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Ascension LLC is seeking a highly experienced Lead Metadata Librarian / Cataloging Subject Matter Expert to support a potential Library of Congress metadata creation and cataloging effort. This position is designed for a senior cataloging professional who brings deep knowledge of bibliographic standards, authority control, subject analysis, and pre-publication metadata workflows.

The selected candidate will serve as a senior technical resource supporting English-language materials in the Cataloging in Publication workflow. The role requires hands-on expertise in creating high-quality catalog records in accordance with national cataloging standards, including BIBCO-level cataloging, RDA, LC/NACO authority file practices, Library of Congress Classification, Library of Congress Subject Headings, and Sears Subject Headings. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented cataloging professional who can work independently in a virtual environment, manage production expectations, apply consistent metadata judgment, and support quality outcomes for a nationally significant library services mission.

This position is well suited for a senior metadata librarian, cataloging lead, BIBCO cataloger, NACO-trained authority specialist, or cataloging standards expert who has supported academic, research, federal, national library, or large-scale bibliographic metadata environments.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Lead Metadata Librarian / Cataloging SME will support the creation and quality review of cataloging records for English-language materials in the Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication workflow. The contractor will work with forthcoming titles, electronic galleys, and publisher-supplied information to create accurate, complete, and standards-based pre-publication metadata. The role requires the ability to interpret complex bibliographic information, apply national cataloging rules and controlled vocabularies, create and update name authority records, and ensure that catalog records are complete, consistent, and ready for downstream use by the nation’s libraries.

The ideal candidate should be self-driven, highly organized, comfortable working in a production-oriented virtual environment, and skilled at resolving ambiguous cataloging issues with sound professional judgment. The candidate must be able to balance speed, accuracy, and quality while working with older materials in the workflow and supporting cataloging across broad subject areas, excluding children’s literature titles that require special treatment under the draft requirement.

Ascension’s internal LCAT alignment for this role is Subject Matter Expert III, which requires bachelor’s/master’s-level education and approximately 10 years of specialized domain experience. The LCAT supports specialized domain expertise, technical knowledge, quality assurance, stakeholder engagement, business process understanding, and advisory support.

Anticipated Day-to-Day Activities

• Create BIBCO-level catalog records for English-language Cataloging in Publication materials.
• Apply full bibliographic description according to Resource Description and Access standards.
• Create and update name authority records in the LC/NACO Name Authority File, as needed.
• Assign Library of Congress Classification numbers based on subject matter, scope, and cataloging standards.
• Assign Library of Congress Subject Headings and Sears Subject Headings to support accurate discovery and access.
• Review electronic book galleys, publisher information, title pages, tables of contents, summaries, and related metadata to determine appropriate description and access points.
• Perform authority control, subject analysis, and classification review for assigned materials.
• Resolve cataloging questions involving name forms, series treatment, subject interpretation, classification placement, and descriptive metadata.
• Document cataloging decisions, exceptions, workflow questions, and recurring metadata issues for internal tracking and quality review.
• Coordinate virtually with project team members and Government points of contact, as authorized.
• Maintain production discipline while working with oldest materials in the CIP workflow.
• Support quality assurance reviews by identifying inconsistencies, missing metadata, duplicate authority issues, and records requiring correction.
• Recommend workflow improvements, job aids, checklists, or quality control methods to improve consistency and reduce rework.
• Participate in virtual meetings, status discussions, and technical reviews, as requested.
• Protect sensitive, pre-publication, or controlled information in accordance with project and Government handling requirements.