Alma Platform Manager
Ex Libris Alma administration and Python-based workflow automation
National Agricultural Library (NAL) - USDA
Location: Remote - Up to 100% Remote
Occasional Onsite: Beltsville, Maryland
Schedule: Monday Friday, 8:30 AM 4:30 PM Eastern Time
Position Type: Full-Time Contract
Estimated Hours: 1,920 hours annually
Contract Term: 1 Base Year + 4 One-Year Option Years
Initial Period of Performance: September 30, 2026 September 29, 2027
Position Overview
RieLes Group is seeking an experienced Alma Platform Manager to support the National Agricultural Library (NAL) under a FEDLINK Library Support Services task order
This is a specialized hybrid role combining library systems administration, software engineering, data workflow automation, and technical operations. The selected candidate will be responsible for administering and supporting the National Agricultural Library's Ex Libris Alma Library Services Platform (LSP) and maintaining related Python-based data workflows
The Alma Platform Manager will play a critical role in the stability, security, monitoring, modernization, and operational continuity of NAL's Alma environment and associated automated workflows
Key Responsibilities:
Alma Platform Administration
Configure, manage, secure, and maintain Ex Libris Alma system components
Manage roles, permissions, profiles, integrations, normalization rules, and authentication/SSO behavior
Monitor Alma jobs and troubleshoot disruptions involving ingest, indexing, publishing, and preservation workflows
Review audit logs and maintain appropriate least-privilege access controls
Monitor system performance and support resolution of cross-system workflow issues
Python & Data Workflow Engineering
Maintain and enhance Python pipelines supporting:
Automated data ingestion
Data transformation
Indexing
System synchronization
Error handling
Reporting
Support integrations between Alma and external systems.
Diagnose data-flow, indexing, schema, and database issues.
Support data governance for automated bibliographic, holdings, and item changes
Maintain appropriate logging, reconciliation, and archival processes for automated workflows
Change Management & Governance
Execute the complete system change lifecycle under NAL's Change Control Board (CCB) requirements
Perform impact and dependency analysis before changes
Conduct sandbox and freeze-window testing
Plan and coordinate deployments
Complete post-deployment validation and documentation
Define and execute rollback procedures when required
Participate in incident reporting and emergency change processes
Ensure system changes comply with NAL governance and documentation requirements
Agile/Scrum Participation
Participate in sprint planning, backlog refinement, standups, and retrospectives
Provide system-level expertise for work affecting Alma and automated workflows
Help ensure user stories, acceptance criteria, remediation work, and technical tasks comply with CCB requirements
Coordinate with the CCB Project Manager and Systems Libraria
Maintain governance-ready documentation, including runbooks, configuration snapshots, and workflow updates
Monitoring, Security & Operational Continuity
Maintain operational dashboards and job-monitoring artifacts
Support service-level monitoring and incident response
Securely handle import/export files and workflow outputs
Maintain backup and recovery readiness
Document and periodically test restore procedures
Plan for degraded system states, failed imports, broken indexing sequences, and configuration drift
Maintain release schedules, freeze periods, and Ex Libris release-window notifications
Metadata & Documentation
Support metadata and digital workflow issues involving upstream ingest, indexing, and downstream preservation synchronization
Work collaboratively with NAL librarians, technical information specialists, IT personnel, acquisitions and metadata teams, and external vendors
Maintain technical documentation in approved repositories such as Confluence
Prepare runbooks, configuration records, release notes, incident/change logs, and governance documentation
Reporting & Deliverables
Prepare monthly status reports
Produce required operational and performance metrics
Track issue resolution and change requests
Report metrics such as job success/failure, mean time to repair (MTTR), ingest quality, indexing latency, and incident trends
Prepare release notes for CCB-approved changes
Required Qualifications:
Education
Bachelor's degree or higher in one of the following:
Information Science
Computer Science
Information Systems
Data Science
Library/Information Science
Related technical field
Required Technical Experience
Candidates must have experience with:
Ex Libris Alma administration, including:
Roles and permissions
Metadata configuration
Job monitoring
Integrations
Troubleshooting
Python-based workflow automation, including ingestion/transformation scripts and external-system integrations.
Diagnosing data-flow, indexing, and schema issues in relational or cloud database environments
Agile/Scrum development environments
Formal change-control and change-lifecycle processes
Sandbox testing, deployment validation, rollback, and change documentation
Required Knowledge & Skills
Library metadata standards such as MARC21, Dublin Core, RDA, and MODS
Alma metadata tools, including:
Normalization rules
Templates
Mapping tables
Publishing workflows
Indexing workflows
Configuration management and version control/Git
Change control and configuration drift detection/remediation
Security controls and least-privilege access
Audit-log review and secure credential handling
Backup, restore, and recovery procedures
Technical documentation using platforms such as Confluence
Ability to troubleshoot cross-system issues involving metadata, ingest scripts, indexing, and preservation synchronization
Strong collaboration skills across technical and library teams
Work Environment & Schedule
This position may be performed up to 100% remotely. The selected candidate must provide coverage Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM 4:30 PM Eastern Time, as required by the task order
The National Agricultural Library is located at:
National Agricultural Library
10301 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705
The candidate must be available for periodic onsite meetings, training, or other activities when physical presence is required. NAL intends to provide advance notice for required onsite activities when practicable
Security & Compliance Requirements
Must successfully complete a USDA background investigation
Must complete required USDA security and privacy training
Must comply with applicable USDA, REE, ARS, and NAL policies and governance requirements
Must comply with applicable federal information security and privacy requirements
Work products, including code, scripts, documentation, and other artifacts developed under the task order, will be the property of the National Agricultural Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Key Personnel Requirement
The Alma Platform Manager is designated as Key Personnel and is considered essential to the operation, stability, and modernization of NAL's Alma environment and related automated data workflows
Only one individual is designated as Key Personnel for the task order unless otherwise approved by the Contracting Officer. Replacement or substitution of the designated Key Personnel requires Government approval
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a technically strong professional who can bridge the gap between library systems and software engineering. Candidates should be comfortable working directly with Ex Libris Alma while also developing and troubleshooting Python-based data pipelines
Strong candidates will demonstrate hands-on experience with Alma administration, Python automation, library metadata, system integrations, change management, and Agile development practices
Recruiting Screening Questions:
Candidates should be prepared to answer the following:
How many years of hands-on Ex Libris Alma administration experience do you have?
Describe a Python-based library or data workflow you developed or maintained.
Which metadata standards and Alma configuration tools have you used?
Have you managed production changes using formal change-control, testing, validation, and rollback procedures?
Are you available for full-time coverage during Eastern Time business hours?
Are you available for occasional travel or onsite meetings in Beltsville, Maryland?
Can you successfully complete a USDA background investigation?
Please send me your most updated resume to mcastillo@rielesgroup.com