Data Services Librarian

Description

The University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System (HSLS) invites applications for the newly created position of Data Services Librarian. The main roles of this position will be to populate and promote the Library’s Data Catalog by creating and curating metadata to describe datasets generated by researchers in the schools of the health sciences (Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Public Health) and to plan and conduct outreach efforts to encourage data catalog contributions.

This individual will report to the Coordinator of Data Services and will be a member of the library’s Data Services Team, which offers support, consultations, and customized training to researchers organizing and describing their data, writing data management plans, locating datasets for reuse, and creating data visualizations. This individual will also work closely with the Data Catalog’s systems programmers and HSLS library liaisons to the schools of the health sciences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement methods to identify datasets for inclusion into the Data Catalog.
• Create, curate, and maintain accurate metadata for datasets.
• Assist researchers with submitting their own metadata to the Data Catalog.
• Plan, conduct, and document outreach initiatives to researchers and other stakeholders across campus in collaboration with the library liaisons.
• Assist in the development of a marketing strategy and enact plans for assessing and promoting the Data Catalog.
• Suggest metadata schema edits if needed based on personal experiences and researcher consultations.
• Direct researchers to platforms or repositories for data storage.
• Participate in research projects and contribute to manuscripts related to the Data Catalog.
• Collaborate and regularly engage with colleagues at other institutions who also have a data catalog (NYU for example: https://datacatalog.med.nyu.edu/).
• Other duties within the Data Services Team and the Library as assigned.

Required qualifications

• MLS from ALA-accredited institution or advanced degree in a related field.
• Familiarity with the research data lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of metadata and experience in describing digital content.
• Documented ability to plan, organize, and implement outreach activities in an academic or other relevant setting.
• Ability to interact effectively with researchers for one-on-one consultations.
• Ability to perform detailed work accurately.
• Documented ability to work independently and in teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.

Preferred qualifications

• Candidates with health sciences or research backgrounds and work experience in a research-intensive university setting.
• Knowledge of data management requirements for federal grants and publishers.
• Familiarity with institutional repositories.
• Understanding of the FAIR Data Principles and the need for various access rights to data.

Minimum starting salary is $50,000. Position is a full-time, non-tenured faculty librarian. The University of Pittsburgh is an EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled Employer. The University supports diversity initiatives and encourages minorities to apply. For more information, refer to the University’s required workplace postings.

For more information about the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System, visit www.hsls.pitt.edu.

For more information about the University of Pittsburgh, visit www.pitt.edu.

Pittsburgh, PA, is an attractive city with a reasonable cost of living. Money magazine recently ranked Pittsburgh as the most livable big city in the Northeastern United States: http://time.com/money/3989171/best-big-cities-2015/ and Time magazine recently created a video on the “Rebirth of Pittsburgh": http://time.com/pittsburgh.