Metadata & Discovery Services Manager

The University of British Columbia; North Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia seeks a Metadata & Discovery Services Manager responsible for managing a team within the Library's Technology, Discovery, and User Experience unit. This role involves staff recruitment, performance management, and collaboration to enhance library services while ensuring compliance with policies and fostering an inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to lead and manage change.
• Knowledge of University and Library policies preferred.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for comprehensive management of staff in Metadata and Discovery Services.
• Liaises with Library Human Resources for staff recruitment and management.
• Develops and oversees documentation, policies, and procedures.

Skills

Management

Collaboration

Equity and Diversity

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

Integrated Library Systems

MS Office

Job description

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Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Administration, Level A

Job Title

Metadata & Discovery Services Manager

Department

UBC Library | TDUX

Compensation Range

$5,791.00 - $8,323.42 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

June 19, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Responsible for the comprehensive management of the Technology, Discovery, and User Experience Unit’s Metadata and Discovery Services staff. Responsible for hiring, managing, training, evaluating, disciplining and termination of all metadata, cataloguing, and discovery staff in TDUX. Works collaboratively with librarians in TDUX who have functional responsibilities for metadata, discovery, and/or cataloguing on establishing policies and procedures for Metadata and Discovery Services staff operations in accordance with UBC Library policies and procedures. Also engages with various stakeholders across the Library to support metadata operations and projects which are managed outside of TDUX, but involve collaboration with the Metadata and Discovery Services staff, including, but not limited to, Indigenous metadata, cIRcle metadata, and Research Data metadata. Responsible for developing goals, priorities and timelines, managing the workflows, processes, and staff-level metadata and cataloguing that support UBC Library’s discovery operations and services.

Organizational Status

Works independently under general direction of the Head, TDUX. Manages the work of approximately 9 Cataloguer 2 positions. Works closely with Library Human Resources in the hiring, training, evaluation and discipline of staff. Acts as resource person on all matters relating to staff-level metadata, cataloguing, and discovery operations and services. Works in consultation with TDUX librarians who have functional responsibilities for metadata, discovery, and/or cataloguing. Works collaboratively with Collections Services, X̱wi7x̱wa Library, Rare Books and Special Collections, Research Commons, Digital Programs and Services, and other units as needed to assist with operational and emergency staffing requirements. Exercises considerable judgement when dealing with personnel issues.

Work Performed

• Responsible for the comprehensive management of Metadata and Discovery Services staff.
• Ensures complete, accurate, and timely delivery of metadata in support of Library-acquired materials in English and some European and Asian languages (including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Indic), the application of Indigenous metadata, the application of identity management (in the form of authority control), the application and enablement of metadata for digital materials (including Research Data Management and cIRcle), and the configuration of discovery interfaces.
• Develops goals, priorities and timelines, assigns and distributes work; monitors the quality of work and conducts staff meetings. Manages operational workflows, cataloguing processes, and project-related activities. Ultimately responsible for the work performance and output of the Metadata and Discovery Services staff.
• Recruits, hires and trains Metadata and Discovery Services staff; maintains personnel records; provides staff training; conducts performance evaluations. Responsible for all levels of staff discipline, including termination. Ensures compliance with CUPE 2950 collective agreement. Liaises with Library Human Resources as necessary.
• Develops and oversees the maintenance of documentation, policies, and procedures for Metadata and Discovery Services in consultation with TDUX librarians who have functional responsibilities for metadata, discovery, and/or cataloguing policies. Develops and implements new procedures and trains in existing procedures as needed.
• Ensures regular statistics and documentation are available regarding the inflow of metadata, cataloguing, and discovery operational and project requests. These include both physical and digital materials, and come from multiple sources such as firm orders, approval orders, consortial agreements, standing orders, exchanges, memberships and gifts. These include book and non-book formats such as audio, video, musical, microform, and cartographic. Ensures that inflows are monitored, compared with outflows, and used for planning and prioritizing metadata and cataloguing activities of staff, including determining capacity and future-training needs.
• Analyzes Metadata and Discovery Services staff workflows, capacities, expertise, and outputs. Determines organization and utilization of Metadata and Discovery Services staff. Initiates Metadata and Discovery Services staff changes in consultation with the Head of TDUX to enable staff to work more effectively.
• Analyzes and reports statistical information relating to Metadata and Discovery Services staff operations and services on a monthly and annual basis. Writes reports. Manages the process of gathering information for inclusion in such reports.
• Oversees the work of batch processing and loading of metadata into Library systems ensuring proper tools and systems are utilized and procedures and guidelines are followed.
• Authorizes appropriate levels of access to library on-line systems for Metadata and Discovery Services staff.
• Responsible for the health and safety committee functions in TDUX. Implements and revises emergency and other UBC health and safety procedures as required. Liaises with Library HR as necessary. Provides orientation and health and safety training to new employees in TDUX. Ensures compliance with Work Safe BC requirements.
• Establishes and implements Metadata and Discovery Services staff policy for approving Leaves of Absence. Handles non-standard applications for leave.
• Works within TDUX on the development and implementation of new services and systems in the Library and is responsible for implementation of new services and systems as they pertain to the Metadata and Discovery Services staff.
• Maintains a current awareness in all aspects of library metadata, cataloguing, acquisitions, and discovery.
• Represents the Metadata and Discovery Services staff on various committees that relate to the work of the unit.
• Performs other related duties.
  
