Head of Metadata

Title: Head of Metadata

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: Other Academic Units

Department: Lib - Collection Services

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Fulltime

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Head of Metadata provides leadership, vision, strategic direction, and advocacy for metadata operations and services in the University Libraries. In collaboration with Five College Consortium partners, the Head ensures effective access, discovery, retrieval, and use of information resources. The incumbent will promote standardization of metadata practices, coordination of projects, and maintenance of usable documentation for employees across the Libraries. They will engage in national and international initiatives and build a collegial, productive work environment that supports stewardship, professional growth, and innovation.

Essential Functions

Provide leadership and strategic direction for metadata services in collaboration with the Associate Dean for Content and Discovery.

Plan, execute, and assess metadata projects across platforms and formats to meet evolving user needs and ensure access, discovery, retrieval, and use of library resources.

Create and maintain library wide metadata policies and processes that follow national and international best practices, in collaboration with stakeholders in the Libraries and Five College Consortium.


Coach, mentor, assign work, and evaluate staff to support professional development and help staff adapt to evolving metadata roles.

Build and sustain collaborative relationships across the Libraries, University, Five College Consortium, FOLIO community and with other external organizations.

Develop and lead a metadata outreach program to raise awareness, increase use of metadata services, and engage library and external audiences.

Advance the Libraries' commitment to open through adoption of policies, practices, and infrastructure that maximize sharing and reuse of metadata and open access resources.

Promote teamwork, equity, and inclusiveness.

Other Functions

Make relevant contributions to the profession and represent the Libraries on University, consortial, regional, national, and international committees.

Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the Libraries and the department.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in library science from an American Library Association-accredited library and information studies program or an equivalent accredited degree from another country.

Eight (8) or more years of increasing responsibility working with metadata in academic or research libraries.

Record of successful management experience with demonstrated ability to foster a collegial, productive work environment.

Strong knowledge of metadata standards and best practices for use across formats.

Experience in planning, organizing, and supervising the work of others and in project management.

Experience developing metadata processes and maintaining documentation.

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build a collegial, productive work environment that supports stewardship, change, and innovation.

Ability to interact effectively and work productively, cooperatively, and collaboratively with diverse individuals and groups in a complex and rapidly changing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Sustained experience working with library consortia, national cooperative programs, or other collaborative communities.

Experience with the FOLIO system and community or with similar open-source projects related to resource management and discovery.


Experience working with batch processes and tools to analyze, remediate, and process metadata.

Experience engaging communities in inclusive and reparative metadata work.


Experience providing metadata services to stakeholders outside the library.

Additional Details

MSP Librarian positions are eligible for promotion, defined as a change in rank as a librarian from one rank to the next higher rank. The bargaining unit member who gets a promotion shall receive the base salary increase in line with the MSP collective bargaining agreement. You can view the MSP Collective Bargaining Agreement, particularly, article 20, to learn more about MSP Librarian Personnel Actions, including promotion, appointment, reappointment, and continuing appointment.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, daytime hours.
This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: Librarian IV/Librarian V

It is expected that the salary range for this position is between $90,735 and $131,000. The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend an offer of employment.

Please note:

The low-end of the pay range in all faculty/librarian searches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA.

The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty/librarian experience.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.