Research Data and Documentation Specialist

Strategic Data Systems & Insights

Remote

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes

Our organization

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an independent nonprofit that puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future. We envision a peaceful, healthy, and just world where science serves people and the planet by guiding policy decisions, reducing risks, and improving lives.

For over five decades, we have been working as scientists, engineers, economists, advocates, and everyday people to create and advocate for innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing problems—from combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting misinformation, advancing racial equity, and reducing the threat of nuclear war. Values informing our work include:

• Science in the service of people and the planet.
  
• Justice and Equity for people of all races and incomes—now, and for future generations.
• Courage to take principled, science-based stands in the public arena.
• Integrity to always examine evidence critically, openly, and honestly.
• Democracy to promote a voice for all in government decisions.
• Action inspiring and mobilizing people to build a healthier, safer, and more just world.

The Research Data and Documentation Specialist provides technical and advisory support as part of the Knowledge and Research Systems team at UCS. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with solid data management and curation skills, who would enjoy helping to advance reproducible research and scientific workflows at a national nonprofit. This will be a new role in Knowledge & Research Systems responsible for the planning and implementation of initiatives in support of data-intensive research and digital scholarship.

The Knowledge & Research Systems team supports the organization’s scientific research and works across teams to build a stronger knowledge-sharing culture. Knowledge & Research Systems sits in the new Strategic Data Systems & Insights department focused on organizational decision-making with greater impact by centralizing data, systems, planning, learning, and processes.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Manager in strategy, policy, implementation, and adoption of research systems and best practices;
• Manage and champion the data repository (Dataverse) and digital asset management system (Media Graph) to support information life cycle management and public access to products;
• Implement and maintain procedures and develop training materials to ensure the adoption of research data management best practices;
• Advise, train, and support analyst staff on using repository systems.
• Serves as the primary contact for GIS and licensed data. Consults with key stakeholders in the acquisition process. Supports a range of services related to accessing, using, and managing quantitative and other types of scientific data;
• Leads data licensing planning, assessment, and outreach activities, including assessing the success of the Service through gathering and reporting of metrics and activities;
• Drive knowledge sharing via Communities of Practice and actively participate in organizational KM initiatives;
• Provide outreach, consultation, and instruction on data literacy and basic data analysis, preparing data for analysis, and managing and publishing data;
• In conjunction with IT, ensure that staff with specialized software are supported, and critical data is transferred to new computers when hardware is swapped.
• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement, collaborating with other teams to implement changes as needed.

As part of the K&RS team, this role will also participate in:

• Cataloging and maintaining UCS’s library and archives.
• Fulfilling interlibrary loan requests.
• Assisting UCS staff in accessing electronic resources, answering reference queries, and participating in literature reviews;
• Creating onboarding and marketing material via SharePoint and email newsletters.
• Planning, scheduling, and implementing programming that highlights Knowledge and Research Systems tools and services;
• Representing Knowledge and Research Systems at events and work group meetings.
• Cultivating relationships with internal cross-functional partners, consortia, and professional associations.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Experience with a programming or scripting language, such as Python or R; or software such as ArcGIS, Tableau, or Power BI.
• Bachelor’s degree in a field such as social science, science, computer science, political science, or communications
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in libraries or service desk environment
• Data curation and database management experience with knowledge of FAIR and Indigenous Data principles.

Qualities and Abilities

• 
  An inquisitive nature with the ability to learn new technological tools, applications, and techniques.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, accessible, and transformative research environment.
• Understanding of and experience with online and offline literature research, tools, and sources; familiarity with scientific literature.
• Ability to learn and train others on software, specialized databases and other electronic tools.
• Understanding of information management best practices.
• The position requires strong research, written and oral communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse general audiences, scientific professionals, and decision-makers.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including the ability to simultaneously manage and prioritize multiple tasks, and strong attention to detail.
• Positive, team-oriented attitude.
  

May spend extended periods at a computer. For remote employees, quarterly travel to offices is desired.

UCS is an equal-opportunity employer actively seeking to diversify its staff. In particular, we’re dedicated to broadening opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in the sciences and in environmental advocacy. We’re also committed to building an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely diverse backgrounds can thrive. We believe the inclusion of culturally diverse perspectives will improve our work and produce better societal and environmental outcomes for all, including historically disenfranchised communities.

Benefits

Details:

This is a full-time remote position based in close proximity to UCS’s Cambridge office. For those who meet all position requirements, the salary range is $65,081-$73,210. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment. *CA Residents Only, we offer a 12% salary differential*

Information about the organization is available at http://www.ucsusa.org.

Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

More about UCS:

Our team is made up of a dedicated group of researchers, scientists, communicators, campaigners, and advocates from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and a collaborative and supportive work environment where all staff can thrive. We continually strive to create an environment that is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, parents, empty-nesters, and people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.

To Apply: We know there are great candidates who won’t check all of these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Please upload a cover letter and resume. In the cover letter, please confirm that the listed salary meets your expectations. Upload materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls, please.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

Covid Policy for New Hires:

For in-office roles, UCS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees are considered fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC. All new hires who will be reporting to an office location must provide notice of their vaccination status and vaccination documentation, on or before their first day of work. For all others, UCS strongly encourages full vaccinations among its employees, up to and including booster shots, even if working remotely.

All new employees must comply with the mandatory vaccination requirements outlined in UCS policies as soon as practicable. Union of Concerned Scientists will notify candidates for employment of the requirements of this policy before the start of employment.

Deadline: until filled