Data Management Specialist

Verhaert | On-site Consulting; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Verhaert | On-site Consulting is seeking a Data Management Specialist to bridge research, ICT and business stakeholders, accelerating Open Science and structuring key data assets.

You will shape information governance, lead data catalog adoption, and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to implement metadata standards and dashboards.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) with 2+ years in data management or analytics.
• Strong ability to translate research processes into metadata models.
• Excellent communication and workshop facilitation skills.
• Autonomous, proactive work in ambiguous environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead adoption of data catalog and business glossary in researchers' workflows.
• Assist researchers with data assets and documentation through workshops and training.
• Define and maintain Data Management Plans across projects.
• Collaborate with ICT and researchers to translate needs into tooling.

Skills

Data governance

Metadata modelling

Stakeholder management

Workshop facilitation

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

SharePoint

Power BI

Job description

For our client —a world-leading research and innovation hub in electronics and digital technologies—we are looking for a Data Management Specialist. In this role, you will act as a bridge between research, ICT, and business stakeholders to accelerate Open Science principles, structure critical data assets, and streamline information governance across multidisciplinary teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Drive Open Science & Empower Researchers

• Lead the business adoption of the data catalog and business glossary, embedding them directly into researchers' daily workflows.
• Assist researchers in managing knowledge assets—including datasets, definitions, reports, code, and machine-learning models—via workshops, visual tools, interactive training, and tailored communication channels.
• Guide the creation and completion of Data Management Plans (DMPs) and oversee their execution across active projects.
• Represent the client within Flemish Research Data Network (FRDN) initiatives focused on data management planning and ontology development.

Structure & Improve Information Management Tooling

• Partner with ICT, researchers, and business stakeholders to translate needs into tangible requirements, tool prototypes, and validated capabilities.
• Collect user feedback and actionable insights to guide the selection, configuration, and enhancement of information management platforms.
• Design and set up lifecycle-oriented document libraries in SharePoint in close collaboration with end-users.

Define Frameworks & Operational Standards

• Develop and refine policies, guidelines, metadata standards, templates, and terminology to ensure consistent, efficient ways of working across research and business units.
• Support the definition and maintenance of cross-organisational ontologies and reference data management tools to ensure high data coherence.

What You Bring to the Team:

• Education & Experience: Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) paired with 2+ years of relevant experience, or demonstrated high potential as an analytically strong junior professional.
• Analytical & Conceptual Strength: Excellent abstraction skills with the ability to translate complex research processes into clear metadata models, structures, and actionable frameworks.
• Communication & Alignment: Strong spoken, written, and visual communication skills. Experienced in running workshops, creating conceptual diagrams, and aligning diverse stakeholders.
• Mindset & Working Style: Highly autonomous, self-directed, and solution-oriented. You thrive in ambiguous environments, enjoy figuring things out, and take proactive ownership of your domain. Verhaert
• Languages: Working proficiency in both English and Dutch (spoken and written).
• Technical Assets (Plusses):
• Hands-on experience with SharePoint setup/architecture or Power BI.
• Familiarity or interest in software tool development, data governance frameworks, and metadata management tools.