Data Management Librarian

Description

Founded in 1893 as a Land Grant University, Montana State University (MSU) is composed of eight academic colleges and a graduate school and boasts a friendly, supportive faculty and campus environment. Currently, the University hosts an enrollment of over 15,000 students, including approximately 1,900 graduate students. MSU is classified as one of 108 U.S. Research Universities (very high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation.

MSU is located in Bozeman, Montana, an extended community of about 70,000 nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Southwest Montana. In addition to providing access to an extraordinary ecosystem for teaching and research programs, Bozeman is renowned for year-round recreational and cultural opportunities to include access to world class ski areas, multiple blue ribbon trout streams and the Gallatin National Forest. The local airport is served by seven national airlines with over twenty flights a day to nine cities.

Named an All American City, Bozeman boasts high-quality medical facilities, a very low crime rate, many fine restaurants, acclaimed public and private schools, a symphony orchestra and choir, an annual opera, and nationally known events such as the Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts held in early August of each year. Powder Magazine identified Bozeman, with "three distinctly different" major ski resorts within an hour's drive, as the number one place to live and ski in its November 2010 Magazine. Bizjournals.com ranked Bozeman #2 on the list of American Dreamtowns - small towns that offer the best quality of life without metropolitan hassles. The K-12 educational system, growing reputation of Montana State University, and pristine natural environment of the area combine to make Bozeman one of America's most desirable university towns. Bozeman is located in the beautiful Gallatin Valley, 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.


Overview
The MSU Library plays an integral role in the teaching, research, and outreach missions of the University. To succeed in this role, the library seeks an energetic, articulate, well-organized, service-oriented librarian to address a growing need in managing and sharing research data across disciplines and helping faculty answer mandates for data management and data sharing.

The successful candidate will have a keen interest in data management and preservation issues, and a willingness to learn and develop additional expertise through professional development opportunities in these areas. Located on the Digital Access and Web Services team, the position is a 12-month, tenure track, faculty appointment with rank as assistant professor. This position works both independently and in a collaborative environment to build, support, and help users with data research collections; to market the use of data services to the university community including faculty and students; and to provide specialized instruction, consultation and outreach services to define and scope the data management processes on campus.

This position will lead the efforts to raise awareness of data management and digital preservation issues and works in partnership with other data professionals across the university to provide cohesive and complementary services. Future partners include The Research Computing Group at MSU. As a member of the Library faculty, the Data Management Librarian is expected to meet the research and service requirements for promotion and tenure.


Duties and Responsibilities

Lead development of a data management services program to serve the needs of faculty and students across the University. Participate in university and library initiatives to develop policies and offer sustainable services and infrastructure that enable management of research data over the intended data lifecycle. Work with partners in the library and on campus to develop a data-publishing model for shared access to open data. Assist researchers in developing data management plans, including those mandated by funding agencies. Provide consultation services for faculty and students on data-related issues and challenges arising from their research. Develop training and documentation for MSU Library faculty and staff to enable effective data consultation services. Help build an open data-sharing platform using data management tools and RESTful APIs or web services. Participate in the library’s liaison program to create data management opportunities and liaison work. Develop a research agenda that results in publications in peer-reviewed forums.


Required Qualifications

1.    ALA-accredited MLS.
2.    Strong understanding of the data lifecycle.
3.    Understanding of the research processes used in a range of disciplines.
4.    Familiarity with data management requirements of funding agencies.
5.    Working knowledge of metadata principles, and an understanding of controlled vocabularies, taxonomies, and ontologies.
6.    Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, both verbal and written, for successful interaction via email, phone, in person, and in presentation venues.

Preferred Qualifications

1.    Demonstrated success with project management and leading project groups/teams.
2.    Experience working with digital initiatives in an academic library environment
3.    Experience with grant writing or data management plan development.
4.    Demonstrated success in cultivating and developing collaborative relationships with peers and with academic units, faculty members, and students across organizational boundaries.
5.    Demonstrated experience with data management and curation, with particular focus on research practices relating to data, format migration, preservation, reuse and retrieval.
6.    Demonstrated research interest and scholarly activity in the field.

The SuccessfulCandidate Will:

have the ability to meet the research and service requirements for faculty promotion and tenure.
have a strong interest in learning on the job and applying new skills to meet library needs.
have a strong interest in supporting the land grant mission of MSU and outreach to academic units and citizens of Montana.
demonstrate a friendly, approachable, public service attitude.
have the ability to balance independent work and team-oriented work.
display an aptitude for problem solving and facilitating the work of others.
possess the ability to provide leadership and assuming responsibility for organizational and program activities.

Additional Requirements

1.    In accordance with MSU policy, hiring will be conditional upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Application Deadline

Screening of applications will begin on October 7, 2013 and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Application Procedure
To apply, submit the following:

(1) a letter of application addressing all of the above required and preferred qualifications, and
(2) a current curriculum vitae, and
(3) the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of three current professional references.
An application packet addressing all the above requirements and qualification as listed is highly encouraged. Missing materials and information may not be requested and may result in your application not being considered for the position.

Electronic submissions in PDF format are preferred, and must have the applicant's signature on the letter of application. For electronic submittals, please indicate "Applicant - Search #14-067" in the subject line of the email.

Submit materials to:
Robin Francis
Assistant to the Dean
MSU Library
Montana State University
PO Box 173320
Bozeman MT 59717-3320
(406)994-4997
robin@montana.edu