Systems & Data Research Librarian - Library and Researcher Information Services

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Systems & Data Research Librarian at UL Research Institutes Library and Researcher Information Services (LRIS). While this position is remote our operations are based in our Evanston, Illinois, office. The Systems and Data Research Librarian provides operational and strategic support for the ULRI Library and Researcher Information Services systems, digital resources, and data services. This role oversees the administration, maintenance, and optimization of library platforms; ensures reliable access to digital collections; and develops analytics, dashboards, and reporting to support research and organizational priorities. Working collaboratively with IT, vendors, and internal stakeholders, this position advances secure, scalable, and user-centered technologies while contributing to institutional data governance and evidence-based decision-making.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our UL Research Institute teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

What you'll learn and achieve:

As the Systems & Data Research Librarian, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Administer, monitor, and maintain core library systems (OpenAthens, EDS, Stacks, SharePoint, LibGuides, Zotero) and supporting platforms (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps) to ensure consistent authentication, discovery, and access for all users.

• Diagnose and resolve system, access, indexing, and authentication issues, communicating clear resolutions and interim workarounds to stakeholders.

• Partner with IT teams to maintain a secure, stable, and scalable technology infrastructure that supports library operations and research initiatives.

• Establish and document standardized processes for testing, troubleshooting, and resolving system issues to improve efficiency and reliability.

• Conduct user research and usability testing to assess library technologies and recommend enhancements that improve user experience and workflow effectiveness.

• Serve as the primary vendor liaison, coordinating system performance, access troubleshooting, product updates, and new implementations.

• Manage the LRIS SharePoint portal to ensure alignment with ULRI branding, accessibility requirements, and user-centered design principles.

• Maintain seamless access to digital resources by managing access points, metadata workflows, APIs, and discovery platform integrations.

• Support institutional data initiatives by contributing to data governance efforts, documentation, and the development of shared data standards.

• Design, implement, and maintain metadata schemas, controlled vocabularies, taxonomies, and ontologies to enhance discovery, interoperability, and long-term access.

• Ensure metadata quality and consistency, collaborating with data engineers to integrate taxonomies and ontologies into data pipelines, knowledge graphs, and AI-enabled systems.

• Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and analytics that integrate usage data, bibliometrics, altmetrics, and engagement metrics to support evidence-based decision-making.

• Serve as a Data Steward for library and knowledge-domain data, ensuring compliance with enterprise data governance standards, definitions, and quality expectations.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you'll experience working at UL Research Institutes: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You'll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today's global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what's on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and maintaining metadata strategies, policies, and workflows.

• Familiarity with authentication and access technologies, including single sign-on (SSO) and OpenAthens.

• Working knowledge of APIs, system integrations, and data exchange processes.

• Proven experience troubleshooting access to electronic resources and clearly communicating solutions to users.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

• Strong commitment to staying current with emerging trends and best practices in data management and research data services.

• Strong project management skills, with a high level of initiative and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities, including identifying issues, analyzing root causes, and delivering effective solutions.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or equivalent from an ALA accredited program.

• Minimum 2 years of experience post-masters degree in metadata management, library systems management, electronic resource management, and discovery interfaces.

• Demonstrated experience with project management leading cross-functional projects.

• Knowledge of scholarly communication, metadata principles and practices.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

Our affiliate, UL Solutions, stands alongside us in working for a safer and more sustainable world. UL Solutions conducts testing, verification and certification, and provides training and advisory services, along with data-driven reporting and decision-making tools, for customers around the world.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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