Environmental Data Services Manager

DataStream; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Remote/hybrid working

3 weeks vacation + extra days

Job summary

DataStream, a Canadian charity focused on open data for water quality, seeks a Data Services Manager to lead data services and contribute to a growing national community. The role involves managing a team, governing data workflows, and supporting diverse stakeholders across Canada, including Indigenous and academic partners.

The position is remote or based in Toronto with travel nationwide; it offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a path to permanence, with a strong emphasis

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent work experience in environmental data science or related field.
• Experience leading data services teams and multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both languages (English and French).
• Proven ability to manage data workflows, QA, and stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Data Specialists and collaborate with advisors, software developers, and program staff.
• Oversee data services processes, data schema evolution, and data quality control.
• Support users through training, troubleshooting, and documentation; liaise with software team to improve DataStream platform.
• Track and report progress against goals and ensure data availability for partners across Canada.

Skills

Leadership

Data management

SQL

ETL

APIs

Data visualization

Open data

Bilingual (French/English)

Communication

Project management

Education

Master's degree or equivalent in environmental data science, aquatic ecology, limnology, hydrogeology, hydrology, environmental engineering, or related discipline

Tools

SQL

ETL

APIs

Data visualization tools

Excel

Google Sheets

AWS cloud infrastructure

Job description

DataStream is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration, so our waters remain healthy for generations to come.

Our programming includes an online platform for sharing water quality data, data management and water science training, network building, and advocacy to promote open access to environmental data.

With an office in Toronto and remote staff across Canada, DataStream is a rapidly growing organization active in hub regions across Canada. We engage with organizations across disciplines and sectors, including watershed organizations, Indigenous Nations, and governments at all levels.

Over 350 organizations share water quality data on DataStream, and more are joining daily. DataStream's programming, platform, and thought leadership are in high demand at a time when data and the democratization of science are widely recognized as instrumental to freshwater protection.

About the Role

We are seeking a Data Services Manager to join DataStream at an exciting time as our community of data contributors and users grows across Canada. The Environmental Data Services Manager ensures DataStream meets this demand while offering high quality service to our community.

• The salary range is $65,000 to $85,000, commensurate with experience.
• The position includes comprehensive benefits and remote/hybrid working opportunities.
• Three weeks' vacation is supplemented with additional days based on years worked, winter office closure, and extra days before or after statutory holidays from May to September.
• This is a one-year position with the opportunity to become permanent.
• The position is remote or can be based in our Toronto office. It involves travel across Canada.
• Candidates must be based in and legally eligible to work in Canada.
• Strong preference will be given to applicants identifying as Indigenous (Inuit, First Nations or Métis).
• Candidates must be bilingual in French and English.
• Candidates must have a valid driver's license.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing a team of Data Specialists and working closely with expert advisors, software developers, and program staff.
• Overseeing Data Services processes and workflows, including:
• Supporting the continual evolution of DataStream's data schema: https://github.com/datastreamapp/schema/tree/main/schemas/data
• Quality control and consistency in data services and communication materials
• Data handling and audit processes.
• Building and maintaining technical relationships with large data holders and data users including Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, governments, and university researchers.
• Supporting DataStream platform users through troubleshooting, one-on-one assistance for users with varying technical and scientific expertise, and training in data management and water science topics.
• Liaising with and supporting the software development team to continuously improve the DataStream platform.
• Tracking, evaluating, and reporting on progress.

About You

The ideal candidate is:

• A master's degree holder, or has equivalent work experience in environmental data science, aquatic ecology, limnology, hydrogeology, hydrology, environmental engineering, or related discipline
• A strategic thinker, able to prioritize complex technical and non-technical tasks
• A people and project manager with minimum three years' experience, or demonstrated leadership capabilities in a related role.
• A confident written and verbal communicator, able to communicate complex concepts to experts and non-experts.
• Technically strong in data and water science and able to practically apply these skills
• Technically proficient in SQL with experience in databases, ETL processes, APIs and data visualization tools.
• A natural networker with experience across sectors and disciplines.
• Detail-oriented.
• Passionate about open data and improving access to water data in Canada.

If you don’t meet all these requirements, we would still love to hear why you are a great fit.

Areas of Additional Desired Experience/Qualifications

• Water and/or environmental monitoring and research
• Experience working with Federal, provincial or territorial governments
• Experience working with Indigenous governments and organizations
• Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets proficiency
• Coding language proficiency for data cleaning and formatting (e.g., R and/or Python)
• Experience working with software teams
• Experience with Agile methodologies AWS cloud infrastructure

About The Gordon Foundation

DataStream began as a program within the Gordon Foundation and was established as a charity in 2021.

The Gordon Foundation is a philanthropic foundation that undertakes research, leadership development, and public dialogue so that Canadian public policies reflect a commitment to collaborative stewardship of our freshwater resources and to a people-driven, equitable, and evolving North.