Research Data Librarian

Brock University

Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time, permanent position of Research Data Librarian. This position belongs to the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) employee group.

About Brock University
Brock University is located on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement.
Brock University is one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities, a Top Employer in Hamilton-Niagara, ranked #3 as Canada’s Best Employers and ranked top 10 as one of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity compiled by Forbes and Statista.

Established in 1964 and located in the historic Niagara Region, Brock University stands as a vital cultural, academic, and recreational hub for its community. The University boasts outstanding facilities, a testament to the visionaries from the Allanburg Women’s Institute, who laid its foundation decades ago. Situated about a one-hour drive to Toronto and a 20-minute drive to the US border, the Niagara Region offers the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls, a rich Canadian history, as well as a variety of wineries and entertainment attractions.
Brock is committed to building the Niagara community and to fostering an environment that serves its students and their neighbours. With a student population of over 19,000, approximately 1,500 faculty and staff members, and a network of over 100,000 accomplished alumni, Brock University has forged a reputation as a modern and innovative comprehensive institution. Brock has six teaching Faculties offering a wide range of programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, including a new Integrated Engineering program. Brock is committed to fostering excellence in academic programs, research, creativity, and community-engaged teaching, learning, and scholarship in a welcoming and inclusive environment. The university, including the library, has a number of concrete initiatives that are aimed at improving equity and inclusion for all members of the Brock community. Once such example is the President’s Committee on Human Rights, Equity, and Decolonization.
More information on Brock University can be found on the University’s website at https://www.brocku.ca/.

About Brock University Library
Brock University Library includes the James A. Gibson Library; the Map, Data & GIS Library; Archives & Special Collections; as well as the Makerspace within the Brock LINC facility. With six departments, a staff of 54 including 20 professional librarians, and an annual budget of over $11 million, the Library provides services and resources to support a growing faculty and student population.
Our progressive and talented community of librarians and staff are committed to student success, collegiality, and collaboration. Our values of innovation, integrity, inspiration and inclusivity guide all that we do. The Brock Library strategic plan contains four strategic pillars: highlighting student success; the research lifecycle; community engagement; and strengthening capacity.
The Library is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Recent initiatives in the Library include anti-racism professional learning for all Library staff, ‘The Canadian Library’ project to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and establishing the Entiohahathe’te Knowledge Den, which features Indigenous resources. The Library is an active partner with other units on campus including Human Rights & Equity, Student Accessibility Services, and Hadiyaˀdagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre. The Library regularly highlights EDI-related topics and resources via featured collections. Recent examples include highlighting Pride Week, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and Black History Month/African Heritage Month.
For further details about the Library, visit https://www.brocku.ca/library.
About the Opportunity
Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time probationary position of Research Data Librarian from qualified candidates who will thrive in a dynamic, fluid and team-oriented environment. Reporting to the Head of the Research Lifecycle department, the successful candidate will lend their expertise to operationalizing Brock University’s Research Data Management Strategy, following the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy, providing data instruction and consultations to Brock’s community of researchers, and building Brock’s unique collection of maps, atlases, and geodata. This role also provides a conduit between the Brock community and the external data and geospatial communities.

The incumbent will contribute to the overall mission of the Research Lifecycle Department, which provides library expertise and services in print and digital maps, GIS, data, scholarly communication, evidence synthesis and research support. The department was formed in 2022 out of an organizational restructuring of the library. This is an exciting opportunity for the incumbent to participate in forming the identity of this new department.
The successful candidate will be a member of the Research Lifecycle Department and will:
• Develop and implement Research Data Management programming and services in collaboration with Head, Research Lifecycle and relevant campus partners
• Collaborate with Teaching and Learning librarians to embed data literacy content into appropriate courses or programs and to develop online learning objects and guides
• In consultation with Collections, develop the library’s data and GIS collection, which currently includes books, atlases, maps, gazetteers, numeric and geospatial data
• Liaise with data communities and represent Brock University Library at the local, national, and international levels (e.g., DLI, ACMLA, IASSIST and OCUL groups)
• Plan, promote, and deliver research consultations, workshops and instruction in topic areas covered by the Research Lifecycle department, as per annual departmental goals
• In collaboration with departmental colleagues, engage in annual goal setting and strategic planning for the department
• Participate in planning of departmental projects and events
• Support the Library’s strategic goals through active membership on working groups and project teams.
• Participate in the development of recommendations for improvements in library-wide policies, procedures, and services.
• Engage in professional development, scholarly activity, and service under the terms of the Collective Agreement.

A start date of July 1, 2025 is anticipated.

Qualified candidates will possess the following:
• A Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library program or its equivalent
• Knowledge of research data management principles and practices
• Ability to advise users in a range of disciplines regarding the use of data, including government, purchased, and geospatial data
• Familiarity with licensed and open-source data resources, applications and file formats
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues both internal and external to the library.
• Evidence of creative and flexible approaches to setting and achieving professional goals.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse workload.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment.
• Familiarity with inclusivity, accessibility, reconciliation, and decolonization initiatives in academic libraries.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Qualifications Considered an Asset:
These qualifications are considered an asset. They are not required and we are committed to helping our future colleague develop these skills if necessary.
• Undergraduate degree in statistics, data science, geography or related discipline, such as geomatics
• Awareness of emerging trends in scholarly communication (e.g., Tri-Agency Policy on Open Access Publications, Open Data/Open Science)
• Familiarity with geographic information systems and mapping tools such as ArcGIS, QGIS, R, or Python
• Ability to create engaging and effective learning opportunities.
• College diploma in Geographic Information Systems, Geographic Management or equivalent.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative statistical software packages
• Familiarity with special library collections or collecting geographic resources
• Knowledge/experience with evidence synthesis (e.g., systematic reviews, scoping reviews) or an interest in learning

Compensation
Brock University offers a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package. It is anticipated that this appointment will be made at the rank of Librarian I or II. Salary and rank will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. The position is included in the Brock University Faculty Association (BUFA) and is governed by the BUFA-Brock Collective Agreement (https://www.bufa.ca/resources/bufa-collective-agreement/).

Application Instructions:
Applicants are invited to apply by submitting a curriculum vitae and a cover letter through the online application system no later than March 6 at 12:01am EST. We appreciate all applications received; however, we will contact only those candidates selected for an interview. Interviews will be one day in length and consist of a public presentation on a given topic as well as meetings with relevant stakeholders.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

This position is subject to final budgetary approval.
Applications can be submitted at the following link: https://brocku.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/brocku_careers/job/St-Catharines-Main-Campus/Research-Data-Librarian_JR-1020000

Our Commitment
Brock University is actively committed to diversity and the principles of employment equity and invites applications from all qualified candidates. Women, Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) peoples, Black people, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups, and Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) persons are encouraged to apply and to voluntarily self-identify as a member of a designated group as part of their application. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups should fill out the Self-Identification Form and include the completed form with their application.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.
We will accommodate the needs of the applicants and the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the selection process, as outlined in the Employment Accommodation Policy https://brocku.ca/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/Employment-Accommodation-Policy.pdf. Please advise: talent@brocku.ca to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

We appreciate all applications received; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Learn more about Brock University by visiting www.brocku.ca