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Director of Research Data Services, Indiana University Libraries, (Bloomington, IN)

Posted July 2, 2024

IU Libraries seeks an innovative, collaborative, and team-oriented leader to provide strategy and direction in the Director of Research Data Services position. This is a new leadership opportunity for an individual with experience and vision to develop, deliver, and assess a broad suite of research data services, including GIS and geospatial data and data repository and discovery services. This position guides the growth and provision of IU Libraries’ research data services and participation in campus and university initiatives related to research data. The Director of Research Data Services will also provide leadership for various partnerships associated with research data initiatives, actively participating in developing the IU Research Data Commons and building programs that support and foster a culture of open data stewardship and discovery.

The successful candidate will be at the forefront of strategically advancing research data initiatives, engaging with campus researchers and university partners, and establishing and promoting research data programs in collaboration with library, campus, and university colleagues. With a vision for growth, they will proactively advance and support IU Libraries’ alignment and integration into campus and university strategic priorities. The Director of Research Data Services will involve developing and maintaining a broad range of strategic partnerships, working collaboratively and in consultation on functions, resources, and programs, and capitalizing on IU Libraries’ distinct interdisciplinary and technical expertise.

This position, reporting to the IU Libraries-Bloomington Associate Dean for Organizational Strategy and Scholarly Communication, offers a unique opportunity for professional growth and development. Research Data Services is a growing area in IU Libraries, and the department is expected to expand over time with the Director’s guidance and leadership. The Director of Research Data Services collaborates closely with colleagues across IU’s research campuses (Bloomington and Indianapolis) and other IU Libraries directors to coordinate strategic operations and ensure progress toward goals and priorities. The incumbent will work with various library, campus, and university colleagues to advance initiatives associated with research data services and infrastructure. The Director of Research Data Services is a member of the IU Libraries Director Council and advises the administration on organizational planning, financial planning, and policy development.

TENURE STATUS

This is a unique opportunity for individuals looking for flexibility in their career path. The Director of Research Data Services appointment can be tenured/tenure-track or non-tenure-track, depending on the qualifications and preference of the successful candidate.  Tenure-track appointees must have the demonstrated ability to meet the requirements of a tenure-track position at the IU Libraries. (https://libraries.indiana.edu/file/promotion-and-tenure-criteria-iub-librarians-pdf)

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Develop and implement strategies for delivering research data programming, resources, and services for students and researchers in alignment with broader initiatives across the Libraries and IU’s research campuses
  • Provide leadership, direction, and vision for Research Data Services personnel and maintain a work environment that encourages development, engagement, and job satisfaction
  • Collaborate with colleagues in the IU Libraries to advance strategic initiatives and assess and monitor progress toward strategic goals
  • Lead and coordinate the Libraries Research Data Services Working Group, a collaborative group of data librarians at IU Bloomington and IU Indianapolis that shares expertise and identifies emerging needs and opportunities for library-based research data services
  • Communicate and regularly engage with a variety of library, campus, and university partners who provide and support data services through technical infrastructure, collections, open initiatives, scholarly communication, external funding, information technology, and instruction/training/consultation services
  • Provide leadership for Libraries participation in the IU Research Data Commons initiative (https://researchdata.iu.edu)
  • Collaborate with campus and university partners to support, develop, and increase the visibility of a broad and robust suite of data services including, but not limited to, guidance on funder/publisher requirements, data sharing platforms, FAIR data principles, open data stewardship, data management
  • Participate as an active member of the Libraries Director Council
  • Assess and advise on technical, software, and other tools that will improve research data sharing and services
  • Contribute to the development of grant proposals and collaborative projects
  • Contribute to IU Libraries participation in consortial and open-source efforts such as the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) and Samvera
  • Maintain awareness and engagement with national and international trends related to research data
  • Promote the Libraries culture of diversity and inclusion and support the values outlined in the IU Libraries Diversity Strategic Plan (https://libraries.indiana.edu/diversity-strategic-plan-0)

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

Applicants are encouraged to communicate how their work and other experiences satisfy the minimum qualifications in ways that may not be obvious.

  • ALA-accredited graduate degree in library or information science; candidates with an advanced degree in a relevant subject area and appropriate experience in an academic setting will also be considered
  • Minimum two years of experience directing or coordinating research data programs or services 
  • Demonstrated experience with the range of data services concepts, such as research data repositories and metadata standards, data curation, open data, and data literacy  
  • Demonstrated knowledge of best practices and trends across the research lifecycle and the evolving landscape of open and public data, data ethics, data repositories, and data sharing
  • Demonstrated experience with various data management practices and ability to advise researchers on planning, budgeting, and compliance with funder requirements (e.g., NSF, NIH).  
  • Demonstrated experience with a programming or scripting language, preferably Python or R 
  • Evidence of strong organizational and project management skills
  • Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with a range of constituents with varying levels of knowledge and experience (e.g., faculty, librarians, IT professionals, and students in a variety of disciplines)
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative teams, bring groups of varied stakeholders together in a complex, rapidly changing, and professionally diverse environment, and build dynamic relationships with faculty, students, and academic colleagues
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully work independently
  • Demonstrated ability to understand and enhance the Libraries’ culture of diversity and inclusion and support the values outlined in the IU Libraries Diversity Strategic Plan (https://libraries.indiana.edu/file/diversity-strategic-plan-20162017pdf)

Preferred

Preferred qualifications are not required, and IU Libraries is committed to helping our future colleagues develop preferred skills.

  • Demonstrated experience recruiting, training, and supervising librarians and/or professional staff
  • Demonstrated familiarity with FAIR data principles, the tenets of the Open Science movement, and related scholarly communication issues and trends
  • Demonstrated experience with Hyrax, DSpace, Dataverse, or other digital repository systems used for research data 
  • Demonstrated experience working with researchers on data management planning 
  • Demonstrated familiarity with technologies used in high-performance computing
  • Demonstrated experience with tools, applications, and methods for accessing, managing, manipulating, cleaning, analyzing, visualizing, and preserving data across disciplines (e.g., OpenRefine, Pandas for Python, tidyverse for R, Stata, SPSS, Nvivo, Atlas.ti)  
  • Demonstrated experience working with metadata
  • Demonstrated experience working with software development or implementation projects in a product owner or subject matter expert role

 TO APPLY:

Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications received by August 12, 2024, will receive full consideration, but the search will remain open until filled. Interested candidates should review the application requirements and submit their application at https://indiana.peopleadmin.com. Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to: Jennifer Chaffin, Director of Human Resources, Libraries Human Resources, Herman B Wells Library 205, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 – Phone: 812-855-8196 – Fax: 812-855-2576 – Email: [email protected].  Expected start date: October 1, 2024. Please note that this date is flexible.

 For more information about Indiana University Bloomington, go to https://www.indiana.edu/. For information about working and living in Bloomington, Indiana: https://vpfaa.indiana.edu/work-life/index.html 

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