Research IT Security Coordinator

Information and Communications Technology (ICT), as strategic partners to the University, enable courageous curiosity by empowering students, staff and faculty to do more than thought possible with technology that boosts productivity, strengthens security, and enhances research outcomes.

The university offers flexible work arrangements; access to the university’s recreation services; ongoing professional development; and a comprehensive benefits and pension program.

Primary Purpose:  The Research IT Security Coordinator will provide technical leadership, expert support to researchers, and coordination to enable research success across a wide range of disciplines at USask. The coordinator will work as part of a cross-functional team that will build a program to support the research security needs of the university, its subsidiaries, and its affiliated agencies across the research lifecycle. The coordinator, in partnership with other support units, will develop technology-focused security patterns that will meet the default needs of most USask research programs, and will develop more specialized approaches to secure those projects with additional requirements.

Nature of Work: The Research IT Security Coordinator position in Research Computing, ICT reports to the Director, Research, Library and Data Centre Technologies. The Research Computing unit is responsible for supporting university researchers in the areas of research-specialized software, hardware, and data storage and management.

The coordinator requires the skill and ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a cross-functional team at USask, including work with ICT Security, Risk, and Compliance, the Office of the Vice-President Research, and the University Library. Occasional weekend or evening work may be required, which will be balanced with flex time considerations. Occasional travel within and outside Canada may be required, with ample notice provided.

Accountabilities: 

• In collaboration with representatives from OVPR and the Library, determines long-term plans and operational models for securing research at the University, with a focus on IT-enabled research and research tools, and on securing research data;
• Apply domain-specific knowledge in research and cybersecurity to identify and propose support solutions for future needs for technology-enabled research at a five-year planning horizon;
• Develop and promote “well-worn” paths for researchers to follow in the areas of technology and data storage, focusing on standards for IT, technology, and data security that meet the needs of the majority of researchers;
• Develop similar departmental and unit-specific approaches to meet the needs of departments, disciplines, and units where more specialization is needed;
• For a small number of specific research cases which cannot be met by campus-level or unit-level approaches, develop individual research program approaches to research IT and data security to support and enable research through that necessary diversity
• Support researchers in their development of research security plans for their grant applications, especially around IT and cybersecurity issues, in concert with OVPR and the Library;
• Develop in conjunction with ICT leadership the vision for research technology security for central IT, and represent that vision in the USask research security hub;
• Improve university processes and supports with research ethics boards, and streamline cybersecurity vetting for researcher projects.

Qualifications: 

Education and Experience:

We appreciate that non-traditional career paths may have developed a candidate’s competency, and alternate combinations of education and experience may be considered. 

A diploma, certificate or degree in a related discipline is required (e.g., computer science, engineering) A graduate degree would be an asset.   Demonstrated progress through increasingly responsible, substantive positions involving research, cybersecurity, and/or information technology.

Skills:

• Effective interpersonal, communication, and organizational abilities, both within a team and in communication with clients.
• Exceptional problem-solving capabilities that prioritize across multiple key stakeholders, as well as internal teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a distributed and cross-functional team spanning several university units.

Expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Cybersecurity and/or data security
• Research data management
• Research IT tools (e.g., scientific software, qualitative research software)

Familiarity with one or more of the following areas:

• Post-secondary research methodology
• Research Ethics processes
• Post-secondary research and associated methods

Experience across a broad range of IT (system administration, endpoint management, networking, software development, etc.) would be considered an asset.

Knowledge of the University of Saskatchewan's culture and goals would be considered an asset.

Department: Research, Library, and Data Centre Technologies, ICT
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Shift: 8:00 - 4:30
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.00
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $83,468.00 - 139,027.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Information Technology
Salary Phase/Band: Salary Band 3
Posted Date: 2/16/2024
Closing Date: 3/15/2024 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask's Alternative Workspace Guidelines

The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where 'Yes' is indicated below. Further information is available at: https://careers.usask.ca/tips-for-applying.php

Criminal Record Check: Yes
Driver's License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable