, or iii.) East Asia and the Pacific. As regional analyst you will:

• Monitor and analyze a wide variety of information about cultural heritage and political, economic and social developments affecting cultural heritage, including information on international cultural property laws and regulations; measures taken to protect and preserve cultural heritage; incidences and patterns of looting and illicit export; and the state of research, exhibition, and conservation of archaeological or ethnological materials.
• Carry out the complete analytic, administrative and diplomatic process for renewal of cultural property agreements with countries or development of new agreements.
• Support the functions of the President’s Cultural Property Advisory Committee.
• Draft documents supporting decision-making pertaining to U.S. foreign policy on cultural heritage protection and preservation.
• Facilitate coordination on repatriations of cultural property and heritage.
• Participates in meetings, workshops, seminars, etc. regarding policy issues of special interest to the cultural heritage community, which may include domestic and/or international travel.

Candidates for this contract position must have a Masters or PhD in cultural heritage, art history, archaeology, anthropology, historic preservation, museum studies, or a related field. Ideal candidates will have advanced research experience in the material cultures of i.) Latin America, ii.) Africa, and/or iii.) East Asia and the Pacific and at least a conversational level of proficiency in a language used in the region studied. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of three years work experience demonstrating:

• experience conducting research and analysis in a foreign or foreign affairs setting;
• experience working independently, with minimal supervision, in a fast-paced environment;
• experience facilitating coordination of multiple independent actors;
• strong critical and creative thinking and analytical skills;
• strong planning, organizational and multi-tasking skills;
• strong written and oral communication skills; and
• experience building professional relationships.

Candidate should be willing to travel internationally up to 25% of the time, including to areas determined by the Department to be a hazardous duty area. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the Secret level.