Data Curation Network Project Coordinator

 University of Minnesota Libraries

The Data Curation Network (DCN) project seeks applications for a proactive and enthusiastic Project Coordinator. This is a three-year project designed to expand and launch a cross-institutional staffing model for curating research data across a network of partner institutions and general data repositories.

With support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Data Curation Network will provide data curators an opportunity to share their specialized expertise across institutional boundaries and enable data repositories to professionally curate a wider variety of data at a greater depth than previously possible. Visit the project web site for more information at http://DataCurationNetwork.org. The Project Coordinator will bring combined skills in data curation, project management, and team-building to help shape the future of the DCN. This position, based at the University of Minnesota Libraries, will coordinate all aspects of the Data Curation Network and report to the project’s principal investigator and Director of the Data Repository for the University of Minnesota (DRUM).

The Project Coordinator will work with a distributed network of data curators across eight institutions: University of Minnesota Libraries, Sheridan Libraries at Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan Library, Duke University Libraries, University Library at University of Illinois at Urbana­-Champaign, Cornell University Library, Penn State University Libraries, and Dryad Digital Repository. Specifically, the Coordinator will oversee the daily operations of the Network, assign data sets to the appropriate DCN Curator, and track/monitor a dataset’s progress through the Network to ensure consistent and high quality service. The Project Coordinator will engage in business and planning aspects of the project along with a team of 10 dedicated data repository managers and project Co-PIs who are committed to the success of the DCN. Dependent on disciplinary background and expertise, the Coordinator may also take on data curation duties as needed.

Qualifications

Required

  • Master’s degree from an American Library Association accredited library school or equivalent combination of advanced degree and relevant experience.

  • Demonstrated understanding of scientific research methods and data collection processes.
  • Knowledge of data repositories, preservation, and curation concepts and their application.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in a service-oriented, virtual, and collaboration-intensive environment.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to the benefits of diversity and inclusion throughout an organization.

Preferred:

  • Experience working with data in a research setting.
  • Demonstrated project management skills.
  • Demonstrated creativity, initiative and self-direction.
  • Familiarity with metadata standards, creation, schemas, or management.
  • Knowledge of software packages and file formats for collecting and analyzing scientific data, such as R, MATLAB, Python, as well as tools and workflows for supporting reproducible research.
  • Understanding of trends in academic research support and expertise in providing research lifecycle support.
  • Demonstrated experience working collaboratively and effectively to support remote and/or virtual users.

This is a full-time, 12-month, annual renewable, academic professional position with an appointment at the assistant or associate librarian level. The University of Minnesota Libraries offers excellent benefits and the Twin Cities provide an exciting urban center surrounded by outdoor adventure.

For more information and to apply, go to http://z.umn.edu/ulib392. Applications will be accepted until position is filled; first review of applications will be May 24, 2018.