Senior Library Metadata Classification Specialist

Job Title: Senior Library Metadata Classification Specialist

Location:
United Arab Emirates (Remote) Employment Type: Full-Time Work Arrangement: 100% Remote — Work From Home Level: Senior

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior Library Metadata Classification Specialist to manage and improve the organization, classification, cataloguing, and discoverability of library and digital information resources.

This role focuses on developing consistent metadata structures, applying recognized bibliographic classification standards, maintaining catalogue accuracy, and ensuring that physical and digital collections can be efficiently searched and retrieved. The successful candidate will oversee metadata quality, classification workflows, authority control, subject indexing, and catalogue enhancement projects.

Working entirely remotely, the specialist will collaborate with librarians, archivists, digital repository teams, publishers, and information management professionals to strengthen metadata governance and improve access to knowledge resources.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the classification and metadata management of books, journals, electronic publications, manuscripts, multimedia resources, and other library materials. Apply recognized bibliographic classification systems, including Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), Library of Congress Classification (LCC), and other relevant institutional schemes. Develop, review, and maintain cataloguing standards, metadata policies, and classification procedures. Create and enhance bibliographic records using established cataloguing principles and metadata schemas.

Review descriptive, structural, administrative, and subject metadata for accuracy, completeness, consistency, and interoperability. Apply appropriate subject headings, keywords, authority records, and controlled vocabularies to improve resource discoverability. Perform authority control for personal names, corporate bodies, titles, subjects, and other catalogue access points. Review and correct duplicate, incomplete, inconsistent, or incorrectly classified catalogue records.

Support metadata normalization, enrichment, migration, and deduplication initiatives across library management systems. Work with metadata standards such as MARC 21, Dublin Core, RDA, BIBFRAME, and relevant repository metadata frameworks. Assess digital collection metadata to ensure appropriate indexing, search functionality, and cross-platform compatibility. Develop quality assurance procedures and validation rules for bibliographic and repository records.

Analyze catalogue quality metrics and prepare reports on record completeness, classification accuracy, and metadata exceptions. Coordinate remotely with collection development, acquisitions, digitization, archival, and information technology teams. Support the implementation and enhancement of integrated library systems, discovery platforms, and digital repository solutions. Review metadata mapping specifications and recommend improvements for data exchange between library platforms and external catalogues.

Conduct sample-based metadata audits and document findings, corrective actions, and quality improvement recommendations. Maintain technical documentation, classification guidelines, metadata dictionaries, and controlled vocabulary references. Monitor developments in cataloguing standards, digital librarianship, linked data, and information organization practices. Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior cataloguers and metadata personnel.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Library and Information Science, Information Management, Archival Studies, Knowledge Management, or a related discipline. Significant experience in library cataloguing, metadata management, bibliographic classification, or digital repository administration. Strong understanding of library classification principles and established cataloguing practices.

Practical experience with Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification, or equivalent classification systems. Knowledge of Resource Description and Access (RDA), MARC 21, Dublin Core, and other relevant metadata standards. Experience creating, editing, validating, and maintaining bibliographic and authority records. Understanding of subject indexing, controlled vocabularies, authority control, and thesaurus management.

Familiarity with integrated library systems, online public access catalogues (OPACs), and digital library platforms. Experience with metadata migration, record matching, normalization, and data quality assurance. Knowledge of digital repositories, electronic resource management, and metadata interoperability. Familiarity with linked data principles, BIBFRAME, and semantic web technologies is an advantage. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and structured data review; experience with XML, JSON, SQL, or metadata transformation too