Spatial Data Analyst/Curator

Position Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of the John R. Borchert Map Library, and working closely with the U-Spatial Data Core team, the Libraries Research Data Management/Curation Initiative, the University Digital Conservancy program, and other Libraries and campus geospatial information services, the Spatial Data Analyst/Curator holds primary responsibilities in these areas:

• Consultation and Advocacy — consults with University faculty, staff, and students from across the University on policy and procedural issues related to the creation, management and dissemination of spatial data assets.  Consultation areas include, but are not limited to, the application  of University policies, general issues on copyright and data governance (e.g., open access allowances, as well as controls over legally private and sensitive data), and data management plan compliance and best practices. Coordinates the development, release, and promotion and user support of data core tools and resources (enterprise-level data storage, geospatial information discovery service or portal, archiving and preservation services, web services, spatial analysis service, etc.) among the University community, in coordination with U-Spatial, Libraries, and other University staff. Supports end-user training activities and creates documentation to make it easy for people to use data core resources.
• Content Recruitment — Develop and execute a multi-year, community engagement strategy to acquire and build a corpus of digital spatial data for access and preservation via U-Spatial. Conduct community assessments to inform the identification of content recruitment targets.
• Workflow Analysis and Process Development — analyzes user workflows and data flows to inform the design and development of low-barrier processes for content submission into the access and repository systems used by U-Spatial (i.e., geoportal federated web application access system, and a DPS-digital preservation repository management system). Develop, in collaboration with U-Spatial technology staff and the Libraries’ Digital Preservation and Repository Technologies staff, systematic processes for ensuring that ingested spatial data is made discoverable/accessible (via a geoportal) and is archived/preserved (via DPS).

• Metadata Management — standards, creation, transformation, ingest. In coordination with Libraries’ Data Management and Access, establish metadata procedures, following standardized geospatial metadata application profiles and guidelines. Develop geospatial metadata creation and editing processes including use of linked data. Manage metadata crosswalks, transformations, and efficient spatial data ingest processes.  Oversee quality control measures to ensure effective discovery and access to spatial data by the user community.
• Supervision.  May supervise a small group of graduate students in support of U-Spatial Data Core work.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library/information science from an American Library Association accredited library school, GIS-related field, or equivalent combination of advanced degree and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of cartographic and geospatial resources and concepts.
• Experience with geographical information systems, including/especially ERSI’s ArcGIS software.
• Experience with metadata creation, schema, and management.
• Familiarity with tools and techniques involving metadata validation, crosswalks, authorities and registries, and transformations.
• Excellent assessment, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, self-direction, and ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and students in a research-intensive environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of ISO 19115 Geographic Information – Metadata family of metadata standards and specifications.
• Experience with geospatial methods, spatial data formats and models, and spatial statistics.
• Understanding of common web and open source technologies for geospatial data such as XML, Python, GeoServer, PostGIS, OpenLayers, and GDAL/OGR.
• Data programming experience, for example scripting or performing batch metadata operations/transformations using standard tools and methods.
• Knowledge of data repository, preservation, and curation concepts and their application.
• Demonstrated interest in the applications of current and emerging technologies and their integration into the delivery of information services.
• Demonstrated aptitude for teaching and developing user-oriented documentation.

For more information:

Spatial_Data_Analyst_Curator.pdf