Data Services Librarian

Description

New York University Libraries is seeking a tenure-track faculty librarian to support the needs of data-intensive research and teaching across a wide range of social sciences, humanities, and sciences disciplines at NYU. This individual works as part of a team to grow and sustain a rapidly evolving set of services that supports researchers across the full data lifecycle, including data finding and access; statistical, geospatial, qualitative, and text data analysis training and consultation; and data management, preservation, and publication.  

The Data Services Librarian plays a key role in building rich data collections for the libraries, working in close collaboration with other specialists to select, acquire, and manage tabular, text-based, and data materials to support campus research and scholarship in the social sciences and humanities. This person works in tandem with technologists, metadata architects, and developers within NYU Libraries to maintain and improve systems for description, storage, discovery, and access to tabular, spatial, and text-corpus data.

This position works to promulgate awareness of our resources and services among faculty and students through outreach activities and in partnership with other providers. The incumbent works closely with colleagues in Data Services and the Librarian for Geospatial Information Systems to deliver data-focused instruction, reference, and consultation activities. Depending upon the background of the candidate, this person may also serve as liaison librarian to one or more programs or departments at the University, selecting materials and providing services to support the research and teaching of faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students in said areas.

The Data Services Librarian participates in library-wide committees, activities, and special projects, especially those involving new technologies and data. The incumbent will develop and maintain awareness of data-centered initiatives across the sciences, attending professional meetings, workshops and conferences for training and continuing professional development. The Data Services Librarian is based in the NYU Data Services, a joint service of the NYU Libraries and NYU Research Technology. This position reports to the Head of Specialized Research Services and Data Services in the Collections and Research Services Division, and operates in close coordination with the Digital Scholarship Services and the Digital Library Technology Services group.

At the Division of Libraries, we are proud of our organizational culture and we are committed to building and sustaining a diverse,inclusive, and equitable organization that supports a sense of belonging for the staff and communities we serve. For more about our values, see http://library.nyu.edu/about/general/values/

Qualifications

Required:

• Minimum one graduate degree (master’s level or higher) for consideration.  A second graduate degree will be required for tenure review. One of the two graduate degrees must be an ALA-accredited MLS or equivalent.
• Academic or professional experience in a social sciences field like politics, sociology, economics, or another field utilizing quantitative methodologies.
• Basic knowledge of public and proprietary resources for national and international numeric data.
• Basic knowledge of IT development, programming and/or coding/scripting.
• Ability to work effectively with patrons and colleagues in a collaborative environment.
• Reference/consultation, teaching, and/or outreach experience in an academic library.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills.
• Strong public service orientation.

Preferred:

• Experience cleaning and optimizing data in various forms and/or a working knowledge of metadata standards related to the description, access, and preservation of numeric data, (e.g. Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) specification).
• Experience acquiring or licensing data resources for a library collection.
• Experience working across organizational boundaries and managing complex stakeholder groups to move projects forward.
• Proficiency in at least one scripting language such as Python; experience with Bash (shell scripting), JavaScript, and/or Ruby; knowledge of Unix command line utilities, Git, web server administration, and interaction with APIs and database systems.
• Basic familiarity with software for statistical, geospatial, qualitative, and/or text analysis (e.g. SPSS, Stata, R, ArcGIS, Atlas.ti, NVivo, Mallet).

Application Instructions

To ensure consideration, submit your CV and letter of application, including the name, address, telephone number, and email of three professional references. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Salary/Benefits:  
Tenure track faculty status and an attractive benefits package, including five weeks annual vacation. Salary is commensurate with experience and background.