Head, Knowledge Access

Description

New York University  Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Head, Knowledge Access. The ideal candidate will provide strategic direction and leadership, both within the Knowledge Access Department and throughout the Division of Libraries, for the development, implementation, and assessment of metadata infrastructure, policies, and practices. The Head will actively lead a strategic re-design of library metadata services that promotes innovation in support of NYU’s teaching and research mission. To this end, the Head will direct major change initiatives in response to evolving user demands, technological innovation, and emerging data models (RDF, BibFrame, Linked Data).

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Knowledge Access and Resource Management Services, the Head, Knowledge Access is responsible for all operational areas of the Knowledge Access Department, including establishing  metadata policies, strategies, and best practices, overseeing resource allocation, and conducting assessment. This position administers metadata services for the Libraries, directs database and discovery systems quality management, and leads the outreach and development of internal and external partnerships related to metadata services. The Head  provides leadership and administrative oversight for 25 professional and paraprofessional staff and directs the assignments of staff responsible for metadata creation transformation, remediation, and maintenance (both MARC and non-MARC) at all levels, in all formats and for all collections.  Specific duties include:

●    Develop and implement annual and multi-year strategic plans for the Knowledge Access department that are aligned with the mission and strategic priorities of the NYU Libraries. Secures support from constituents and stakeholders.

●    Leads the Metadata Policy Committee to create and maintain consistent standards for resource description to support and enhance functionality and interoperability in the Libraries’ and other discovery environment. Ensure that adopted standards and performance expectations are achieved.

●    Recommend policy, service, financial, and contractual commitments for NYU Libraries to participate in national and international programs; monitor current participation.

●    Build relationships with leaders from other NYU and consortial departments in order to create and refine the framework for the delivery of resource discovery services. 

●    Foster the ability to think critically about metadata management, creation, and manipulation throughout  the organization;  promote leadership and learning opportunities for staff to develop skills and adapt to evolving metadata processes.

●    Contribute knowledge access expertise to library and NYU campus partner initiatives; lead library initiatives and projects that have a knowledge access emphasis.

●    Maintain knowledge of trends and best practices in metadata standards and bring an affinity for the application of technology to support processing workflows and/or enhance service to library user communities.

●    Enact a user-centered culture of experimentation, innovation, assessment, and best-practice definition in designing and developing metadata-reliant processes and other knowledge access strategies that fosters team and individual performance while enhancing accountability.

●    Engage peer institutions in the investigation and development of scalable metadata standards and service models, that are user-centers and enhance access and discovery .

About NYU Libraries
Libraries at New York University serve the school’s 40,000 students and faculty and contain more than 5 million volumes. The Libraries supports NYU’s vision to become the first true Global Network University by collaborating with and providing services to our 11 global academic centers and our “portal campuses” in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. New York University Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the OCLC Research Library Partnership, and the HathiTrust. The Libraries participate in a variety of consortia and collaborate closely with Columbia University Libraries and the New York Public Library through the Manhattan Research Library Consortium. View NYU Libraries Mission and Strategic Plan.

Qualifications: Evidence of leadership in the provision of knowledge access to scholarly resources; successful experience in cataloging and metadata processes in an academic/research library, including evidence of successful and innovative management of staff and operations; operational knowledge of discovery and access methods and systems; demonstrated knowledge of trends, issues and methods of intellectual access to library resources coupled with a strong service orientation and knowledge of user needs for teaching, learning and research; excellent communication and interpersonal skills; excellent planning and organizational skills; working knowledge of metadata standards and applications; evidence of innovative, results-oriented approaches to processes and organizational development. MLS from an ALA-accredited program and a second master's degree required to be eligible for tenure.

Salary/Benefits: Faculty status, attractive benefits package including five weeks annual vacation. Salary commensurate with experience and background.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
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New York University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. New York University is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its hiring and promotion process without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth (or related medical condition), sexual orientation, partnership status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital, parental or familial status, caregiver status, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.