Job Description

Product Lead, Federated Research Data Repository

The University of Saskatchewan has some of the most innovative people doing some of the most groundbreaking research and pedagogy. Information and Communications Technology (ICT), as strategic partners, enable courageous curiosity by empowering students, staff and faculty to do more than thought possible with technology that boosts productivity, strengthens security, enhances research outcomes, amplifies connectivity and supports The university offers flexible work arrangements; access to the university\xe2\x80\x99s recreation services; ongoing professional development and a comprehensive benefits and pension program. Primary Purpose: The Product Lead, Federated Research Data Repository will oversee the ongoing design and development of the Federated Research Data Repository (FRDR), a customized DSpace repository integrated with Globus to facilitate the transfer and storage of large open data and sensitive data deposits. The platform provides tools and services to support researchers working with large data in a range of disciplines, and serves as a locus for the ingest, curation, publication, and preservation of digital objects that support the scholarly work of researchers across Canada. They will provide strategic oversight, manage and contribute to collaborative development efforts to deliver critical repository services for Canadian researchers, and will explore and implement new technologies that enable scholars to interact more effectively with digital materials. The Product Lead is expected to maintain awareness of trends in research data repositories, and with the FRDR Curation Services Coordinator and FRDR Sensitive Data Coordinator will pursue opportunities for enhancing repository services through the adoption of new technologies and partnerships. Additionally, the Product Lead will collaborate with FRDR Service Coordinator to develop a comprehensive strategy for assessing and promoting the use of the repository. Nature of Work: The Product Lead, FRDR will report to Director, Research, Library and Data Centre Technologies at University of Saskatchewan and Director of RDM for operational reporting. This position is part of a geographically distributed team developing software and operating RDM services in cooperation with CARL/Portage and WestGrid/Compute Canada. Research Computing in ICT is the unit responsible for supporting university researchers in the areas of research-specialized software, hardware, and computation. This position requires the skill and ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a distributed software development and operations team, with developers, experts, and technical resources both at the university and at other Canadian research institutions. Participation in meetings, both locally and remotely via video conferencing, is required. 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:

• Manage FRDR\xe2\x80\x99s product lifecycle from strategic planning to tactical activities and from envisioning to product readiness, for the creation of prototypes, demos and MVP builds;
• Developing software product strategy through all stages of the product\xe2\x80\x99s lifecycle by defining clear business requirements, product features, use cases, and user stories;
• Collaborate and communicate frequently with key stakeholders\xe2\x80\x94including host site partners, users, data managers, the Director of RDM at the Alliance, and other Alliance staff members as appropriate\xe2\x80\x94to gather important insights to steer product development and report on the status of FRDR;
• Collaborate with the FRDR Curation Services Coordinator to assess current features and offerings at other repository services, seeking opportunities for improvement and differentiation;
• Create product strategy documents that describe high-level user stories and technical requirements;
• With the FRDR Curation Services Coordinator and Development Lead, translate product strategy into detailed requirements for development team, and develop, implement, test and maintain production timelines;
• Monitor and ensure compliance in operations, development practices, training curriculum, service quality, policies and overall documentation;
• Collaborate with the Alliance\xe2\x80\x99s Sensitive Data Coordinator on the FRDR-led Sensitive Data Repository Project and provide project management and planning support;
• In alignment with Alliance practices and policies, develop, revise and enforce service level agreements with remote infrastructure partners;
• Lead risk management planning and operational response to risk for FRDR;
• Work with development teams to ensure software is built according to the acceptance criteria and our software development principles;
• In collaboration with the FRDR Curation Services Coordinator and Preservation Coordinator, take steps to improve the trustworthiness of the repository service, such as developing processes and policies necessary to achieve CoreTrustSeal certification.

Qualifications: Education: A diploma, certificate or degree in a related discipline is required. (i.e. computer science, business, etc.). A Bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree in product design or engineering would be considered an asset. We appreciate that non-traditional career paths may have developed a candidate\xe2\x80\x99s competency, and alternate combinations of education and experience may be considered. Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years increasingly responsible, substantive positions developing, planning, and successfully implementing technology services.
• Strong communication skills\xe2\x80\x94written and via presentation to an audience.
• Innovative and consistently curious\xe2\x80\x94constantly seeking ways to improve our offerings based on industry trends, experience, common customer pain points, and competitor research.
• Familiarity with best practices, standards, and trends in the application of technology in digital repositories.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team.
• Familiarity with the research life cycle and research methodology (quantitative and/or qualitative), generally or in a particular domain.
• Exceptional problem-solving capabilities that prioritize across multiple key stakeholders, as well as internal teams.
• Ability to make confident recommendations based on data analysis, customer insight and ongoing stakeholder engagement.
• Previous experience working in a scrum/agile environment.
• Proven experience overseeing all elements of the product development lifecycle.

Skills: Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team. Effective interpersonal, communication, and organizational abilities, both internal to the project and in communication with clients. Ability to evaluate technical recommendations from subject matter experts. Knowledge of the University of Saskatchewan\'s culture and goals would be considered an asset. A strong Internal candidate has been identified for this position. This position is in scope of the Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association Department: ICT Research Library & Data Ctr Tech
Status: Term 1 year with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $81,037.00 - 134,978.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Information Technology
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 3
Posted Date: 2/22/2023
Closing Date: 2/28/2023 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: Not Applicable
Driver\'s License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable Please review the University of Saskatchewan\'s health and safety requirements for faculty, staff and students in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The University believes equity, diversity, and inclusion strengthen the community and enhance excellence, innovation and creativity. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. The University of Saskatchewan\xe2\x80\x99s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the M\xc3\xa9tis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and M\xc3\xa9tis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.