Data Production Specialist

Description

The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research is the world's largest archive of Public Opinion Data and an internationally trusted digital repository.  Founded in the 1940s, the Center maintains nearly 20,000 opinion surveys conducted in the US and abroad since the 1930s.  Over 20,000 survey questions and more than 500 datasets are processed every year; the collection of US data spans every major survey organization in the country and is accessible at the question level via an online retrieval system to more than 250 institutions around the globe.  At this time, the Center seeks a creative addition to its data curation and processing team that designs and manages metadata development, quality assurance, and processing workflows that support and advance the Center's mission of acquisition, preservation and access to public opinion survey data.

Following up on the recommendations of a grant-funded review of its processing systems, this is an exciting time for the Center's data curation  and processing team who are enhancing data management methods and appropriate metadata structures for born digital materials, while streamlining workflows in order to accommodate archiving a broader and more diverse collection of materials.  The Data Production Specialist is a new position within the archive team and will work to streamline work processing, integrating best practices for quality assurance. This opening is an opportunity for the right candidate to play a leading role in supporting long-term management of research data throughout the data lifecycle, including issues of digital preservation and access, intellectual property rights, and security of sensitive data.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manages and coordinates various workflows for dataset and summary data release in accordance with expanding digital curation and online accessibility requirements
- Analyzes processing streams to develop more efficient production workflows
- Oversees the production of and builds metadata content for databases served by online retrieval systems for data discovery to external clients, including the preparation of materials for iPOLL, a question level database
- Produces documentation to clearly describe methods of data collection and reporting 
- Assists in research, review, testing and evaluation of support products or enhancements.
- Assists in the development of archival tools and services to support data curation.    
- Develops scripts, writes, and maintains programs as required for workflow processing.
- Advises users on the availability of data and provides user support of Center collections
- Coordinates regular ongoing data acquisitions with data providers
- Communicates with data producers to secure all necessary metadata pertaining to archived survey materials.
- Participates in the development and adoption of archival standards for the Center's collections
- Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will display the following required qualifications:
- Educational training in a related field as evidenced by at least a baccalaureate degree and a minimum of 1-3 years of experience. Strong preference will be given to those candidates with a relevant MA/MS. Relevant fields include, but are not limited to, Information Science, Social Science, Library Science, and Computer Science.
- Demonstrated metadata development skills, strong data skills, analytical reasoning and logical problem solving along with, a working knowledge of issues and challenges related to data management/curation, including format migration, preservation, metadata, data retrieval and research data use.
- Able to manage time and multiple projects in a complex, changing environment with a positive, flexible, creative and innovative attitude.
- Demonstrated ability to work individually and collaboratively in a team environment, as well as ability to oversee student and/or professional staff.  Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines within a production environment.
- Familiarity with one or more current scientific data and metadata conventions. The ability to acquire new technological skills and resolve problems in a resourceful and timely manner.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong editing skills. Attentiveness to detail and excellent organizational skills are also required.
- Demonstrated experience in training users, consulting with users for computing problems, or programming in a large data processing environment.

Other Highly Desirable Qualifications/Skills
In addition, special consideration will be given to those candidates familiar with long-term management of research data throughout the data lifecycle and with common metadata standards (e.g. DDI).  Likewise relevant programming experience, and knowledge of common development tools & languages (e.g. Java, SQL, XML/XSLT, PHP, Perl), and an understanding of ontology and semantic relationships is highly preferred. Coursework or extensive experience in data management and curation provides a significant plus.

Appointment Terms
This is a full time, 12 month position with a salary in the high 40s and a competitive benefits package. Screening will begin in January and continue until the position is filled.

To Apply
Interested applicants please apply by using Husky Hire. Please, upload a current resume, letter of application, and the names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of three professional references. The University of Connecticut is an EEO/AA employer. Search # 2013394

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:59 PM eastern on 2/15/2013.