The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title Head, Electronic Discovery and Access
Job Profile Title Librarian C
Job Description Summary About the Penn Libraries:
The Penn Libraries provides a network of information resources and knowledge services that are vital to teaching, research, and learning at the University of Pennsylvania. This network includes 19 physical libraries, recognized for their collections, and a digital library known for innovation and richness of content. Through dynamic programming and exhibitions, and through the acquisition and preservation of literary and artistic artifacts, the Penn Libraries documents a wealth of social and historical periods, bringing scholarship to life at the University and in the various communities it serves.
Job Description Summary:
Under the direction of the Director, Acquisitions Access and Licensing (AAL), the Head, Electronic Access and Discovery serves as one of the leaders of the AAL management team. The Head, Electronic Discovery and Access plays a critical role in AAL's mission to incubate a proactive service culture ensuring that faculty, students and staff have expedited, accurate and relevant access to the broad range of research materials provided through the University Libraries. The candidate is to be an innovative, energetic and self-motivated librarian and is to establish and implement a strategic vision for operations and staff involved in the broad range of activities that encompass discovery and access to the Libraries' growing collection of electronic, licensed and continuing resources. The candidate to organize and analyze problems and develop creative, flexible and resourceful solutions. They are to be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, taking initiative and following through effectively.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities
Procure, analyze and manipulate record sets to provide access to collections. Evaluate and manage workflows. Communicate about sets and priorities with Director of AAL and relevant subject librarians.
Perform original and advanced copy cataloging and record maintenance on a variety of e-formats, integrating resources (databases/websites), e-books, streaming videos and serials. Resolve complex cataloging problems. Document and provide support for e-cataloging functions of Alma LMS.
Hire, train, supervise and evaluate support and professional staff. Develop and communicate departmental goals, objectives, policies and procedures. Ensure staff receive appropriate training and supervision, as well as the support they need to excel at their jobs.
Monitor and troubleshoot automated knowledgebase updates and resource linking access issues
Participate in the development, evaluation, and implementation of metadata policies, standards, goals, procedures and workflows in coordination with cataloging units across the Libraries.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Master's degree in Library & Information Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association plus at least 3 years experience; alternately an equivalent combination of education and experience. Supervisory experience required.
Experience providing metadata/cataloging services within an academic or research library setting. Demonstrated functional knowledge of current cataloging practices, rules and standards such as RDA, LCSH, LC Classification, and MARC and an understanding of the principles of authority control. Ability to perform original and advanced copy cataloging and record maintenance on a variety of e-formats; integrating resources (databases/websites), e-books, serials, and streaming media.
Technical abilities in the area of integration of disparate data sources. Experience with and knowledge of data manipulation and harvesting tools and protocols such as MARCEdit, OpenRefine, OAI-PMH and web-scraping techniques.
Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, set performance expectations, implement efficient workflows, achieve goals, create documentation, and direct work in a high-production setting.
Ability to demonstrate appropriate professional qualifications, including excellent communication and interpersonal skills, collegiality, and initiative; attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and ability to flourish in a high-intensity work environment; demonstrated initiative in fostering new ideas and in implementing change; public service orientation, ability to interact with students, faculty and staff in a professional and collegial manner and to embrace the diversity of the Libraries' users and staff.
Preferred Qualifications
Project management experience.
Demonstrated receptiveness to and understanding of emerging information technologies such as linked data and generative AI.
Experience with ALMA Metadata Editor and/or Community Zone management
Working knowledge or experience with non-MARC metadata standards and schemas, such as Dublin Core, EAD, MODS, METS, OAI, TEI, XML and VRA Core.
Experience within a combined union and non-union staffing environment.
Application Requirement
A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.
Job Location - City, State Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School University Library
Pay Range $51,824.00 - $90,088.00 Annual Rate Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.
Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
Penn has a long and proud tradition of intellectual rigor and pursuit of innovative knowledge, begun by Benjamin Franklin in 1740. That tradition lives today through the creativity, entrepreneurship, and engagement of our faculty, students, and staff. Academic life at Penn is unparalleled, with an undergraduate student body of 10,000 from every U.S. state and around the world. The entering class of 2015 is the most talented and diverse in Penn's history. Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the country, Penn welcomes an additional 10,000 students to our top-ranked graduate and professional schools.