Data Services Librarian

Ohio University; Athens (OH); On-site; USD 58,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohio University is seeking a Data Services Librarian to support students and faculty in discovering, using, and managing data for research. The role provides leadership in research data management, data literacy, open research practices, and data stewardship across campus.

The librarian will offer instruction, workshops, and individualized support, collaborating with departments, centers, and campus partners to advance data-related services, compliance, and scholarly communication initiatives at

Qualifications

• The candidate should hold an MLS/MLIS or equivalent and demonstrate strong data management knowledge.
• Experience with data literacy and open research practices is ideal.
• Ability to develop data sharing plans and support researchers across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Partner with researchers to develop compliant data management and sharing plans.
• Provide instruction, workshops, and individualized research support on data literacy.
• Collaborate with campus partners to deliver data management consulting and methods.
• Monitor trends and evaluate new tools to enhance library services.
• Participate in subject support and collection development for programs.
• Serve on library or university committees to advance strategic goals.
• Engage in professional development and outreach to the university community.

Skills

Data management

Data literacy

Research collaboration

Instruction

Outreach

Education

MLS / MLIS

Tools

R

Python

OpenRefine

Job description

Reporting to the Head of Research Services, the Data Services Librarian supports Ohio University students and faculty in discovering, using, and managing data for their research. The Data Services Librarian provides leadership and expertise in research data management (RDM), data literacy concepts, and open research practices in support of Ohio University’s research mission. The Data Services Librarian builds and maintains relationships with academic departments and research centers to coordinate and scale research data services across campus. This position will provide instruction, workshops, outreach, and individualized research support for faculty, researchers, and graduate students, as well as data literacy and other fundamental support for undergraduates. The position works proactively with researchers on data-intensive projects, providing guidance on institutional and funder compliance, data quality, documentation, sharing, and long-term stewardship. The Data Services Librarian contributes to scholarly communication initiatives such as open data and reproducible research, including considerations of data quality, ethics, transparency, and governance, as well as tools related to data management.

Additionally, the Data Services Librarian will provide subject-specific, non-data-related instruction, reference, and consultation services to faculty and students in assigned subject areas. The librarian will help build sustainable collections that support the University’s research and instructional needs in a team environment.

The successful candidate for this position must have the ability to work independently as a motivated self-starter as well as collaboratively in a team-based environment, including effective communication skills and the ability to set goals and determine the best course of action with broad guidance from their supervisor and shared team expectations.

Specifically, the Data Services Librarian will:

• Partner with student and faculty researchers to develop compliant data management and data sharing plans aligned with funder requirements, institutional policies, and research data best practices.
• Provide instruction, workshops, outreach, and individualized research support for faculty, researchers, and graduate students, as well as data literacy and other fundamental support for undergraduates.
• Collaborate with campus partners to deliver consulting services related to data management, data use and reuse, reproducible research practices, and computational tools and methods.
• Monitor emerging trends in research data services and evaluates new tools, technologies, and methodologies to enhance library services.
• Participate in subject support for academic programs through instruction, consultation, and collection development.
• Serve on Libraries or University committees, task forces, and/or other groups in support of advancing the Libraries’ strategic goals.
• Commit to continuous improvement and professional development, including by engaging in regular professional development through research, publications, presentations, and participation in regional, national, and/or international professional bodies as part of a continuing commitment to bringing best practices and innovative services to the Libraries. Librarians are considered administrative staff at Ohio University.
• Provides outreach and collaboration with the University community.