Metadata Coordinator (Hybrid Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

 

Job Summary

The Metadata Coordinator oversees cataloging/metadata creation and management in a large complex academic research environment. Develops, implements, and assesses proposals, plans and projects specifically related to cataloging/metadata systems and services. Recommends and facilitates improvements to existing systems and services. Advises on the application of appropriate current and emerging cataloging/metadata schema to facilitate access to digital resources and physical collections. Trains others on cataloging/metadata creation and management and works closely with staff throughout the Libraries to provide access to the Libraries’ collections. Participates in discussions relating to discovery, access, retrieval, and management of objects in ILS, discovery, and digital repository systems.

 

Essential Duties:

• Directly supervises and evaluates the work of the professional and classified staff of the Metadata Unit (MU) within Information Resources Management (IRM).
• Provides mentorship and collaboratively sets annual goals with MU team members (along with the IRM Department Head, as well as the Associate Dean for Content & Discovery).
• Fairly and appropriately delegates work across the MU, including delegation of staff training and maintenance of MU workflow documentation to the most appropriate Metadata Librarian.
• Leads MU meetings and participates in IRM and Content & Discovery leadership meetings to facilitate communication and sharing of feedback.
• Conducts regular one-on-one meetings with team members and completes required personnel review processes (e.g. Annual Librarian Reviews, USA Performance Evaluations) by assigned deadlines.
• Coordinates cross functional work between other departments in the Libraries or other units in IRM.
• Reviews requests, answers questions, and makes appropriate referrals to assist team in following established HR and business processes (i.e. review and approval of timesheets, supply requests, travel requests, expense reports, etc.).
• Reports unit progress regularly to the Head of IRM and, in collaboration with the Head, makes and communicates, in meetings and email, decisions about changes to workflows, projects, and assignments.  

 

Other Unit Duties:

• Creates and maintains metadata for description, discovery, access, administration, and preservation of both digital and physical objects produced, acquired, or held by the Libraries.
• Trains others on metadata creation and management and work closely with staff throughout the Libraries to provide access to the Libraries’ collections.
• Contributes to the development, documentation and communication of departmental and Five College metadata workflows, policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Maintains quality-control processes for cataloging/metadata in the Libraries' catalog, institutional repository, digital collections platforms, and other discovery systems.
• Monitors and records monthly cataloging statistics.
• Consults and collaborates with other library staff in the Five Colleges Consortium on metadata related activities.
• Participates in library service and professional development activities as assigned or required to meet departmental goals and objectives.
• Works creatively, collaboratively, and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality, and inclusiveness within the UMass Amherst Libraries and the campus.
• Participates in library-wide preservation activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the Libraries and the department.

 

Organizational Values

• Commitment to support justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within libraries and the institution.
• Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships and work collaboratively in a diverse and fast-paced environment.
• Purposefully promote a One Library environment for all that encourages inclusion, personal growth, respect, self-reflection, curiosity, and continuous learning.
• Understands responsibilities with respec