Data Services Librarian (Associate Professor)

Description

APPLICATION DEADLINE: The search will remain open until the position is filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by June 8, 2016. Second consideration may be given to applications received by July 6, 2016. Applications received subsequent to the second consideration date (July 6, 2016) may not be given full consideration.

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This position is a 12-month tenure-track faculty appointment at the Associate Professor level. The position will be a calendar year appointment with an expected start date of July 2016. This position reports to the Chair, Public Services and Dean, University Libraries.

We seek an experienced data specialist to lead the Libraries’ efforts to support work with data across our University and within the University Libraries. The use of data and statistics is growing quickly as computational methods expand across many disciplines and as better tools make statistical analysis more widely available. The Libraries will serve several roles in enhancing use of data across disciplines on campus, and the incumbent will direct efforts at supporting the use of data throughout the scholarly life cycle. The Data Services Librarian plays a key role in developing services and policies to collect, manage, curate, provide access to, and instruct in the use of data throughout the data life cycle. The ideal candidate will have proven experience supporting applied research with statistical methods and a strong public services orientation. Located near Rhode Island’s famous shoreline and within easy traveling distance from Boston and New York City, the University of Rhode Island is a Land-, Sea-, and Urban-Grant institution and is a top tier research university.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Directs statistical and data consulting and training efforts at the Libraries, supporting grant research as well as both graduate and undergraduate education, and partnering with faculty, departments, and research centers to identify and fill gaps in needed services on campus.

Provides effective data research instruction for individuals, groups and classes that may include credit-bearing courses. Supports the development of data literacy and numeracy skills and liaises with instructors to promote and facilitate the use of data in their classes.

Collaborates with diverse partners in the Libraries, across campus, and externally to ensure a strong environment for reproducible research and responsible long-term research data management.

Develop internal analytics services within the library, supporting efforts to enhance strategic planning and project prioritization with tools and reliable methods for data-driven decision making.
Support the Libraries’ collection development initiatives with a focus on datasets and sources. Selects and acquires numeric data collections as appropriate and directs the efforts to ensure the curation and preservation of these collections.

Participate in outreach initiatives aimed at enhancing awareness of data services in the Libraries.

Connect with colleagues across campus, throughout the profession, and in the wider research data management community and be an active participant in the advancement of knowledge of data management.

Participate in the governance and activities of a highly-collaborative academic department.

ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

Required Qualifications

Required:

1. ALA accredited MLS or an ALA-approved equivalent degree.

2. At least five years’ professional experience in an academic or research library.

3. At least two years of library experience in data services or data management.

4. Demonstrated experience teaching data related content including statistical methods and tools.

5. Demonstrated ability to verbally communicate effectively.

6. Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.

7. Proven experience in the use of major statistical packages (such as SAS, R, STATA, and SPSS).

8. Demonstrated experience with standards for data management and preservation.

9. Demonstrated ability to fulfill the University’s requirements for tenure and promotion in librarianship, research and service.

10. Demonstrated experience working with diverse groups/populations.

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred:

1. Advanced degree in sciences, informatics, statistics or related data intensive discipline.

2. Experience with both geospatial information systems and statistical programming (in, for example, ArcInfo, SAS, R, Python).