Collection Metadata Analyst in Boston

Boston Full-Time On-site

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The Collection Metadata Standards team has a vacancy for a Collection Metadata Analyst. The team is responsible for co-ordinating the development and implementation of the bibliographic standards which the Library uses to describe our collection, enable discovery of collection items, and disseminate catalogue records globally.

This role will focus on international standards development and their implementation, as well as the local transformation and manipulation of metadata, including catalogue records, to meet British Library user needs.

We are looking for someone with proven technical skills and experience of working with metadata for bibliographic or archival resources. The successful candidate will have a demonstrable knowledge of RDA and MARC 21 as well as HTML, XML or XSLT.

The role requires working with colleagues and external partners to deliver standards developments which benefit the British Library, as well as the library community and metadata supply chain as a whole. Attention to detail and working to deadlines are key requirements; good analytical and communications skills are also essential.

About the role

Job purpose:

the development, application and convergence of metadata standards;
the development of products and services;
the maintenance and enhancement of the Library’s metadata assets;
the dissemination of bibliographic metadata to internal and external customers;
the Collection Metadata Strategy.

Key areas of responsibility

Enhancement of collection metadata by researching and developing solutions to deficiencies in the data;
Fulfilment of the Library’s commitments to standards development;
Development of new and existing metadata services and products;
Dissemination and application of the Library’s Collection Metadata Strategy;
Promotion of good metadata practice in the Library including compliance with licensing and data protection regulation;
Management of the processing and supply of bibliographic metadata.

Resources managed

Management of staff is not inherent in the post, but the incumbent may be required to perform management or supervisory role.

Main tasks

Expected to demonstrate a willingness to take on a range of tasks and to develop new skills, as appropriate, in own or other departments/directorates to support the delivery of the Library's services as required by line management;
Contribute to the development and implementation of metadata workflows for new and existing content streams;
Document and maintain collection metadata processes and maintain the supporting infrastructure;
Develop and steward proposals for changes to standards, metadata, or systems in response to internal requirements or to fulfil external commitments;
Represent the Library on designated metadata standards or related technologies;
Maintain expert knowledge of designated standards and technologies and develop and extend professional knowledge;
Research and evaluate technologies, sources and standards by which BL metadata can be acquired, disseminated or enhanced;
Disseminate knowledge of new and emerging metadata standards and technologies via appropriate communication channels.

Minimum requirements (essential)

Significant, demonstrable employment experience in a relevant professional capacity is required, at least part of which will have been working with metadata for bibliographic materials;
Relevant technical skills and knowledge Proven expertise in the application, interpretation, communication and development of metadata standards for resource description (e.g. RDA; MARC 21; DDC; ONIX); AND/OR
An excellent working knowledge of relevant technical standards and technologies: XML, XSLT, HTML; AND/OR
Proven expertise in programmatic solutions via command-line, batch scripting, Excel formulas and macros, regular expressions (regex).
The ability to analyse metadata requirements for systems developments, to prepare specifications and evaluate deliverables;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to convey the ideas behind metadata developments and their implications in a comprehensible manner to colleagues, at all levels, unfamiliar with the concepts involved;
Attentive to detail, and able to work with precision and accuracy;
Able to lead or work collaboratively on systems development projects as part of cross-divisional initiatives, or with external partners;
Able to work under pressure, set priorities and meet deadlines.
Additional requirements (desirable)
Education to first degree level and/or relevant professional qualifications in high level information processing or library or information science would be an advantage;
Knowledge and experience of bibliographic control practices and the structure of library data required for processing, collection management and access;
Strong technical background with an understanding of macro or programming languages.

Employer: The British Library

Location: Boston Spa, UK

Posted Date: 29/10/2026

Expiry Date: 01/03/2027

Type: Full-Time

Categories: Data / Knowledge Manager / Analysis / Governance, Librarian / Collections / Digitisation / Archivist, Metadata Management / Taxonomy / Ontology, Software Developer / Programmer / Scripting

Ref: DN-JB-3118