[open-government] SFU - Data Curator Position

Wed Feb 1 17:05:42 UTC 2012

Perhaps of interest to some!  A pdf came attached to this email and I
can forward it to you if you drop me a line.

Also, Data curators are a group that open data and open government
advocates could be consulting with especially when constructing tools,
catalogs and trying to develop metadata.  These folks have incredible
expertise in managing and disseminating large stores of data in myriad
formats to all levels of users.  The Data Library at Carleton
University for instance, never ceases to amaze me and the research
library community have built excellent open source data catalog
federation products (http://search1.odesi.ca/).

Do other countries have data librarians and data curators?

Cheers
t

On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 11:02 AM, Walter Piovesan <walter at sfu.ca> wrote:
>  FYI -
>
> ----------------------
> DATA CURATOR
> Simon Fraser University Library is seeking a highly flexible, collaborative and innovative individual, committed to providing the best possible service to faculty and students, to undertake a range of project-based and operational activities that will advance the SFU Library’s strategic objectives for expanded research data curation and management services.
>
> SETTING:
> Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a comprehensive university with approximately 22,000 undergraduate students, 5000 graduate students, 950 faculty and 1500 staff. Ranked by respected national surveys as one of Canada’s top three comprehensive universities for the past 20 years, Simon Fraser University has also been named one of British Columbia’s top 40 Employers for 2011, as well as one of Canada’s top 100 employers. SFU offers more than 100 undergraduate major and joint major programs and more than 45 graduate offerings, spanning many disciplines in eight faculties, and has an international reputation for its innovative interdisciplinary and professional programs. The University was established in 1965 in Burnaby and has since expanded to Vancouver and Surrey.  SFU is integrally involved in the life of all three of its campus communities, including participation in a range of urban renewal and development initiatives. Further information about SFU is available at www.sfu.ca.
>
> The SFU Library has an international reputation as a technologically innovative site which is best exemplified by its role as the home for several major open source software projects – the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) and reSearcher.  PKP develops and supports a range of scholarly communications software applications including Open Journal Systems (OJS) which, as of January 2012, has been installed at over 11,500 sites around the world. reSearcher is a suite of library software modules including Godot, a link resolver, and CUFTS, an electronic resource management system and knowledgebase.  The library also has an active digitization program and has been the recipient of several grants to undertake some large digitization projects.   The library maintains most of the technical infrastructure required for these initiatives and has assembled a very skilled team of systems and technical specialists.
>
> Within the SFU Library, planning and project-based initiatives often cross divisional and campus boundaries.  The Library Planning Committee (Dean, AULs, Division Heads) is responsible for advising the Dean on budget, personnel and external matters. The Library Council (Dean, AULs, Division/Unit Heads, seven library staff representatives) advises on other matters. There are few standing committees, with cross-divisional task groups typically planning and guiding specific projects. Further information about the Library is available at:  www.lib.sfu.ca.
>
>
> ASSIGNMENT:
> Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Library Technology Services and Special Collections, this is a unique opportunity that combines a major research data project funded by the University Priority Fund (UPF) with the implementation of several key objectives for research data services in the Library’s Strategic Plan for 2011-2016.  The Data Curator will play an important leadership role on the UPF-funded project while also working closely with the Library’s Research Data Librarian to plan and implement the Library’s vision for expanded services and support for research data.  An important part of the latter activity will require participation in succession and related transition planning for  Research Data  Services.   This is a continuing position at the SFU Library.
>
> The Data Curator will play a leading role in providing guidance and support in long-term management of research data, including issues of data preservation and access, intellectual property rights, and security of sensitive data. The position will be based in Research Data Services with close working relationships with Library Systems , Research Commons, the Library’s Liaison Librarians, and the Library’s Institutional Repository staff. The position will collaborate with staff from both inside and outside the library devoted to supporting research data management throughout the different phases of the data life cycle. The Data Curator will interact with faculty, students, and various academic and administration units throughout the university and will be responsible for the development and administration of policies, workflows, and infrastructure/repositories regarding the management of datasets and related resources. This is a new position in the SFU Library that will incorporate existing and emerging elements of research data support and services.  It is an opportunity for the right candidate to help create and establish new services for long-term curation and management of research data at SFU.
>
> RESPONSIBILITIES
> UPF Research Data Project