  

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Works independently under general managerial direction in the Technology, Discovery, and User Experience Unit. Work is reviewed in terms of success within established policies and guidelines. Errors in judgment and failure to follow established human resources practices, policies and procedures could result in a breach of the collective agreement and employment standards act. Models respect and acceptance of diverse perspective and backgrounds. The ability to do so fosters a healthy work environment where staff morale is positively affected. The inability to do so can negatively impact the work environment which can become a place where staff do not feel inspired to excel at their work. Errors in judgment in planning and managing staff and the operations in Metadata and Discovery could negatively impact on productivity and employee morale and the quality and level of service provided to faculty, students, and patrons.

Supervision Received

Accountable and reports to the Head of Technology, Discovery, and User Experience.

Supervision Given

Manages approximately 9 cataloguing staff in TDUX. Provides support to Collections Services. Responsible for hiring and performance management, including termination of Metadata and Discovery Services staff.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of two years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with management in a library, preferably in a unionized environment within a large, complex organization. Experience in recruitment, training, managing and motivating employees. Knowledge of University and Library policies and procedures preferred. Ability to lead and manage change. Ability to recruit, train, manage and motivate employees. Ability to prioritize multiple issues and work effectively to meet deadlines. Familiarity with at least one language other than English, and/or at least one non-Roman script, for purposes of assessing data integrity, indexing and discovery. Ability to plan and execute workflows to meet unit requirements. Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues and effectively resolve. Ability to anticipate problems and issues and plan ahead. Ability to recognize, respect and work effectively with individuals and groups with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Takes initiative in learning about language and issues relating to equity and diversity. Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships and engage in workplace culture. Promotes and fosters a supportive environment built on appreciation, recognition, learning and professional growth. Works to build a team environment built on positive working relationships, provides guidance and resources to teams while trusting them to excel. Creates a supportive and open environment where everyone is able to listen, contribute and engage with colleagues and ideas and provide and receive timely, constructive feedback. Creates an environment that embraces curiosity, ideas, creativity and innovation and provides opportunities and flexibility to explore new initiatives. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Ability to effectively use word processing, spreadsheets, integrated library systems at an intermediate level (MS Office and Voyager preferred). Able to work effectively both independently and within a team environment. Ability to exercise sound judgement. Ability to keep current on the knowledge of new developments and initiatives within the Library and the University.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Other

• Industries

  Higher Education

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