The University of Virginia Library seeks an expert in library description and discovery with a vision for the future of the discipline for the role of Manager, Metadata and Discovery Services (MDS) Team.  Reporting to the Director, Digital Strategies and Scholarly Communication Services, the MDS Manager oversees operations and workflows for MARC and non-MARC description and discovery for analog and digital resources, and participates in regional and national consortia and initiatives.  The successful candidate will have key responsibility for leading the transition to the updated RDA Toolkit. Directly supervises a staff of 7.5 FTE.  This is a mid-career professional librarian job opportunity.

 

University of Virginia Library staff recognize that many of our materials result from, are created by, or represent marginalized groups of people. We also acknowledge that many of the subject headings used to describe marginalized communities are biased and harmful, and we replace harmful and racist terms with acceptable headings in our own catalog. In support of our library’s reparative efforts, we seek an individual who is prepared to collaborate and lead to redress bias and structural racism in our metadata.

 

Duties:

• Plans for and leads transition to the updated RDA Toolkit by Spring 2027.
• Manages and prioritizes timely creation and enhancement of standards-based description for analog and digital resources using replicable and sustainable workflows.
• Establishes goals and evaluates the work of assigned staff members.
• Provides vision and shared leadership for the Library’s Subject Access Enhancement Initiative to improve subject access to University of Virginia Library resources with a focus on under-represented and marginalized communities.
• Develops and documents projects and workflows as well as community-of-practice-aligned metadata standards.
• Primary contact for colleagues, vendors, and scholars in support of description workflows as well as research and scholarly initiatives throughout the Library and University.

 

Required Qualifications

 

• Master’s degree in Library Sciences from an ALA accredited program
• 5 years of professional experience in cataloging, metadata, or descriptive operations in an academic setting
• Current experience with MARC and RDA description
• Knowledge of non-MARC standards and description.
• Demonstrated success in planning and implementing projects or workflows.
• Ability to communicate in writing to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism through participation in educational sessions, creation of policies, or implementation of practices in support of an inclusive workplace or reparative description.

 

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Demonstrated success supervising permanent staff and managing a diverse team.
• Experience with non-MARC standards and description
• Experience with PCC NACO, BIBCO, CONSER or SACO programs.
• Experience providing description for at least one non-English language.

 

Anticipated hiring range: $85,000-$90,000

This position is designated hybrid, and the successful candidate will be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week, after a probationary period.

 

The UVA Library supports career development and provides opportunities for both formal and informal training as part of professional development. We are interested in reviewing candidates with a broad range and combination of experiences, education, and qualifications. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and dynamic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every preferred qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.

 

TO APPLY:

Please visit UVA job board: https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs and search for R0000

Complete an application online and attach:

• Cover letter expressing interest and qualifications.
• Resume/ CV

Initial review begins August 28, 2024.

*****Please combine all required application materials in the order listed above into one document and upload in the resume / cv box ***