Open Research Data Specialist

Open Research is the practice of researching in such a way that others can collaborate and contribute throughout the research process with the goal of making the results Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. You will work within Library Services as part of the Open Research Team responsible for supporting and promoting good open research practice at Aston University. 

This 12 month maternity cover post will be responsible for supporting Open Research Data at the university; promoting best practice and assisting Aston University researchers to comply with funder open data requirements. You will manage the deposit workflow within Aston Data Explorer, Aston’s Eprints data repository, and provide expert advice and training to postgraduate students and academic faculty.  

Within Library Services, you will work collaboratively with the other team members, offering mutual support in managing workload and developing proposals for service improvements and new initiatives. Our team also works closely with other Library staff, such as the Information Assistants, and staff in Research and Knowledge Exchange and the Graduate School to support Open Research across the University.

You will have a degree and ideally a post graduate qualification and previous experience of working in a similar or related role either in libraries or a research support environment. You will also need to be (or become) confident in working with the systems used to deliver Open Research Data and Open Access publications.

Library Services  are currently working in a hybrid way with a mix of on-campus and remote working. We are open to discussions with the post-holder on location and flexibility of working hours, as long as the project can be successfully delivered. We also welcome applicants who are seeking external or internal secondments, with permission from their current employer. For queries, contact the Open Research Manager Dr Leigh Stork ([email protected] ).

Aston University is located within Birmingham City Centre and has accessible transport links, via bus or train and a cycle to work scheme.  We offer a generous annual leave scheme with 30 days annual leave and a further 13 days bank holiday and University closure days. 

 Anonymous shortlisting will be carried out for this role as part of Aston University’s commitment to equality and diversity and ensuring a fair and consistent approach to recruitment. Personal details that are included on application forms, including the candidate’s name and address will not be disclosed to the shortlisting panel. We kindly ask that candidates do not send CVs or cover letters as these will not be considered.

Further details:   Job Details      University Information    

Aston University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.  It promotes equality and diversity in all aspects of its work. We are committed to the principles of the Athena SWAN Charter http://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charter-marks/athena-swan/ , recognised by a silver award, and we are a Disability Confident Employer Level 2. We strive to have robust inclusivity strategies in place, including race and sexual orientation, to encourage colleagues to have the confidence and freedom to be themselves in the workplace. For more information, visit: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/about/inclusive-aston

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

If you require the job details document or an application form in an alternative format please contact the recruitment team at [email protected]