Institutional Data Steward

Dalhousie University; Halifax; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Dalhousie University is hiring an Institutional Data Steward to manage and share research data for the Transforming Climate Action project. This role supports data governance, compliance, and best practices while ensuring effective collaboration with researchers and data teams. As part of a multi-university initiative, the candidate will foster a culture of excellent data management and promote open data sharing.

Benefits

Health and dental plans

Employee and family assistance program

Voluntary RRSP

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in research data management.
• Familiarity with open data repositories and metadata standards.
• Knowledge of data governance principles, including the FAIR framework.

Responsibilities

• Support data collection, documentation, storage, and sharing.
• Ensure compliance with project data governance policies.
• Provide training and resources on data management best practices.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Data governance

Data management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

Python

R

Job description

Salary $52,516 - $70,146 per annum (for 35 hours/ week)

About the Organization

The Transforming Climate Action ( TCA ) program is a multi-university research initiative dedicated to advancing climate science and action through inclusive, collaborative, open, and data-driven research. Our team is committed to fostering innovation, supporting researchers, and sharing knowledge to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Job Summary

Reporting to the the Chief Ocean Data Officer at the Ocean Frontier Institute, the Institutional Data Steward will support the management, sharing, and stewardship of research data for the Transforming Climate Action project at Dalhousie University. As part of a national initiative involving four universities and more than 170 researchers, this position plays a critical role in ensuring data is managed effectively, shared openly, and complies with the project’s data policies, FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), CARE principles, and OCAP principles.

The Institutional Data Steward will act as a bridge between researchers, the central data management team, and external repositories, providing guidance on best practices and fostering a culture of excellent data management.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with researchers to support data collection, documentation, storage, and sharing throughout the research lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with project data governance policies and ethical standards, including data security and privacy.
• Act as the primary point of contact for institutional data management needs, liaising with the central data team and repository staff.
• Provide training and resources to researchers on data management best practices and tools.
• Support the preparation and deposition of datasets into appropriate open data repositories.
• Monitor and evaluate the use and impact of project data, contributing to project reports and metrics.

Note

The successful applicant will be eligible for hybrid work (combination of in-person work on campus and remote work) as agreed by all parties based on operational requirements and university guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., data science, information management, environmental science, or related disciplines).
• Demonstrated experience in research data management or a related role.
• Familiarity with open data repositories, metadata standards, and data sharing protocols.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with researchers from diverse disciplines.
• Knowledge of data governance principles, including the FAIR framework.

Assets

• Experience with data analysis tools, programming languages (e.g., Python, R), or database management.
• Familiarity with ethical, legal, and institutional requirements related to research data (e.g., privacy, intellectual property).
• Experience providing training or support in a research or academic environment.
• Proficiency in French.

Additional Information

Dalhousie University supports a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our total compensation package includes a voluntary RRSP , health and dental plans and an employee and family assistance program.

Application Consideration

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Diversity Statement

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from: Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), Persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community.
In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity