Professionals interested in jobs near me with a focus on academic libraries and digital information systems will find this opportunity particularly rewarding. Rice University is hiring a Metadata Analyst in Houston, an exceptional role among the latest Rice University jobs and a top pick for candidates exploring the latest jobs in Houston 2025. This role is ideal for those seeking education jobs in Houston, especially individuals with experience in metadata standards and academic library systems. Those exploring jobs in Rice University careers or long-term careers in education jobs will be drawn to this critical and specialized position. As part of the growing list of Houston jobs 2025, this job also ranks among the latest Metadata Analyst jobs in Houston, offering an opportunity for professionals to work on impactful projects with competitive compensation—making it one of the most attractive high paying jobs in the field of academic library science.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead special cataloging and metadata cleanup projects as assigned by the department head, ensuring accuracy and consistency across library systems.

• Collaborate with internal departments to develop controlled metadata fields, enhancing discoverability and search precision.

• Act as a liaison for metadata initiatives across various library and campus units, supporting cross-functional goals.

• Create and modify reports on library metadata to support institutional analysis, strategy, and operational decisions.

• Oversee quality control for metadata related to cultural heritage collections and research data repositories.

• Provide training and expert technical advice to library staff regarding resource description and metadata standards.

• Manage large, complex, or multi-faceted projects and handle multiple ongoing assignments efficiently.

• Stay active in departmental and library-wide committees that contribute to the mission and advancement of Fondren Library.

• Support additional cataloging and metadata duties as required, ensuring operational continuity.

• Keep current with national metadata standards and schemas, and adapt these to serve local needs and evolving library practices.

Minimum Requirements:

• Master degree from an ALA-accredited library/information science program (or equivalent).

• Two or more years of experience in an academic library environment.

  • Note: Additional education may be substituted for required experience on a year-for-year basis.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated experience adjusting large-scale library metadata and identifying problems within datasets.

• Background in institutional repositories and hands-on experience with both MARC and non-MARC metadata formats (such as Dublin Core, EAD, METS/MODS).

Preferred Skills (Not Mandatory, but Encouraged):

• Specialized experience with metadata, cataloging, or library systems.

• Familiarity with tools like OpenRefine for metadata cleanup.

• Experience using Ex Libris Alma/Primo platforms.

• Willingness to learn or existing knowledge of Python.

• Knowledge of SQL and Oracle databases is an added advantage.

This role is ideal for candidates ready to apply their expertise in a dynamic academic setting while shaping the future of digital information access at a prestigious institution.