Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Collections, Discovery, and Systems, the Head of Discovery and Systems provides vision and project leadership for the technical infrastructure of the variety of systems and discovery services for Smith College Libraries. The Head of Discovery and Systems is responsible for managing the technical infrastructure of the Libraries' discovery layers and ensuring accurate and comprehensive metadata for all library materials, both physical and digital. By overseeing the Discovery and Systems unit and the Cataloging and Metadata Services department, the Head of Discovery and Systems plays a critical role in ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of library services to the Smith College community.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Management and Supervision(20%)

• Manage three full-time staff in the Web Services and Cataloging and Metadata Services units, providing oversight and guidance to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services.
• Resolve service problems, issues, and questions related to the Discovery and Systems unit and the Cataloging and Metadata Services department.
• Contribute effectively to teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and customer service across all departments.
•  Provide leadership for the Libraries' Discovery environment, including developing roadmaps and plans for interoperability.
• Collaborate with the Cataloging and Metadata Services department to oversee the quality control of bibliographic and metadata records, including conducting periodic audits and assessments.
• Coordinate with the Cataloging and Metadata Services department to ensure the creation and maintenance of authority files, ensuring that controlled vocabulary terms are used consistently across all library materials.

Discovery and Systems (80%)

• Manage the technical infrastructure of the Libraries’ discovery layers, including both external and internal platforms. Continually evaluate and improve services focusing on accessibility and overall user experience.
• Serve as the main point of contact for FOLIO within the Five Colleges. Ensure that upgrades are reviewed and tested, update Five Colleges on bugs and system problems, and inform the Smith community about new features.
• In partnership with Five College colleagues, advocate for the consortium’s needs to EBSCO and other library software developers as well as publishers.
• In collaboration with the Electronic Resources Department, ensure on- and off-campus electronic resource access issues are fixed.
• Troubleshoot e-resource access barriers with library colleagues, students and faculty, ensuring that individual and large-scale access issues are resolved. Communicate to library stakeholders about potential issues.
• Collaborate with Learning, Research and Technology staff to optimize discovery of and access to the Libraries’ online and print collections for students, faculty and staff.
• Chair the Libraries Discovery Team and participate in the Five College Discovery Committee, serving as chair on a rotating basis.
• Provide system and technical guidance for additional systems used within the Libraries including the institutional repository, preservation systems, digital repository, and additional systems when necessary.
• Continually develop expertise with emerging technologies and identify, assess, and relay information about trends and innovations in electronic resource access and discovery to colleagues others.
• Serve as a point of contact for library staff for any questions related to discovery and systems. Provide support and training to library staff as needed.

Other Functions

Other duties as assigned.

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

• Master's degree or equivalent
• 3-5 years experience working within Library Management Systems and discovery interfaces
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong technical skills, including knowledge of library software and systems, including integrated library systems, discovery systems, authentication software, openURL linking standards,  and metadata standards
• Experience working in a consortial environment
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Ability to troubleshoot complex problems including system issues and access problems
• Understanding of accessibility standards and guidelines
• Knowledge of data privacy and security
• A basic understanding of digital preservation including concepts and tools
• Knowledge of metadata and cataloging formats including (MARC, Dublin Core, MODS, and METS)

Skills 

Basic competency in SQL, PHP, Javascript, Python

Additional Information

For the care and safety of our community, Smith College requires that all employees be vaccinated as a condition of employment and as such, the incumbent will be required to be immunized against COVID-19 on or before their first day of employment. Proof of vaccination status will be required. Individuals may seek medical or religious exemption with HR, but must do so prior to their arrival.

You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.

Review of applications will begin

May 29, 2023

Compensation Grade:

Grade G

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts.  A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

Diversity and a culture of inclusion among students, staff, faculty, and administration are crucial to the mission and values of Smith College. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religions, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.