Metadata Librarian

DATE ENTERED:
January 7, 2026
POSITION:
Metadata Librarian

LOCATION:

Charlottesville, VA
APPLY BY:
January 26, 2026

Full information: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).-Librarian

UVA Library is seeking a Metadata Librarian in the Metadata and Discovery Services (MDS) department. This position develops, implements, and accomplishes the goals and objectives of the MDS department in alignment with the strategic priorities of the Scholarly Resource & Content Strategy (SRCS) division and the University of Virginia Library. This position creates, enhances, and maintains descriptive metadata and metadata standards to improve discoverability and support interoperability with the appropriate metadata schemas, content standards, and controlled vocabularies.

The incumbent serves as the primary Metadata authority across the institution with a focus on indexing, mapping, cross walking, maintaining, and enhancing Metadata. While the position focuses primarily on creating and maintaining non‑MARC Metadata schemas and standards, the incumbent also collaborates on MARC Metadata to ensure interoperable metadata. The Metadata Librarian engages in departmental initiatives to promote reparative Metadata descriptions and support inclusive Metadata practices.

• Provides leadership to MDS in designing and executing policies, guidelines, and profiles for metadata projects involving non‑MARC metadata schemas and standards.
• Develops non‑MARC workflows to plan, coordinate, and conduct metadata enhancement to improve discoverability.
• Serves as an expert consultant on the development and implementation of metadata projects with a focus on best practices, quality control, tools, procedures, workflows, and standards.
• Collaborate on strategies for utilizing sematic technologies, such as RDF, schema.org, SPARQL, and existing collections.
• Collaborates on the planning and development of sustainable solutions for optimizing metadata management, interoperability, and integration of metadata across systems.
• Contributes to innovation in metadata practices by engaging in academic discourse through scholarly publications or professional engagements.

• Librarian II:
  • Education:
    
    Master's degree in Library Science from ALA Accredited program or relevant graduate degree. Experience equivalency substitution (per Department of Labor Equivalency Guidelines):
    Bachelor’s + 4 Years relevant experience considered in lieu of degree.
  • Experience:
    
    4-9 years (post degree/experience equivalency).
• Librarian III:
  • Education:
    
    Master's degree in Library Science from ALA Accredited program or relevant graduate degree. Experience equivalency substitution (per Department of Labor Equivalency Guidelines):
    Bachelor’s + 4 Years relevant experience considered in lieu of degree.
  • Experience:
    
    9 or more years (post degree/experience equivalency).

• Experience with established metadata and cataloging tools and standards and demonstrates a willingness to learn, while also viewing challenges as opportunities for professional growth.
• Familiarity with evolving technologies and standards in resource description (e.g.: BIBFRAME, RDA, and RDF) and identity management (e.g., ORCID, VIAF, and BIBFRAME, et cetera).
• A commitment to explore and incorporate innovative tools that elevate digital accessibility and boost operational efficiency of metadata management and knowledge of metadata sharing and harvesting practices (e.g., OAI-PMH), metadata mapping, and linked data.
• Knowledge of analytical and transformational metadata tools (i.e.: Open Refine, Marc Edit, et cetera) and programming/scripting languages (e.g., Python) for data manipulation, automation, and harvesting.
• Familiarity with sematic web technologies (e.g., RDF, schema.org, SPARQL, et cetera).
• Experience with PCC, NACO, BIBCO, CONSER, or SACO programs.
• Ability to communicate in writing to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

The UVA Library is interested in reviewing candidates with a broad range of experiences, education, and qualifications. If you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every preferred…