Head of Research Data Services, University of Texas Libraries, Austin, TX
Posted March 11, 2022
Description:
The University of Texas Libraries is hiring a Head of Research Data Services. Consider joining our team to shape the future of Research Data Services and enjoy the benefits of living in beautiful Austin, Texas.
This position is responsible for the leadership and management of the UT Libraries (UTL) Research Data Services (RDS) unit. The person in this role will provide strategic direction for RDS services, develop and deliver programming and resources in association with the UTL Scholars Lab, and collaborate with UTL staff, Office of Sponsored Projects, Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors, Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), Information Technology Services, and other campus partners to foster a culture of strong and open data stewardship and ensure the UT community is making the best use of available services. Reports to the Assistant Director of Research Support and Digital Initiatives.
General Notes
The University of Texas Libraries welcomes and respects all individuals and communities by valuing and consciously maintaining awareness of diverse perspectives and experiences. We believe inclusivity is critical to fostering excellence in all of our endeavors, and we promote diversity in our collections and services, as well as in our recruiting, hiring, and retention practices.
Responsibilities
Provide Leadership and Management Oversight for Research Data Services Unit. Provide leadership for Research Data Services unit, supervisory and managerial support for unit staff focused on GIS and geospatial data and the Texas Data Repository (TDR), participate in Research Support and Digital Initiatives planning and contribute to collaborative departmental projects, identify and set RDS goals and priorities, and coordinate all relevant work within the RDS unit and with internal UTL and campus partners.
·
· Develop and Deliver Research Data Services Training. Develop and deliver Research Data Services training for all disciplines on campus, both in-person and online, including workshops, drop-in classes, and one-on-one sessions to promote data literacy, data management best practices, and data services. Create and manage online resources, including self-help guides and templates within DMPTool.org, to guide research data stewardship throughout the research life cycle. Coordinate with others in UTL, especially subject liaison librarians, and across campus to effectively communicate services available to UT Austin researchers. Keep the university community informed about policies and activities related to research data services. Contribute to informational materials and programming about open data and open science in order to encourage greater participation in research from under-represented groups.
· Provide Data Management Planning Support and Consultation. Provide consultative services to UT Austin researchers including evaluating data management plans, assessing and advising on data sharing platforms, providing information about specific funder/publisher requirements, and fostering the use of FAIR data principles to promote reproducibility of research. Work with UT Austin staff and administrators to support continued development and visibility of robust data management services available to researchers.
·
Maintain Currency with Data Standards, Procedures, and Practices. Stay informed of data standards, best practices for data management, funding agency requirements, data sharing procedures, metadata standards, etc. to continuously build expertise and improve services on campus, and to update supporting resources for the UT Austin community.
·
Contribute to Professional and Organizational Initiatives. Engage in ongoing professional development and scholarship through attending and/or presenting at conferences and workshops. Maintain awareness and engagement with national and international trends in data management, open data and scholarly communication.
Participate in UT Libraries, University, and External Committees and Working Groups.
· Other related functions as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Master’s degree and three years of experience administering/coordinating programs or services. A minimum of two years of experience in data science and/or managing research data in libraries or research centers/institutes. Experience developing and effectively delivering training or workshop presentations. Facility with teaching others about research methods, how to use tools, and how to identify data sources. Experience with one or more components of the research data life cycle: creating, processing, analyzing, preserving, providing access to, and re-using data. Understanding of data services concepts, such as development of research data management plans, research data repositories and metadata standards, data curation, data publishing, data visualization, open data and data literacy. Deep working knowledge of data management practices and the ability to advise researchers on planning, budgeting, and compliance with funder requirements (NSF, NIH, etc.). Strong organizational or project management skills. Ability to effectively communicate with a range of constituents with varying levels of knowledge and experience (including faculty, librarians, and students in a variety of disciplines) and bring diverse stakeholders together. Ability to be proactive and work independently with varied user groups within a complex organization. Strong public service orientation. Strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, and creating an RDS team environment that values diverse approaches and perspectives.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience conducting data-intensive research and successfully managing related data. Experience recruiting, training, and supervising staff. Experience working with researchers on data management planning. Demonstrated familiarity with FAIR data principles, open data best practices, the tenets of the Open Science movement, and related scholarly communication issues and trends. Experience with Dataverse. Experience with a programming language such as Python, JavaScript, or PHP. Familiarity with technologies used in high performance computing. Experience with data manipulation and clean-up tools such as OpenRefine, Pandas for Python, or the tidyverse for R. Experience with data presentation and visualization methods. Knowledge of quantitative data analysis applications such as Stata, R, SPSS, etc., and/or qualitative research tools such as Nvivo, Atlas.ti, etc. Experience with assigning metadata, transforming metadata, and/or batch metadata editing.
Research indicates that applicants with marginalized identities are hesitant to apply for positions if they do not meet all of the qualifications. We want to emphasize that although experience in certain areas is desirable, candidates who meet the required qualifications or equivalencies, demonstrate excellent promise, and a passion for the field are encouraged to apply and will be given serious consideration. Opportunities for training, mentorship, and support from individuals with a variety of skill sets exist locally, regionally, and nationally.
Salary Range
$65,000 + depending on qualifications
How to apply:
See the full job posting for instructions on applying here.
The University of Texas at Austin offers a wide variety of employee benefits, including:
- A robust and competitive health insurance package (employee medical insurance premiums covered at 100%, dependents 50%)
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
- Retirement plan with employer contributions immediately upon hire
- Flexible spending accounts for medical and childcare expenses
Please see our Prospective Employee Benefits webpage for more information.
Additionally, UT Libraries offers a healthy work life balance in an inclusive and kind working environment and flexible work arrangements.
Contact Jenifer Flaxbart with any questions about this role or about working at UT.