Metadata Lead

LIANZA; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 112,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working conditions

Well-being focus

KiwiSaver 3.5%

Job summary

Auckland Libraries is seeking aMetadata Lead to set strategic direction for metadata governance, standards, and practice across our collections. You will influence priorities, guide modernisation of metadata environments, and explore opportunities in interoperability, automation, and AI-supported workflows.

Joining Auckland Council, you will work with leaders, operational teams, vendors and sector partners to strengthen metadata quality while enabling efficient discovery, access and long-term

Qualifications

• Significant cataloguing and metadata leadership experience within a library environment.
• Proven expertise in metadata standards, bibliographic control, governance, and best practice.
• Experience with metadata transformation, remediation, or digital collections.
• Understanding interoperability, automation, and AI-supported workflows.
• Proven stakeholder influence and collaboration leadership.
• Excellent communication and strategic advisory skills.
• Commitment to Te Ao Māori perspectives and culturally responsive practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead and embed the strategic direction for metadata across Auckland Libraries.
• Provide expert advice on metadata standards, governance, quality, and best practice.
• Influence priorities for metadata, digital collections, discovery, and interoperability.
• Guide metadata modernisation, transformation, and remediation across collections and systems.
• Build capability and collaboration across teams, institutions, vendors, and sector partners.
• Evaluate opportunities for automation, machine-assisted metadata creation, and AI-supported workflows.
• Represent Auckland Libraries within professional and sector networks.

Skills

Cataloguing leadership

Metadata standards

Bibliographic control

Governance

AI workflows

Stakeholder influence

Communication

Te Ao Māori perspectives

Job description

• Champion innovation in discovery, AI-supported workflows and emerging metadata practice.
• Provide strategic direction, expert advice, and influence across Auckland Libraries and the wider sector.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced library metadata professional to lead metadata strategy for one of Australasia's largest public library collections.

As Metadata Lead, you will set the strategic direction for metadata governance, standards, capability and practice. Working with leaders, specialists, operational teams, vendors and sector partners, you will ensure metadata remains central to the discovery and stewardship of our physical and digital collections. You will join us at a pivotal time for metadata practice. Drawing on your cataloguing expertise, you will influence priorities, guide the modernisation of our metadata environment, and explore opportunities presented by interoperability, automation, machine-assisted metadata creation, and AI-supported workflows.

Metadata is critical to how customers discover, access, and engage with our collections. Your strategic leadership will strengthen metadata quality and capability while supporting responsible innovation, continuous improvement, and long-term sustainability. You will help ensure new approaches improve efficiency and scalability while retaining professional oversight and operational team ownership.

• Lead and embed the strategic direction for metadata across Auckland Libraries.
• Provide expert advice on metadata standards, governance, quality, and best practice.
• Influence priorities for metadata, digital collections, discovery, and interoperability.
• Guide metadata modernisation, transformation, and remediation across collections and systems.
• Build capability and collaboration across teams, institutions, vendors, and sector partners.
• Evaluate opportunities for automation, machine-assisted metadata creation, and AI-supported workflows.
• Represent Auckland Libraries within professional and sector networks.

You are an experienced library metadata leader with significant cataloguing expertise. You combine a strong understanding of bibliographic practice with the strategic thinking, leadership, and influence needed to establish direction and lead change across a complex organisation.

You will bring:

• Significant cataloguing and metadata leadership experience within a library environment.
• Proven expertise in metadata standards, bibliographic control, governance, and best practice.
• Experience contributing to metadata transformation, remediation, digital collections, or systems modernisation.
• An informed understanding of interoperability, automation, machine-assisted metadata creation, and emerging AI-supported workflows.
• Proven success influencing stakeholders, building capability, and leading collaborative change.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and strategic advisory skills.
• A commitment to culturally responsive practice and embedding Te Ao Māori perspectives.

You will bring the curiosity, judgement, and vision to help Auckland Libraries navigate an exciting and rapidly changing metadata environment.

At Auckland Council, you will join a dynamic, supportive environment where your mahi (work) will directly impact the lives of over 1.7 million Aucklanders. We offer flexible working conditions, a focus on well-being, and a culture of continuous improvement.

We are proud to be recognised for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are accredited by GenderTick, a signatory of the Pride Pledge. These commitments reflect our ongoing efforts to create a workplace where all staff feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.
Together, we can create a Tāmaki Makaurau we can all be proud of.

Additionally, as part of our Auckland Council Group, you will gain access to many benefits and discounts including:

• Option to buy an additional week's annual leave
• Four weeks annual leave, plus an additional week after five years
• Additional day of leave for community activities
• Discounts on attractions such as the Maritime Museum, Auckland Zoo & Auckland Art Gallery
• Discounted Health & Life Insurance Policies
• Flexible and supportive work environment
• 3.5% KiwiSaver on top of your salary

As part of our organisation, please view a range of our: benefits

Application close date: Sunday 22nd November 2026

Salary: This role is salary band H we expect to appoint the successful candidate at a salary of between $112-124k depending upon skills & experience.