Research Data Management Specialist

McGill University; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

McGill University is seeking an Academic Associate or Senior academic Associate to support research data management services within the McGill Libraries. The role sits in the Digital Research Services team and collaborates across library programs, IT, and research offices. A Ph.D.

in a data-focused discipline and experience in research support are required. The position is three years with possible renewal and emphasizes open science, data stewardship, and scholarly communication in a dynamic

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a research data-focused discipline.
• Experience providing research support in an academic library, research environment, or equivalent.
• Understanding of the academic research lifecycle and open science principles.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with researchers, librarians, and campus partners.
• Experience designing and delivering instruction, workshops, or educational resources.
• Strong written and oral English communication.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and delivery of research data management services within the University.
• Partner with liaison librarians to embed RDM services within subject-based library programs.
• Develop and enhance library-based services that support research impact, open scholarship, and data stewardship.
• Provide expert consultation on data management planning, use, curation, and sharing.
• Design instructional programs and learning materials on RDM topics.
• Conduct outreach to faculty, graduate students, research staff, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with library colleagues and campus partners to advance RDM and open science initiatives.
• Advise on data repositories and governance practices including Borealis.
• Monitor developments in RDM to inform service planning and strategy.
• Advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation in library services.

Skills

English fluency

Communication skills

Collaborative mindset

Instruction design

Education

Ph.D. in a research data-focused discipline

Tools

Borealis

Job description

Academic Associate or Senior academic Associate (Unranked Contract Academic Staff)

Duration: three years, with possibility of renewal

Salary minimum: salary commensurate with experience

The Research Data Management (RDM) Specialist supports the development and delivery of research data management services within the University.

As a member of the McGill Libraries’ Research & Scholarship unit, the incumbent contributes to the Libraries' broader mission of advancing research, teaching, learning, scholarly communication, and open knowledge initiatives.

Working collaboratively across the Libraries, the position serves as an integral member of the Digital Research Services (DRS) team, a collaborative initiative of the Office of the Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation), the Libraries, and Information Technology, and contributes to initiatives that advance RDM services, digital scholarship, open science, and emerging research methodologies.

THE McGILL LIBRARIES Located in Montréal, one of the world’s great multicultural and multilingual cities, McGill University is internationally recognized for its excellence as a leading institution of higher education and research. For nearly 200 years, through the work of dedicated people, McGill has been breaking ground in diverse fields and contributing solutions to some of the world’s most significant issues. McGill is also the most internationally diverse research-intensive university in Canada, with over 32% of its students coming to McGill from more than 150 countries. The University systematically appears on the annual list of the best employers in Montreal. The McGill University Libraries contribute to society by advancing teaching, learning, and research in a supportive and welcoming environment. We anticipate and respond to the needs of users by providing outstanding collections, excellent services, and spaces that inspire. We work in collaboration with global scholarly and library communities to enhance and facilitate access to knowledge. The McGill Libraries has the largest collection in Quebec and is one of Canada’s largest academic libraries with over six million monograph titles and 150,000 e-journals and databases. The Libraries are a member of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Partenariat des bibliothèques universitaires du Québec (PBUQ), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), and the HathiTrust Digital Library.

Information for Prospective Staff

Information about the University and the McGill Libraries can be found on the University’s web site. The McGill Libraries have developed Strategic Priorities for 2025-2030 to guide its actions. Information regarding the employment of contract academic staff can be found in the Regulations relating to the employment of contract academic staff.

Duty Statement

Primary Purpose of Position To support the development and delivery of research data management services within the University.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as an integral member of the Digital Research Services (DRS) team within the Office of Research and Innovation.
• Partner with liaison librarians and other library colleagues to embed research data management services within subject-based and discipline-specific library programs.
• Develop and enhance library-based services that support research impact, open scholarship, and data stewardship.
• Provide expert consultation and support to faculty, students, and staff on data management planning, management, use, curation, deposit and sharing.
• Design and deliver instructional programs, and learning materials on RDM topics.
• Conduct outreach to faculty, graduate students, research staff, and other stakeholders regarding RDM services.
• Collaborate with library colleagues and campus partners to advance RDM, digital scholarship, scholarly communications, open science, and other research support initiatives.
• Build and maintain partnerships with academic departments, research centres, information technology, and external organizations (e.g., the Digital Research Alliance of Canada) to enhance RDM support services.
• Serve on various library, faculty, and university committees and represent the Libraries on external committees (e.g., PBUQ comité sur la gestion des données de recherche).
• Monitor developments in RDM services and emerging technologies to inform service development and strategic planning.
• Advance the equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility as well as reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through the McGill University Libraries' services and of the Libraries as a workplace.

The duties listed above are representative and not exhaustive; responsibilities may evolve in response to institutional and library needs.

Reporting Relationship

This position reports to the Associate Dean, Research and Scholarship.

Selection Criteria

Required

• Ph.D. in a research data-focused discipline.
• Experience providing research support, library services, scholarly communications, digital scholarship, or research data management services in an academic library, research, or equivalent environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of the academic research lifecycle and the role of academic libraries in supporting research, teaching, learning, scholarly communication, open scholarship, open science, and research data management.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with researchers, librarians, academic departments, and campus partners.
• Experience designing and delivering instruction, workshops, consultations, and educational resources in a library or research support environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Desired

• Experience with data stewardship and RDM concepts, including the development and review of data management plans and the use of data repositories, such as Borealis.
• Knowledge of open science, FAIR data principles, and awareness of the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance is an asset.
• Ability to work flexibly in a changing environment.
• Bilingualism (English/French) is an asset.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigor and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

We anticipate conducting in-person interviews between November 9 and 20, 2026. Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located. McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigor and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities. At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry. McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail]. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.