Alma Platform Manager /Alma System Administrator

Code4lib; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Library of Congress FEDLINK Program at NAL, USDA seeks a Library Systems Engineer (Alma & Data Workflows) to configure Alma LSP, manage roles, and maintain Python data pipelines. You will collaborate with multiple divisions, support Agile practices, and ensure secure, auditable change control; periodic onsite presence required.

The role emphasizes optimizing data workflows, coordinating with external vendors, and ensuring reliability of critical library systems and pipelines.

Qualifications

• Experience administering the Ex Libris Alma LSP platform (roles, permissions, metadata configuration).
• Proficiency with Python-based workflow automation and external system integrations.
• Experience diagnosing data flow, indexing, and schema issues in relational or cloud databases.
• Experience participating in Agile/Scrum teams and planning sessions.
• Familiarity with governance artifacts such as change control processes and release documentation.

Responsibilities

• Configure Alma components, roles, permissions, profiles, integrations, normalization rules, and SSO behavior; review audit logs.
• Monitor Alma jobs and resolve workflow disruptions across ingest, indexing, publishing, and preservation flows.
• Execute full change lifecycle under the CCB Charter including testing, deployment, and rollback.
• Maintain Python pipelines for automated ingest, transformation, indexing, and secure credential management.
• Support data governance for bibliographic/holding/item changes and cross-system reconciliation.
• Provide system-level expertise during sprint planning and ensure changes are entered into the CCB process.
• Maintain dashboards, job-monitoring artifacts, and release notes for CCB-approved changes.

Skills

Alma LSP admin

Python workflows

Data flow debugging

Agile/Scrum

Change governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in IS/CS

Tools

Confluence

Version control

Job description

Job Title: Library Systems Engineer (Alma & Data Workflows)

Employment Type: Full-Time with benefits
Customer Agency: Library of Congress (LOC) – National Agricultural Library (NAL), U.S. Department of Agriculture
Work Location: TBD (Will discuss during our call)
Place of Performance: TBD (Will discuss during our call)
Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Security Requirement: Candidates must comply with Library of Congress federal records handling requirements and complete required LOC records management training.

Position Overview

Library Systems Engineer (Alma & Data Workflows) will support the Library of Congress FEDLINK Program on behalf of the National Agricultural Library (NAL), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

NAL relies on the Ex Libris-Alma Library Services Platform (LSP) for cataloging, metadata management, acquisitions, indexing, and downstream integration of workflows. Several mission-critical data pipelines — particularly those supporting indexing QA/QC, AGRICOLA (Agricultural Online Access) production, and cross-system synchronization — are implemented in Python. The Alma Platform Manager will provide a hybrid capability combining Alma Systems Administration with development and maintenance of NAL-designed Python workflows.

The candidate will operate under the authority of NAL's Change Control Board (CCB) Charter and will support NAL's transition to Agile working practices for library systems work. The candidate will coordinate closely with NAL's Data Production Division, Information Technology Services Division, acquisitions and metadata teams, and external vendors, while NAL retains final authority over all policies, program requirements, security requirements, government business processes, and acceptance of deliverables.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Configure, manage, secure, and maintain Alma system components, roles, permissions, profiles, integrations, normalization rules, and authentication/SSO behavior; review audit logs.

Monitor all Alma jobs and resolve workflow disruptions across ingest, indexing, publishing, and preservation flows.

Execute the full change lifecycle under the CCB Charter: pre-change impact analysis, sandbox/freeze-window testing, deployment planning and execution, post-deployment verification, and rollback execution.

Support incident reporting and emergency change protocol participation.

Maintain and enhance Python pipelines supporting automated ingest, transformation, indexing, synchronization, error handling, and secure credential management.

Support data governance for bibliographic/holding/item changes initiated by automation, including log retention and cross-system reconciliation.

Provide system-level expertise during sprint planning, backlog refinement, and retrospectives, ensuring work affecting Alma or automation pipelines is entered into the CCB process.

Coordinate with the CCB Project Manager and Systems Librarian to align sprint commitments with the Change Request Log and deployment windows.

Maintain dashboards, job-monitoring artifacts, and operational continuity readiness; ensure backups exist and recovery procedures are tested.

Maintain the CCB release calendar, including freeze periods and Ex Libris release windows, with 30- and 7-day advance notifications.

Prepare required deliverables: Monthly Status Report, Required Metrics Report, Issue Resolution and Change Request Log, Operational Metrics Report, and Release Notes for CCB-approved changes.

Required Qualifications

Experience administering the Ex Libris Alma LSP, including roles, permissions, metadata configuration, job monitoring, and troubleshooting.

Experience with Python-based workflow automation, ingestion/transformation scripts, and integrations with external systems.

Experience diagnosing data flow, indexing, and schema issues in relational or cloud databases.

Experience participating in Agile/Scrum teams, including planning, standups, retrospectives, and work decomposition.

Experience applying governance artifacts such as change control processes, change lifecycle documentation, and freeze/sandbox requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Federal Government library or cataloging projects.
• Familiarity with Library of Congress cataloging practices.
• Experience supporting the National Library Service (NLS) or accessible library services.
• Knowledge of NLS-specific MARC tagging conventions.
• Familiarity with accessible media production workflows.
• Experience cataloging large-scale audiobook collections.
• Working knowledge of metadata quality assurance and validation processes.
• Experience preparing production reports and project status documentation.
• Experience working under Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contracts or production-based delivery models.
• Familiarity with RDA cataloging standards.
• Knowledge of BIBFRAME concepts and modern library metadata practices.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

Familiarity with metadata standards (e.g., MARC21, Dublin Core, RDA, MODS, and other schemas).

Strong understanding of Alma's metadata tooling ecosystem (normalization rules, templates, mapping tables).

Ability to translate governance requirements into compliant system configurations.

Ability to diagnose cross-system issues involving metadata, upstream ingest scripts, indexing behavior, or downstream preservation syncs.

Ability to write clear documentation in approved repositories (e.g., Confluence).

Ability to collaborate across agency divisions, teams, and external vendors.

Ability to maintain security controls, log auditing, and credential handling for integrations.

Familiarity with configuration management, version control, and configuration-drift detection/remediation.

Educational Qualification:

Bachelor's degree or higher in Information Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Library/Information Science, or a related technical field — required.

Additional Requirements

• Periodic onsite presence required for mandatory agency meetings, training sessions, or other activities requiring physical presence (NAL will endeavor to provide a minimum of 14 days' notice; shorter notice is possible in exceptional circumstances).