Spatial Data Science Librarian

Description

Department: Data Science Center
Rank and Salary: Associate Librarian – Librarian ($59,276 – $90,921)
Position Availability: Immediately
Application deadline for first consideration: October 10, 2018

The UCLA Library seeks a Spatial Data Science Librarian (SDSL) to develop and extend the Library’s role in providing services centered around the acquisition, development, and utilization of research collections of geospatial digital assets. The Spatial Data Science Librarian is tasked with facilitating geospatial research, and enabling its use through research support, exhibitions and programming, and community building, facilitated by collaboration with colleagues within and beyond the Library. Reporting to the Director of the Library Data Science Center, the SDSL will play a leading role defining a vision of geospatial discovery and representation services needed to support research and use.

Position Duties
Reporting to the Director of the Data Science Center, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

• Envisions, develops, and evolves geospatial services and programs that promote, support, and inspire geospatial research methods and use of geospatial resources as part of an emerging suite of services offered in the Data Science Center. These services include research facilitation, instruction, and community building with colleagues within and beyond the Library.
•  Provides strategic planning and practical decision-making for the technical infrastructure for spatial components of data science and geospatial digital projects in support of both teaching and research across the campus. Develops short-term and long-term goals and objectives to achieve the envisioned services and programs.
•  Provides leadership and planning support for geospatial and data research projects with spatial components.
• Engages with researchers and creators on campus in new uses of spatial data, especially in conjunction with large, convergence research and inter- and transdisciplinary endeavors.
• Contributes to the development of the Library’s geospatial collections, drawing on an understanding of the collection’s strengths, its use, scholarly trends, and the identification and pursuit of new collecting opportunities.
• Serves as the Library expert on geospatial technologies, including discovery interfaces, GIS software, geospatial repositories and databases, geospatial data acquisition and methods.
• Represents and promotes the collections, projects, and services of the Library through outreach and advocacy at conferences and consortia related to geospatial resources and research.
• Serves as an advocate for adopting appropriate practices locally for the preservation and enduring utility of geospatial resources, including contributing to larger policy development and revisions related to the Library’s digital preservation policy.
• As a member of the Library’s Data Science Center, advises UCLA scholars on geospatial data management and data lifecycle. Serves as a general advisor on data management in support of the mission of the Data Science Center.
•  Provides individual consultations involving the use, processing, and analysis of geospatial data to UCLA students, faculty, and staff, as well as off-campus users.
• Coordinates the Library’s GIS services with other campus GIS initiatives and cooperates with UC wide GIS initiatives.
• Works with Library Development to cultivate and steward donors, collections, and gift funds.

Required Qualifications

• ALA-accredited Master's Degree in Library or Information Science OR significant graduate-level coursework toward such a degree OR equivalent education and experience (subject expertise combined with professional library education and/or experience).
• Demonstrated GIS experience.
• Extensive knowledge and expertise with geospatial data and relevant software, such as, GDAL, ESRI ArcGIS applications, Carto, ENVI, and QGIS.
• Experience with Python or R and their application to geospatial data.
• Experience with data visualization tools, software, and concepts related to geospatial information.
• Competence with georeferenced data wrangling, analysis, visualization, and storytelling.
• Fluency in best practices for the preservation and enduring utility of geospatial resources.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive educational environment and workplace and ability to work with a diverse student and faculty population.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to initiate and maintain collaborative working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and managers. Ability to work harmoniously and as a team player and to thrive in a team-based environment. Demonstrated skill in fostering teamwork among others.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalency in Geography, Geographic Information Science, or other relevant field, or relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of common Machine Learning algorithms such as Decision Trees and Neural Networks and common implementation libraries such as scikit-learn.
• Experience with data management planning.
• Experience with SQL and spatial databases, such as PostGIS and SpatiaLite.
• Knowledge of statistics and its application in geospatial science.
• Ability to work across varied disciplines including Arts and Architecture, Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM fields.
• Demonstrated teaching experience.
•  Experience working in an academic, research or special library.
• Experience working in higher education.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Experience in donor relations and stewardship.