Director, Metadata Strategies

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

Job Location (Full Address):

601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14642

Opening:

Worker Subtype

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Department

200354 Metadata Services

Work Shift

Range

UR URG 115

Compensation Range

$96,860.00 - $145,290.00

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

Responsibilities:

GENERAL PURPOSE

This position at River Campus Libraries (RCL) leads the development and implementation of metadata strategies to enhance access to scholarly resources and collections. This role involves overseeing interoperable metadata systems, providing services to meet evolving research needs, and maintaining MARC-based cataloging. The position collaborates with various library departments and institutions, focusing on data curation, outreach, and educating the university community about metadata. Responsibilities include evaluating and adopting metadata standards, assisting in digitization projects, and ensuring quality control across metadata initiatives. The position also coordinates projects, advises on imaging standards, and develops processes for improved information access.

Responsibilities

General Purpose

The Director of Metadata Strategies provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for metadata strategies across the River Campus Libraries (RCL). The Director will oversee the creation and maintenance of interoperable metadata across RCL's metadata-rich systems to ensure robust and timely access to the UR Libraries' scholarly resources and distinctive collections. The Director will also lead the work of the Metadata Services Department in providing metadata services to meet a range of emerging research and discovery needs while continuing to support MARC-based descriptive cataloging. And, working within a collaborative and service-oriented environment, the Director will develop and implement user-centered metadata strategies, policies, and procedures across the University Libraries' and University's metadata-rich infrastructure. The Director will work closely with colleagues across the Scholarly Resources and Curation portfolio, RCL, Sibley Music Library, Edward G. Miner Library, and affiliated institutions. With RCL Data Services and Research Initiatives staff, the Director will also develop services that support data curation/management activities and showcase the University's research output. The Director will also manage Metadata Outreach, a distinctive RCL service that leverages the department's metadata expertise to help faculty, students, and the wider University identify and solve metadata-based problems and understand the value and function of metadata.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy

• Provide leadership, vision, and strategic direction for metadata strategies across River Campus Libraries (RCL), ensuring the timely and efficient creation and maintenance of interoperable metadata across RCL's metadata-rich systems in support of making scholarly resources accessible and discoverable.

• Develop and oversee projects, initiatives, and workflows to create metadata for a wide range of library materials including, but not limited to print, electronic resources, audiovisual materials, data and datasets, and digital assets/collections.

• Develop and oversee projects, initiatives, and workflows leverage current metadata-rich systems and frameworks and/or transforms existing metadata within the RCL digital ecosystem (e.g., Alma, WorldCat, institutional repositories).

• Develop and oversee projects, initiatives, and workflows that leverage metadata to facilitate the discovery, access, and use of the UR Libraries' unique and distinctive collections.

• Participate in RCL's Leadership Team.

• Participate in the UR Libraries' Alma Core Team and the Digital Collaborative Governance Team.

Collaboration and Coordination

• Works collaboratively with staff within RCL, UR Libraries, to advance strategic priorities.

• Collaborate with metadata and cataloging colleagues across the UR Libraries and affiliated institutions to ensure consistent and complementary metadata creation and resource discovery.

• Collaborate with the Director of Digital Initiatives and Digital Initiatives staff to leverage and maintain metadata-rich systems and workflows by providing support and expertise on metadata best practices and search and discovery.

• Collaborate with the Director of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation (RBSCP) and Assistant Directors on workflows, policies, and projects that support the robust description and discovery of our unique and rare collections.

• Collaborate with the Director, Collection Strategies and Head of Acquisitions on workflows, policies, and projects that support collection access and stewardship.

• With the Metadata Services Department, develop and maintain metadata-related policies and procedures.

• With colleagues across the UR Libraries and affiliated institutions, develop and maintain metadata-related policies and procedures for metadata-rich systems and workflows.

Departmental Management

• Oversee the work of the Metadata Services Department, a team of five.

• Directly supervise the Metadata Operations Librarian, Metadata Projects Librarian, and Discovery Services Librarian. Provide direction in developing and implementing evolving standards, best practices, and emerging technologies/solutions in metadata, cataloging, and discovery.

• Identify and support training and professional development opportunities for staff.

• Mentor and coach staff members; assist staff in developing annual goals and complete annual performance reviews.

• Develop and implement high-impact departmental goals that support RCL's strategic aims.

Metadata Outreach

• Develop and grow Metadata Outreach, a distinctive RCL service that leverages the Department's metadata expertise to help faculty, students, and the wider University identify and solve metadata-based problems.

• Support and develop the University's understanding of metadata, including its value and function.

• Provides expertise for metadata-rich University projects and programs, such as data governance and research data curation/management.

• Collaborate with colleagues in Digital Scholarship, Data Services, and Scholarly Communications on faculty and student research services and support.

• Support RCL projects and initiatives through consultations, providing metadata issues and best practices.

Miscellaneous

• Maintain currency with library functions, resources, practices, and procedures in the areas of cataloging, metadata, discovery, digital collections, and research data curation.

• Participate in and contribute to RCL, UR Libraries, and University committees, meetings, and events.

• Serves on projects or working groups that support the strategic and operational goals of the University.

• Contribute to the profession through active participation in conferences, associations, research, writing, etc.

• Other duties as assigned.

Metadata Creation and Maintenance

• Provides expertise in cataloging and metadata policies, procedures, and best practices.

• Provide expertise in creating, leveraging, or transforming metadata for library initiatives and programs such as shared print, system migrations, and research impact projects.

• Following accepted national standards and local guidelines, creates, derives, and manages metadata as needed for print and digital resources, using MARC and non-MARC schemas.

• Provides guidance and assistance in metadata maintenance and clean-up projects in Alma and digital collections platforms.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree from an ALA-accredited institution in library or information science or equivalent combination of knowledge and experience.

• Five years of professional experience in cataloging and metadata creation and management.

• Three years of experience managing and developing teams.

• Demonstrated leadership experience.

• Experience in or commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion, and belonging through metadata practice, scholarship, and service.

Preferred

• Experience in cataloging and metadata activities in higher ed.

• Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging issues, trends, workflows, and best practices in cataloging and metadata.

• Demonstrated descriptive metadata expertise and fluency in MARC/RDA and at least one or more non-MARC metadata schemas (e.g., Dublin Core, EAD, METS, MODS).

• Knowledge of and fluency with integrated library systems, digital collections and exhibit platforms, institutional repositories, or discovery systems (e.g., Alma, Primo, Omeka S, FigShare, ArchivesSpace).

• Demonstrated ability to leverage metadata and organizational expertise in a variety of domains and systems.

• Outstanding written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.

• Effective problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills.

• Ability to organize, direct, motivate, and evaluate performance of staff.

• Strong commitment to building and nurturing positive relationships in a service-oriented environment with a proven ability to work in a collaborative environment.

• Ability to successfully manage cross-functional and cross-organizational projects and initiatives.

• Demonstrated knowledge of project management tools and best practices.

• Familiarity with linked data, ontologies, and taxonomies best practices and standards.

• Familiarity with data curation and data management best practices and standards.

EOE Minorities / Females / Protected Veterans / Disabled:

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University's mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create - and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations.

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