Research Data Management Librarian

Pay Grade: 30E - 31E

Applications Close: Open until filled. Review of Applications begins on May 18, 2026

Context of Job:

The University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press inspires the intellectual, scholarly and creative achievement of our community. We are strongly committed to diversity within our community and fostering safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces and opportunities where everyone has an equal opportunity to learn, create, and grow. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. We collaborate with strategic campus partners to achieve these priorities, as well as with national professional organizations.

The Research Data and Design Commons (RDDC) provides a comprehensive suite of technology-driven research support services through expertise, tools, and dedicated spaces. RDDC librarians and support staff contribute to a culture of innovation and excellence in research support, helping position the University of Delaware as a leader in data stewardship and scholarly communication.

Under general supervision of the Head, Research Data and Design Commons (RDDC), the Research Data Management Librarian plays a critical role in advancing the university’s research mission and the Library’s commitment to research support by providing expertise in data management planning, curation, preservation, and sharing. The incumbent will develop and implement strategies that promote best practices in research data management throughout the research process, ensuring compliance with funder and publisher requirements while fostering open science and reproducibility.

In addition to providing direct consultation and training for faculty, students, and researchers, the librarian will offer vision, outreach, and oversight for UD Dataverse, including policy development, metadata standards, and integration with other campus systems. This position will collaborate closely with campus stakeholders such as the Research Office, IT, and academic departments to build sustainable and scalable data services.

This position is part of the librarian career ladder governed by the University of Delaware Library Rank and Promotion System that guides professional development and advancement. The Rank and Promotion System is a rigorous, peer-review, 4-tier system that assigns rank to the individual rather than the position. The four ranks parallel to the faculty system in affirmation of the significant contributions, service, and scholarship of librarians in the academic community. The four ranks are: Assistant Librarian (pay grade 29E with 0 – 3 years relevant experience), Senior Assistant Librarian (pay grade 30E with 3 – 8 years relevant experience), Associate Librarian (pay grade 31E with 8 years relevant experience), and Librarian (pay grade 32E).

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide expert consultations and deliver training sessions on research data management topics to guide university researchers.
• Assist faculty and researchers in creating and reviewing Data Management Plans (DMPs) for grant proposals.
• Maintain and continually update a curated catalog of resources that support best practices in data management.
• Advocate for and promote standards in data documentation, metadata creation, and file organization.
• Identify opportunities to develop and implement new services that advance the mission of the Research Data and Design Commons (RDDC).
• Provide strategic oversight for the growth and success of UD Dataverse, ensuring accessibility, discoverability, and long-term preservation of research data.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to ingest, curate, and manage research datasets within the repository.
• Monitor repository usage, analyze engagement metrics, and prepare reports to demonstrate impact.
• Partner with IT teams to maintain technical integrity, security, and accessibility of repository systems.
• Work closely with RDDC colleagues to maintain accurate and engaging web resources, manage the department’s online presence, and develop outreach strategies to increase awareness and usage of services.
• Collaborate with liaison librarians, IT staff, and the Research Office to support campus-wide data initiatives.
• Provide guidance and support to units involved in research and data governance.
• Stay informed on emerging trends in data management, open science, and scholarly communication, as well as evolving grant requirements for research data.

APPOINTMENT:

• This position will be filled at one of two levels depending on candidate experience.
• Appointment in rank based on relevant professional experience (Senior Assistant Librarian, pay grade 30E; or Associate Librarian, pay grade 31E). This position is part of the librarian career ladder governed by the University of Delaware Library Rank and Promotion System which guides professional development and advancement.
• The level of consideration and associated responsibilities will be confirmed prior to interview scheduling.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Library Science or advanced degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of 3 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data curation best practices, such as FAIR and CARE principles.
• Experience with research data management support in a library setting.
• Experience managing content in or working with digital repositories.
• Familiarity with basic copyright, licensing, and publication of intellectual work.
• Familiarity with repository metadata standards.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment where responsibilities may shift based on organizational needs.
• Demonstrates an understanding and consideration of the differing needs and concerns of individuals with varying identities, cultures and backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with scholarly publishing at institutions of higher education.
• Understanding of funder requirements for data sharing (e.g., NSF, NIH).
• Experience providing instruction or training in an academic setting.
• Technical skills in scripting, data wrangling, or digital preservation tools.