Head of Data Services

About the role

The Head of Data Services leads a dynamic and evolving team to develop and deliver forward-thinking, measurable, campus-aligned programming, resources, and services to support researchers at every stage of the data lifecycle. They also scaffold scalable education and outreach programming and support for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty. They coordinate project support for data-intensive research and assist University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers in meeting the data management and sharing requirements of funding agencies and publishers.

Responsibilities

• Provides vision and direction for the Libraries’ Data Services, working across all disciplines, including strengthening and promoting existing services and developing new services
• Directly assigns, supervises, and evaluates the work of the Data Services team, and provides mentorship for team members
• Aligns departmental planning, priorities, goals, and services with the strategic initiatives of the Libraries and the University
• Reports departmental progress regularly and makes data-driven decisions about data services programs and activities through development and implementation of departmental qualitative and quantitative assessments and participation in division and library-wide assessment initiatives
• Serves on internal committees as assigned and may be asked to represent the Libraries on campus committees, Five College Committees, and Boston Library Consortium Committees, and/or at other selected professional meetings and conferences

Requirements

• Graduate degree in librarianship (from a program accredited by the American Library Association) or advanced degree in a relevant data-intensive subject area
• 3 years relevant experience in libraries, archives, museums, or similar academic settings
• Demonstrated knowledge of the evolving landscape of open and public data, data ethics, and data sharing
• Proficiency with tools for working with data (e.g., R, STATA, Python, Tableau, NVivo, MAXQDA, or similar tools)
• Experience developing a data services program and building cross-campus partnerships in an academic environment
• Experience supporting the research data lifecycle across a variety of data types and disciplines
• Experience providing consultation or reference services for data in an academic setting

Qualifications

• Evidence of commitment to support justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within libraries and the institution
• Evidence of ability for ongoing professional development and contribution to the library profession
• Strong organizational, project, and time management skills to lead or coordinate multiple projects and work with minimal supervision
• Ability to communicate clearly and knowledgeably through a variety of media; ability to represent the Libraries to university and external audiences