Department: IT Acad Software Development
Salary/Grade: ITS/79
Job Summary:
The Data Management Specialist is responsible for the development and implementation of secure and efficient research data management workflows. In this position, you will help researchers meet their security, compliance, and collaboration requirements for their research projects by applying effective management practices. This work may include helping researchers choose among storage services, data transfer tools, networking, and research computing resources available at Northwestern University, or creating customized environments or workflows for individual research groups. As an integral member of Northwestern Research Computing and Data Services, you will work closely with researchers, research staff, and IT colleagues, acting as a liaison between the research community and IT. Our team members engage with faculty, students, and research staff to provide support and develop computing and data skills in the research community through workshops and training. This position will report to the Manager of Data Management Services.
*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.
Specific Responsibilities :
Service Design and Development
• Create standard approaches and services for secure and efficient management of research data.
• Document standard and customized data workflows, including development of technical drawings, schematics, and/or reports as needed.
• Develop and maintain standard frameworks that can be used to guide information security assessments for research.
Service Support
• Work closely with students, faculty, and research staff to understand their research goals and computational and related storage needs; help them navigate the use of Northwestern and national resources; raise critical issues with researchers, team members, and management.
• Build and optimize data workflows by identifying requirements, troubleshooting issues, installing and configuring applications, and iteratively improving processes based on feedback.
• Provide support to researchers using cloud resources for research data storage and management, including guidance on appropriate environment specifications and how to maintain their environments.
• Clearly communicate project status and updates with researchers and our team in a timely manner.
• Learn and stay up to date on information security guidelines and standards, including Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) definitions, NIST 800-171, and related requirements.
• Stay up to date on research data management requirements and best practices as it relates to academic research.
Community Development and Training:
• Identify and develop relationships with the Northwestern research community to facilitate collaborations, understand new research trends, and improve existing support.
• Organize and deliver training for researchers on data transfer and sharing methods, data storage, and good data management practices.
• Represent our team at campus meetings, meetings with senior administrators and faculty, and external conferences and meetings.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a Bachelor’s degree in a related field; OR appropriate combination of education and experience, preferably where research was conducted.
• 2 or more years’ experience using Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
• 2 or more years’ experience with a programming or scripting language, such as Python or bash.
• 1 or more years’ experience using cloud-based storage resources, such as Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage.
• Ability to manage and prioritize a wide variety of projects and tasks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to write documentation and communicate to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships successfully across teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge in data management and data lifecycle practices for academic research.
• Skilled in using a variety of tools for data storage, such as OneDrive, SharePoint, and ISILON, and methods for data transfer, including data transfer to the cloud, such as Globus.
• Knowledge of security protocols for data transfer, network, and storage.
Target hiring range for this position will be between $85,000-$100,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more .
Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.