Data Management and Curation Consultant

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT); Blacksburg, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 57,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech invites applications for a Data Management and Curation Consultant in the Library. The role provides expert guidance on data management planning, data curation, and data sharing across the research enterprise, including AI-enabled research.

You will design, implement, and evaluate strategies to preserve and transform research data, consult with researchers, and contribute to scholarly activities and efforts to obtain federal and private funding.

Qualifications

• MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited program.
• Experience in service provision/working with clients.
• Experience using data in disciplinary research settings.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to solve problems and work independently.
• Experience reading, executing, and troubleshooting code.
• Experience in data documentation, archiving, publication, or secondary use of data.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on data management planning, data curation, and data sharing across the research enterprise.
• Design, implement, and evaluate data curation, preservation, and transformation strategies.
• Consult with researchers on data management needs, including AI-enabled research.
• Engage in scholarly activities related to data management responsibilities and external funding pursuits.

Skills

Client service

Public speaking

Independent work

Problem solving

Code troubleshooting

Data documentation

Education

MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited program

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Job description

Job Description

The Data Management and Curation Consultant provides expert guidance to researchers and students on data management activities across the research enterprise at Virginia Tech. This position has responsibility for providing advice on data management planning, data curation, and data sharing. Using best practices and emerging standards, they will design, implement, and evaluate data curation, preservation, and transformation strategies to research data stewarded and preserved by the Library. They will consult with researchers on their data management needs, including research using AI applications, and will provide specialized, scholarly services to research teams seeking federal and private funding. They will also engage in scholarly activities related to these responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

• A terminal degree in a field related to the job duties, such as a Masters in Library and/or Information Science (MLS, MLIS, MIS, etc) from an ALA-accredited graduate program
• Demonstrated experience in service provision/working with clients
• Coursework or experience using data in a disciplinary research setting, e.g. agriculture, environmental science, etc
• Demonstrated experience in public presentation, oral and written communication
• Problem solving skills and a demonstrated ability to work independently
• Demonstrated experience reading, executing, and troubleshooting code
• Demonstrated experience in any of the following: research data documentation, research data archiving, research data publication, secondary use of research data

Preferred Qualifications

• An active research agenda demonstrated through published scholarly work
• Demonstrated experience in working in a collaborative team-based environment
• Demonstrated experience in development and/or delivery of guidance or training to faculty or students
• Demonstrated experience with repository operation and/or administration
• Demonstrated experience in metadata creation and management
• Demonstrated experience in service program planning and development
• Demonstrated experience in data management planning and writing/reviewing of data management plans for funding proposals
• Demonstrated experience in programming, e.g. in Python, R, SQL
• Demonstrated experience with AI, machine learning and/or large language model (LLM) applications
• Coursework or experience using data in an academic research setting

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular-Continued Appointment Track/Assistant Professor

Salary Information

$63,000 minimum dependent on qualifications and experience

Hours per week

40

Review Date

9/16/26

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Rebecca Osborne at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.