Senior Program Officer- Metadata Leadership & Innovation

Together we make breakthroughs possible.   At OCLC, we build technology with a purpose: to connect libraries and make knowledge accessible worldwide, because we believe that what is known must be shared. Our teams work with complex global datasets, AI and machine learning, hybrid cloud solutions, and other technologies that connect people and organizations to the information they need. We value the power of unique perspectives and experiences to unlock innovation. At OCLC, your ideas matter, whether you have two years of experience or 20. You’ll learn, create, and problem-solve with technologists, product developers, librarians, researchers, marketing pros, and support teams around the world.   Why join OCLC?   OCLC is consistently recognized as a best place to work by several independent programs. We recognize and reward people and results with a comprehensive Total Rewards package. This means competitive compensation that reflects your unique contributions—performance, experience, and skills—along with exceptional benefits, including best-in-class health coverage, retirement plans with generous company contributions, and a commitment to your overall well-being. We know the best ideas don’t always happen at a desk. Take a walking meeting around our 100-acre campus or enjoy lunch on the patio. We’re committed to your success—both personally and professionally. Hybrid work environment: For many roles, three days a week on-site, with occasional additional days based on business needs.  Free use of our on-site fitness center, gym sports, group exercise classes, and game room  Onsite catering and cafeteria subsidized by OCLC  Health and wellness events  Work environments with individual and team spaces and the latest technology tools  Paid parental leave and adoption assistance  Tuition reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility  Company-subsidized pricing on local tickets and memberships  Join us in transforming how people everywhere access information and be part of a mission-driven team that makes a global impact.  The job details are as follows: The Senior Program Officer, Metadata Leadership & Innovation for the OCLC Research Library Partnership (RLP) serves as a thought leader and program manager guiding OCLC’s engagement with the global library metadata community. In this role, you will lead the OCLC RLP’s Metadata Managers Focus Group and related initiatives, convening metadata experts from over 100 leading research libraries. Your charge: identify significant patterns and emerging needs in metadata management (e.g., in areas like linked data implementation, metadata automation with AI, inclusive and reparative description practices) and help OCLC and its partners proactively respond. You will design and deliver high-impact community programs (virtual and in-person meetings, working groups, and publications) that foster collaboration among metadata specialists and inform OCLC’s research and product development strategies. This is a unique opportunity for a recognized metadata expert with a strategic mindset and a passion for community building to shape the future of library metadata on a global scale, driving innovation in how libraries describe and provide access to collections. Key Responsibilities: Lead Community Engagement for Metadata Experts : Plan, facilitate, and grow the RLP’s Metadata Managers Focus Group, a long-standing forum for senior metadata practitioners from partner institutions. Organize regular virtual meetings, webinars, and occasional in-person convenings that enable peers to share insights on the latest challenges (for example, implementing new standards like RDA LRM or BIBFRAME, leveraging machine learning for metadata enrichment, and improving metadata for diversity and inclusion). Frame emerging challenges into actionable problem statements and options. Maintain a clear pipeline of priority topics and time-limited initiatives, making explicit choices about scope, sequencing, and resourcing. Cultivate a welcoming, productive environment that encourages open dialogue and knowledge exchange among international experts. Strategic Program Development : Develop an annual program plan for metadata-focused community activities. This includes identifying priority topics through consultation with partners (e.g., via surveys or advisory groups) and creating programming to address those topics. Launch and manage ad hoc working groups or pilot projects as needed – for instance, coordinating a working group on “AI in Metadata Workflows” to produce recommendations for the community and for OCLC (building on recent RLP efforts in this space). Ensure that program outcomes (reports, best practice guidelines, etc.) are disseminated widely and have lasting impact. Thought Leadership & Advocacy : Represent OCLC and the RLP in external forums related to metadata and cataloging. This includes presenting at major conferences (ALA, IFLA, DCMI, etc.), participating in initiatives like the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC), and contributing to professional literature (white papers, blog posts on Hanging Together , etc.). Ensure that OCLC’s perspectives on “next-generation metadata” (such as the shift toward linked data and the integration of AI and machine learning in cataloging) are visible and influential in the community. Act as a spokesperson for OCLC’s work in this area, highlighting the synergy between the RLP’s community-driven insights and OCLC’s product/services evolution. Partner Engagement & Support : Provide expert guidance to RLP partner libraries on complex metadata issues and initiatives. Respond to inquiries from partners seeking advice or best practices (for example, how to approach metadata migration to new standards or how to implement inclusive description policies). When appropriate, coordinate with OCLC’s consulting and support teams to ensure RLP members have the help they need in implementing new OCLC met