Research Data Steward

Are you envisioning elevating your career in the field of research data and open-source software? Do you thrive in a diverse, international, and interdisciplinary environment? If you're ready to make a significant contribution to an academic community, we'd love to hear from you! 
 

Job Description
As a Data Steward, you play a central role in supporting researchers in Research Data Management (RDM) within your faculty, in this case, the fast-growing and highly dynamic Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE). Furthermore, you will aid the development of open-source software skills across the UM research community. In this position, you work closely with researchers, assisting them in enhancing the value of their research data and strengthening open-source software practices. This includes guidance on data collection, management, and publishing. As well as delivering training focused on open-source software skills (e.g., command line usage, version control, open-source licensing, and reproducible data analysis). As a part of the centrally located Data Stewardship Services team at the University Library, you will collaborate with fellow Data Stewards and with Research Software Engineers (RSEs) in helping researchers to effectively apply the FAIR principles for data, (open-source) software or other research outputs.

You will be engaged in:

• Guiding researchers in applying best practices for high-quality data and metadata. 
• Advising on implementing the FAIR principles across diverse research outputs. 
• Assisting researchers in making their data accessible through suitable data repositories. 
• Guiding the development of Data Management Plans and Software Management Plans. 
• Providing guidance on ethical considerations and compliance, including GDPR. 
• Promoting Open Science principles across the research community. 
• Developing and providing training on open-source software skills. 
   

Requirements
We are looking for you if you can translate complex data principles and open-source concepts into understandable guidelines and training for an audience with various levels of expertise.  You are an enthusiastic and collaborative professional who thrives in a team environment but is equally capable of taking initiative and working independently. You are able to connect the needs of researchers, legal requirements, and policy ambitions within the faculty and the organisation.  
 
Furthermore, you have:  

• A master’s degree with experience in academic research, ideally within science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). 
• An Open Science mindset and an understanding of FAIR research data management, especially for quantitative and computational data, and FAIR software. 
• Familiarity with controlled vocabularies, ontologies, and tools relevant to STEM disciplines. 
• Experience with developing and delivering training programs, preferably in reproducible data analysis and open-source software. 
• A good command of the Dutch and English language and strong interpersonal skills. 
   

What we offer
As Research Data Steward at University Library, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• An interesting and challenging position for 30,4 hours per week.
• Space and facilities to develop yourself: personally, and professionally.   
• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 10 according to the UFO profile Data Steward, function level 3 with a corresponding salary ranging based on experience from € 3,378,- to € 5,331,- gross per month (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week).  
• In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus are applicable. 
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 0,8 FTE.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

University Library
"Supporting your academic goals" is what the University Library stands for.  

We maintain close ties with the academic world and play a crucial role within this community, essential for students, educators, and researchers in the digital transition. We contribute to the UM’s Open Science policy, an initiative to enhance the impact of academic research—by helping to make science and scholarship accessible and transparent.  

The University Library is also continuously evolving, offering our professionals many opportunities to showcase their entrepreneurship and grow alongside. We accomplish this with a highly motivated and collegial team that values everyone's well-being. Will you be part of this team? 

To find out more about the services and information we provide, watch the video or visit our website.  

 
Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact 
Mariëlle Prevoo (Department Manager, Research Support & Development) marielle.prevoo@maastrichtuniversity.nl or 06-42517028. 
Pedro Hernández Serrano (Coordinator, Data Stewardship Services) p.hernandezserrano@maastrichtuniversity.nl or 06-40796943. 
 

Applying?

Or are you already convinced, and do you want to become our new data steward? Apply now for this vacancy, no later than 9 February 2025.  
The interviews are preferably held on 17 February (first round). 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.