Data Services Librarian

Job Description
Position Summary 

The Data Services Librarian will guide Saint Louis University (SLU) researchers – including faculty, students, and staff – in developing the necessary knowledge and skills to meet their data needs at every stage of the research data lifecycle. The librarian will provide outreach, instruction, and consultations in and work with colleagues across the libraries and the university to develop capacity in data discovery, curation, management, visualization, and analysis.  

 

The Data Services Librarian will develop relationships with departments, research institutes, and other University partners to strengthen research support across campus, and ensure that research data practices comply with federal, funder, and regulatory requirements. The librarian will design and support student research initiatives across the University aimed at enhancing data management competencies and advancing data literacy.  

 

This full-time, non-tenure track faculty position reports to the Associate Dean of Collections, Access, and Academic Engagement. This position is primarily in-person with occasional remote work options and some schedule flexibility.  

 

Responsibilities include 

 

Researcher Support, Instruction, and Outreach (50%) 

Provide expertise for data discovery, including in existing library resources, repositories, and data clearinghouses  
Provide guidance to researchers in selecting appropriate data repositories to store and share their data 
Develop and deliver programming on data best practices and tools  
Collaborate with subject librarians to embed data information literacy into appropriate courses and student research programs 
Support student and faculty engagement with data of all types through individual consultations and instruction sessions 
Assist researchers in complying with funder-mandated data management and sharing requirements, working together with the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and other university units as appropriate 
 

Needs Assessment, Resource Development, and Planning (30%)  

Analyze and assess university data management needs, current initiatives, and future directions 
Remain current on trends, developments, and requirements for data management requirements from publishers, funders, and the institution and share this information with stakeholders and researchers  
Collaborate on the development and implementation of a plan for the libraries to provide and sustain data services to support the University’s research mission 
Manage DMP Tool, create SLU-specific templates, and embed SLU-specific guidance in funder-required templates  
Create asynchronous materials and guides on data best practices and tools including data management and storage  
 

Service and Scholarship (10%) 

Serve on committees and task forces at the department, Libraries & Museums, and University level 
Participate in local, state, and national/international professional and scholarly societies and organizations 
Conduct research and/or scholarship and presents research results thereof at conferences, through publication, or other avenues 
 

Required Qualifications 

Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited (or equivalent) library science or information science program  
Demonstrated interest in supporting qualitative and/or quantitative data collection, analysis, and visualization across academic disciplines 
Interest in, experience and/or coursework involving use, analysis, and management of quantitative data 
Familiarity with best practices for supporting research data management, sharing, and reuse  
 

Preferred Qualifications 

Familiarity with one or more programming languages or statistical packages (e.g. Python, R, SPSS, SAS, etc.) 
Familiarity with data sources such as ICPSR, Mergent, Roper, Social Explorer, World Development Indicators, or others
 

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities  

Commitment to open knowledge, open access, or open research practices 
Capacity and commitment to continuing education and professional development  
Qualitative data skills 
Knowledge of outreach, consultation, and instruction practices  
Commitment to open knowledge, open access, or open research practices 

 

About SLU Libraries

The SLU Libraries include Pius XII Memorial Library, the main library on SLU’s St. Louis campus, the Medical Center Library, and the Vincent C. Immel Law Library, as well as a library at the SLU campus in Madrid, Spain. The SLU Libraries have extensive collections to support teaching, learning, studying, and clinical care. Special services and collections within Pius Library include the Academic Technology Commons, an innovative and flexible space, with the latest technologies and one service point where patrons can access both Information Technology and Library services, and the Knights of Columbus Vatican Film Library, a research collection for medieval and Renaissance manuscript studies that houses more than 37,000 microfilmed manuscripts from the Vatican Library. For information about Pius XII Memorial Library, see https://www.slu.edu/library.

 

Applicants must include: 1) a cover letter; 2) a resume/curriculum vitae.  You can upload these items on the third page “My experience” of the application.

 

Initial application review will begin on Wednesday, April 15th and will continue until the position is filled.