GIS and Geography Information Specialist (Geospatial Specialist)

Description

Title: GIS and Geography Information Specialist (Geospatial Specialist)
Category: Librarian (Open Rank)
Department: Research Commons
Benefits: 22 Days Annual Leave, 15 Days of Sick Leave, 3 Days Personal Leave, 15 Paid Holidays Tuition Remission, Health, Dental, Vision, and Prescription

As the largest university library system in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore area, the University of Maryland Libraries serve more than 37,500 students and 4,200 faculty of the flagship College Park campus. The University of Maryland Libraries share the teaching, learning and research goals of the university. Its role as a key academic resource is evident in its service to the academic community and its actionable strategic plan. Recent membership in the Big Ten Academic Alliance is particularly meaningful to the University Libraries and will further propel the university’s ascendancy in academic excellence.

With collections including 4 million volumes and more than 40,000 serials subscriptions, the University of Maryland Libraries allocate 75 percent of its materials budget to electronic resources. Maryland ranks 39th among the 115 member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries and has an operating budget of $23.7 million. The University of Maryland Libraries benefit from being situated geographically within minutes of the nation’s capital and its departments, agencies, and research centers.

This is a full-time permanent librarian position in the Research Commons with responsibilities for GIS and Geospatial data, maps and liaison services to the Department of Geography. The librarian in this position is a forward-focused individual who will continue to grow the Libraries’ GIS and Spatial Data Center and services program, helping to develop the strategic direction of these services in the Research Commons. Through consultations, workshops, and other programming, the Geospatial Specialist Librarian will build relationships in order to support researchers’ geospatial data literacy needs, leveraging emerging technologies that enhance access to data, and assist researchers with data-intensive forms of research and scholarly expression. They will be an expert in applying geospatial concepts and techniques to the research agendas of faculty and students, will manage the geography and maps collections, maintaining strong relationships with faculty and students, and will enhance curricula and research innovation across the University relating to spatial and visual thinking. The Geospatial Specialist Librarian will also support internal Libraries needs by providing workshops and training support to liaison librarians and other library staff. The successful candidate will also serve as a subject liaison librarian to the Department of Geography.

Requirements

Education

• ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution of higher education, or equivalent professional degree.

Experience

• Understanding of current and emerging trends in GIS, cartography and/or related geospatial fields, including information resources and applications.
• Experience with GIS software such as ArcGIS (Map, Pro, Online, etc.), Story Map, and/or open source tools like QGIS.
• Experience with or aptitude for working effectively and creatively with faculty and students.
• Experience with or aptitude for providing reference and research assistance in an academic or special library.
• Experience with or aptitude for teaching workshops and/or instruction sessions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to function independently and in groups, build and maintain relationships with partners and library staff.
• Ability to provide exceptional service to a diverse clientele.

Preferences

• Significant coursework, a bachelor’s degree or second advanced degree in a GIS-related field, and/or experience in working with geospatial data and technology.
• Experience with or aptitude for collection development in Geography, including in specialized formats required by the discipline.
• One year of library or related professional experience.
• Knowledge of the research process and evolving models of scholarly communication, open access, institutional repositories, and other trends in information science.
• Experience with software for statistical, quantitative and/or qualitative analysis, such as SPSS, Stata, SAS, R, Python, NVivo.

For the full position description and faculty requirements, please go to http://www.lib.umd.edu/hr/employment-opportunities/staff-faculty-positions.

Position is appointed to Librarian Faculty Ranks as established by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. Rank at appointment is based on the successful applicant’s experience and relevant credentials. Applicant must meet the Libraries' requirements for promotion, which includes a commitment to professional development, service, and self-directed research, scholarship, and/or creative activities. For additional information, consult the following website: http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/2014-ii-100b.html.

APPLICATIONS: Electronic applications required. Please apply online at http://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/74352. No relocation assistance will be provided. You must be legally able to work in the United States; the University of Maryland Libraries will not sponsor individuals for employment. An application consists of a cover letter, which includes the source of advertisement, a curriculum vitae, and names/e-mail addresses of three references.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and accepted until 11/20/2019.

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.