> ¨     Conduct an environmental scan of SFU research data activities and identify data curation and management requirements
> ¨     Undertake several  “proof of concept” or pilots for the preservation and management of SFU research data in a number of representative data domains
> ¨     Work with relevant library units and relevant university units (e.g. IT  Services, Westgrid, the Office of VP Research, other research centers) to develop university-wide policies, procedures, and support for research data production, management , curation; and discovery for primary and secondary analysis
>
> Research Data Curation and Management
> ¨     Provide consultation services for faculty/students/staff with devising and implementing project-specific strategies for long-term data curation and management
> ¨     Work closely with colleagues in the Library and across campus and provide leadership in ensuring SFU compliance with data curation mandates as well as promoting open access to SFU produced research data
> ¨     Provide leadership role to promote data curation and management services amongst faculty and students and staff, and to solicit feedback from researchers about data management needs
> ¨     Assist faculty/students/staff with writing data management plans to include in grant applications and with preparing annual reports, so as to meet requirements of funding agencies such as NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, NEH, and NIH
> ¨     Identify appropriate venues for data storage and access and act as intermediary between researchers and appropriate internal and/or external repositories and archives
> ¨     Assist with development of mechanisms for searching and accessing data collections
> ¨     Work with relevant library units to develop procedures and best practices for helping researchers with database creation and metadata creation
> ¨     Assess requirements and plan for future facilities, collections, services and staff
> ¨     Mentor staff and coordinate training and development; collaborate with liaison librarians in regular communication and review of services to departments and faculties
> ¨     Collaborate with other Library departments on library-wide developments of new initiatives and reviews of existing services
>
>
> QUALIFICATIONS:
> Required
>
> ¨     Graduate degree in library/information science/archival studies from an ALA accredited program or equivalent
> ¨     Minimum 3 years library professional experience including provision of research data services
> ¨     Experience with project management methodologies and subsequent operationalization in a library or research project/team
> ¨     Demonstrated knowledge of intellectual property issues, related academic/research policies and procedures related to data curation and management such as preservation, retrieval, and managing access to sensitive data
> ¨     Demonstrated knowledge of research infrastructure, tools (e.g. DSpace, Fedora, or other repository software), standards and facilities for preservation, data formats and migration, discovery and access.
> ¨     Demonstrated awareness of both national and international trends and developments with research data curation and management
> ¨     Knowledge of relevant metadata standards (e.g. DC, DDI, FGDC, ISO, SMDX)
> ¨     Demonstrated success at collaborating
> ¨     Demonstrated success in achieving innovative change
> ¨     Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
> ¨     Superior interpersonal and intercultural skills
> ¨     Familiarity with current trends in post-secondary education and academic library services
> ¨     Able to meet the requirements of a confirmed appointment librarian position
>
> Preferred:
>
> ¨     Second advanced degree with a research component
> ¨     Familiarity with research data analysis tools (statistics, data mining)
> ¨     Familiarity with major data resources from government and other agencies
> ¨     Familiarity with domain specific metadata standards
>
> This appointment is a continuing position and will be made at the Librarian II or III rank, commensurate with experience, and in accordance with SFU Policy AD 12.03. The applicable SFU Librarian Salary Scale can be viewed at:
> http://www.sfu.ca/content/dam/sfu/policies/files/academic_policies/20_series/JUL_2009_LibrarianLibAdmin.pdf
>
> A summary of benefits for Librarians is available at: http://www.sfu.ca/human-resources/benefits-faculty.html and http://www.sfu.ca/policies/academic/a21-01.htm
> Simon Fraser University is committed to the principle of equity in employment and offers equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants.  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
>
> Under the authority of the University Act, personal information that is required by the University for academic appointment competitions will be collected.  For further details, see:
> http://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/Faculty_Openings/Collection_Notice.html
>
> TO APPLY:
> To be given assured consideration, application should be submitted, with resume and three references by 9:00am PST on Thursday, February 23, 2012 to:
>
>
> Catherine Louie                                                                 Phone: 778-782-6704
> Library Management Office                                             Fax: 778-782-3023
> W.A.C. Bennett Library                                                       Email: library at sfu.ca
> Simon Fraser University
> 8888 University Drive
> Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
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-- 
Tracey P. Lauriault
613-234-2805

"Every epoch dreams the one that follows it's the dream form of the
future, not its reality" it is the "wish image of the collective".

Walter Benjamin, between 1927-1940,
(http://www.columbia.edu/itc/architecture/ockman/pdfs/dossier_4/buck-morss.pdf)