Research Data Officer

Description:

• TERN

• Full-time, fixed-term position until June 2028

• Base salary will be in the range $91,658- $98,330 + 17% Superannuation (HEW Level 6)

• Based at our Long Pocket Location

Are you passionate about research data management and contributing to world-class environmental science? Join TERN, Australia’s leading research infrastructure initiative, as a Research Data Officer and play a key role in ensuring high-quality data publication.

As part of the TERN Data Services and Analytics team, you will collaborate with data producers, researchers, and external stakeholders across Australia to publish data in TERN repositories and enhance the accessibility and integrity of environmental data. Your expertise will help drive best practices in research data management, ensuring critical data collections are meticulously curated, quality-checked, and made available for researchers worldwide.

In this dynamic role, you will work independently and within a collaborative team environment, contributing to the TERN data publication processing including development of metadata standards, data quality assurance, and the long-term preservation of essential environmental datasets. If you have a keen eye for detail, strong technical skills, and a passion for open science and information management, this is your opportunity to make a real impact in the field of ecological and environmental research.

Key responsibilities will include :

• Liaise with data producers to collect and document contextual information, ensuring datasets are accurately described and meet quality standards.

• Create, edit, and manage metadata records to enhance the discoverability and usability of environmental data collections.

• Perform data cleansing, quality checks, and ensure compliance with relevant data and metadata standards in earth and environmental sciences.

• Support data storage, access, and archival processes while responding to data access requests and assisting with controlled vocabulary management.

TERN is an Australian Government research infrastructure initiative to enhance Australia’s environmental research effort, particularly in the areas of biodiversity, land/terrain, and carbon/water.

TERN measures and observes changes in Australia’s land ecosystems over time using remote sensing, field surveys and highly instrumented sites and the data is openly available to long-term terrestrial ecosystem researchers and other users in Australia and globally. TERN was established in 2009 by a National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) grant from the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE). Through a number of extensions and renewals of its grant, TERN’s project funding is currently in place until June 2028, with some post-project reporting requirements extending into 2029.

Information about TERN may be accessed at http://www.tern.org.au.

Join a community where excellence is at the core of our culture, contributions are valued and a range of benefits and rewards are available, such as:

• 26 weeks paid parental leave or 14 weeks paid primary caregiver leave

• 17% superannuation contributions

• 17.5% annual leave loading

• Access to flexible working arrangements including hybrid working options, flexible start/finish times, purchased leave, and a condensed fortnight

• Health and wellness discounts – fitness passport access, free yearly flu vaccinations, discounted health insurance, and access to our Employee Assistance Program for staff and their immediate family

• UQ Study for Staff

• Free parking at long pocket campus

• Salary packaging options

• Tertiary qualification in information science, information management, ecology, environmental science, or a related field, with experience in research data management.

• Strong understanding of research data management practices, including data and metadata management, storage, sharing, and access mechanisms.

• Proficiency in working with datasets using tools such as SQL, R, Python, QGIS, or XML.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and provide training on data management practices.

• Good understanding of data and metadata standards, controlled vocabularies, and archival techniques in earth and environmental sciences.

• Experience with Jira, Confluence, and spatial data is desirable.

The successful candidate may be required to complete a number of pre-employment checks, including right to work in Australia and a criminal check.

Work Rights:

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr Siddeswara Guru at s.guru@uq.edu.au For application queries, please contact talent@uq.edu.au stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.

All applicants must upload the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Cover letter summarising how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section

• Resume

UQ is committed to a fair, equitable and inclusive selection process, which recognises that some applicants may face additional barriers and challenges which have impacted and/or continue to impact their career trajectory. Candidates who don’t meet all criteria are encouraged to apply and demonstrate their potential. The selection panel considers both potential and performance relative to opportunities when assessing suitability for the role.

We know one of our strengths as an institution lies in our diverse colleagues. We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment that mirrors our wider community. We're committed to attracting, retaining, and promoting diverse talent. Reach out to talent@uq.edu.au for accessibility support or adjustments.

Applications close 3rd of April 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R-49448). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for 7th of April 2025.