Metadata Initiatives Program Officer

Full-time | Hybrid | Chicago, IL | Expected Starting Salary: $80,000-$90,000

Position Overview

The Center for Research Libraries (CRL) seeks an innovative, collaborative, and community-oriented Program Officer for Metadata Initiatives to lead strategic metadata programs that advance both CRL’s internal goals and the collective priorities of its member institutions.

This position plays a dual role:

Internally, the Program Officer guides and implements transformative metadata strategies, including leading a major AI-assisted initiative to enhance access to CRL’s six million-item collection.
Externally, the Program Officer builds and supports a vibrant, member-driven community of practice for collaborative metadata creation, shared cataloging infrastructure, and discovery innovation.

Reporting to the Director of Collections, Access and Technology, this role supervises CRL’s internal metadata specialists and works cross-functionally with teams spanning collections, digital services, systems, and user experience. The ideal candidate will combine deep knowledge of metadata standards with the skills to facilitate partnerships and empower community-led progress in shared metadata work.

While onsite or hybrid work is preferred, fully remote arrangements will be considered for candidates who demonstrate exceptional qualifications.

Center for Research Libraries (CRL)

Based in Chicago, IL, the Center for Research Libraries is an enduring model for cooperative collection development and community building among the research library community. From its original founding in 1949 by ten member libraries in the Midwestern United States, today CRL represents an international consortium of university, college, and independent research libraries collectively building, stewarding, and sharing a wealth of resource materials from all world regions to support inspired research and teaching.

CRL is dedicated to advancing the values and first principles of academic librarianship, including the defense of intellectual freedom, celebration of diversity, advocacy of responsible stewardship, and promotion of social responsibility and the social good.

As a place of work, CRL places a high value on excellence, accountability, innovation, inclusivity, and teamwork.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Management

Working closely with the Director of Collections, Access & Technology, lead the development and implementation of CRL’s organizational metadata strategy, aligning internal workflows with external, member-informed priorities.
Manage large-scale, cross-functional metadata initiatives, including a major AI-assisted project to expand metadata coverage and access.
Assess project impact, develop sustainable workflows, and adapt strategies to evolving standards, technologies, and research needs.

Internal Collaboration & Staff Supervision

Coordinate with departments across CRL to support scalable, consistent, and standards-aligned metadata practices.
Supervise and mentor a team of metadata and cataloging specialists, promoting collaboration and professional growth.
Ensure compliance with evolving metadata standards (e.g., RDA, MARC, BIBFRAME, linked data) and promote inclusive, ethical description practices.

Community Engagement & Program Development

Cultivate and support a member-led community of practice around collaborative cataloging and shared metadata strategies.
Facilitate cross-institutional projects and working groups that align with member needs and priorities.
Represent CRL in external metadata communities, consortia, and professional associations.

Outreach, Training & Capacity Building

Share CRL’s metadata work through presentations, publications, webinars, and external collaborations.
Develop documentation, training materials, and guidance to support participation in CRL-led metadata initiatives.
Promote open, ethical, and interoperable metadata practices that improve discoverability and access across institutions.

Qualifications

Required:

Master's degree in library and information science (MLS/MLIS) or equivalent combination of education and experience
Demonstrated leadership in metadata or cataloging services, including the implementation of metadata strategies
Experience supervising staff and collaborating across departments or organizational units
Strong knowledge of current and emerging metadata standards and practices (e.g., MARC, RDA, BIBFRAME, linked data)
Excellent communication, facilitation, and organizational skills, with a commitment to inclusive and community-responsive metadata work
Demonstrated ability to engage diverse communities of practice and foster participation in shared discovery efforts

Preferred:

Certificate or formal training in project management
Experience drafting, developing, or implementing organizational or metadata-related policies and procedures
Experience leading committees, working groups, or cross-institutional collaborations in a professional or academic setting
Experience with digitization or digital archiving

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, permanent position with an expected starting salary range of $80,000-$90,000. CRL offers competitive benefits including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, and flexible PTO including vacation, sick, personal time, 2 floating, and 12 paid holidays per year. In addition, CRL offers generous retirement benefits with a monthly 10% contribution after a year of employment (immediately vested). Employees will receive funding for professional development activities.

Application Process

Expertise in each requirement listed above is not expected — instead, we encourage applications from those who demonstrate a mix of expertise in some areas and commitment to learning and experimentation in others. Skills and relevant experience outlined in your application may be paid or unpaid and can include internships, volunteer work, and practicums. We understand that experience, education, learning, and creativity take many forms and expect that qualified applicants may bring additional skills to this position that we’ve not considered or listed here. If this role interests you, we encourage you to apply!

To be considered for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume to hrteam@crl.edu. Please include “Program Officer for Metadata Initiatives” in the subject line. We are keen to fill this important position on our team, and applications will be received until the position is filled. Applications received by close of business Wednesday, October 8th, 2025, will be given priority attention.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CRL is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding recruitment, hiring and employment and is dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at CRL are based on organization needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. CRL will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.