Metadata Librarian

Code4lib; Charlottesville (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

An esteemed educational institution is seeking a Metadata Librarian to lead metadata projects, ensuring best practices and quality control in metadata creation and maintenance. Candidates must hold a Master's in Library Science and have relevant experience, with opportunities for innovation in metadata practices. This hybrid position offers competitive salaries based on qualifications, encouraging diverse experiences and abilities to apply.

Qualifications

• Requires a Master's degree in Library Science or relevant graduate degree.
• 4-9 years of relevant experience for Librarian II.
• 9+ years of experience for Librarian III.
• Familiarity with metadata and cataloging tools is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead policies and guidelines for non-MARC metadata projects.
• Develop workflows to enhance discoverability.
• Consult on metadata project development and implementation.
• Collaborate on using semantic technologies.
• Maintain documentation on metadata standards.
• Plan sustainable solutions for metadata integration.
• Engage in academic discourse through publications.

Skills

Metadata standards

Data manipulation

Analytical skills

Collaborative working

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree in Library Science

Bachelor’s degree + 4 years experience

Tools

OpenRefine

MarcEdit

Python

RDF

SPARQL

Job description

UVA Library is seeking a Metadata Librarian in the Metadata and Discovery Services (MDS) department. This position develops, implements, and accomplishes the goals and objectives of the MDS department in alignment with the strategic priorities of the Scholarly Resource & Content Strategy (SRCS) division and the University of Virginia Library. This position creates, enhances, and maintains descriptive metadata and metadata standards to improve discoverability and support interoperability with the appropriate metadata schemas, content standards, and controlled vocabularies.

The incumbent serves as the primary Metadata authority across the institution with a focus on indexing, mapping, crosswalking, maintaining, and enhancing Metadata. While the position focuses primarily on creating and maintaining non‑MARC Metadata schemas and standards, the incumbent also collaborates on MARC Metadata to ensure interoperable metadata. The Metadata Librarian engages in departmental initiatives to promote reparative Metadata descriptions and support inclusive Metadata practices.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership to MDS in designing and executing policies, guidelines, and profiles for metadata projects involving non‑MARC metadata schemas and standards.
• Develops non‑MARC workflows to plan, coordinate, and conduct metadata enhancement to improve discoverability.
• Serves as an expert consultant on the development and implementation of metadata projects with a focus on best practices, quality control, tools, procedures, workflows, and standards.
• Collaborate on strategies for utilizing semantic technologies, such as RDF, schema.org, SPARQL, and existing collections.
• Creates and maintains local documentation on metadata standards and application profiles.
• Collaborates on the planning and development of sustainable solutions for optimizing metadata management, interoperability, and integration of metadata across systems.
• Contributes to innovation in metadata practices by engaging in academic discourse through scholarly publications or professional engagements.

Required Qualifications

The Library will be hiring into the following job profiles below based on qualifications and experience and the working title will be Metadata Librarian:

Librarian II:

• Education: Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA‑Accredited program or a relevant graduate degree. Experience equivalency substitution (per Department of Labor Equivalency Guidelines): Bachelor’s + 4 years of relevant experience considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience: 4–9 years (post‑degree/experience equivalency).

Librarian III:

• Education: Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA‑Accredited program or a relevant graduate degree. Experience equivalency substitution (per Department of Labor Equivalency Guidelines): Bachelor’s + 4 years of relevant experience considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience: 9 or more years (post‑degree/experience equivalency).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with established metadata and cataloging tools and standards and demonstrates a willingness to learn, while also viewing challenges as opportunities for professional growth.
• Familiarity with evolving technologies and standards in resource description (e.g., BIBFRAME, RDA, and RDF) and identity management (e.g., ORCID, VIAF, and BIBFRAME, et cetera).
• A commitment to explore and incorporate innovative tools that elevate digital accessibility and boost operational efficiency of metadata management and knowledge of metadata sharing and harvesting practices (e.g., OAI‑PMH), metadata mapping, and linked data.
• Knowledge of analytical and transformational metadata tools (e.g., OpenRefine, MarcEdit, et cetera) and programming/scripting languages (e.g., Python) for data manipulation, automation, and harvesting.
• Familiarity with semantic web technologies (e.g., RDF, schema.org, SPARQL, et cetera).
• Experience with PCC, NACO, BIBCO, CONSER, or SACO programs.
• Ability to communicate in writing to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

The UVA Library is interested in reviewing candidates with a broad range of experiences, education, and qualifications. We are dedicated to building a dynamic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every preferred qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Anticipated Starting Salary

• Librarian II: $75,000 – $85,000
• Librarian III: $82,000 – $92,000

Position Type & Work Location

• This is an exempt‑level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.
• This position is based in Charlottesville, VA designated as hybrid, and the successful candidate will be eligible for remote work up to two days per week after a probationary period.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Review

Review will begin after January 26, 2026. Preference will be given to applications received by this date.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

How to Apply

Please apply through Careers at UVA and search for R0078668. On the job post, click the “Apply Now” button. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter – should include your interest in the position and how your relevant experience pertains to this position and the UVA Library.

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

For questions about the application process, please contact Karon Harrington at [e-mail].

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Read more about UVA’s commitment to non‑discrimination and equal opportunity employment.

Published: Thursday, January 8, 2026 20:22 UTC

Last updated: Thursday, January 8, 2026 20:22 UTC