Job Opportunity for FROGBEAR Digital Research Assistant at UBC

Job Opportunity for FROGBEAR Digital Research Assistant at UBC

We are pleased to announce a job opportunity from the FROGBEAR project in collaboration with the UBC Library cIRcle office. The successful candidate will have technical expertise on digital data and metadata management. Please read below for full detail on this position.

Apply now through the UBC HR job board. Application deadline is Sunday, July 21, 2019.

This position is sponsored by the FROGBEAR project.

 

 

 

 

Job ID: 34394
Location: Vancouver – Point Grey Campus

Employment Group: CUPE 116(Service/Techs/Trades)
Job Category: Research/Technical – CUPE 116
Classification Title: Research Asst/Tech 3
Business Title: Digital Research Assistant
Department: Asian Studies
Salary: $22,992.00 (Annual)

Full/Part Time: Part-Time (50%)
Desired Start Date: 2019/09/01

Job End Date: 2020/08/31
Funding Type: Grant Funded

Closing Date: 2019/07/21
Available Openings: 1

Job Summary
The Digital Research Assistant combines specialized humanities/social science knowledge with technical expertise in digital data and metadata to manage the data collection process for the From the Ground Up: Buddhism and East Asian Religions (FROGBEAR) SSHRC partnership grant project, in collaboration with the UBC Library cIRcle office.

Organizational Status
This position reports directly to the Project Manager of the FROGBEAR project, and works closely with the Database Committee and the UBC Library cIRcle office. The Digital Research Assistant may also interact with individual scholars within UBC and around the world.

Work Performed
FROGBEAR aims to foster the next generation of scholars studying Buddhism and East Asian religions through innovative practices of research and training such as the creation of new digital materials made publicly accessible via cIRcle, UBC’s digital repository.

This position will involve reviewing and editing data, metadata, and digital objects collected during field visits in East Asia, and depositing the resulting digital objects in various formats into UBC’s digital repository, cIRcle.

Specific tasks include:

  • review the current data collection method and suggest changes for improvement;
  • coordinate the preparation and transmission of digital objects with research cluster data collectors;
  • advise data collectors on best practices for digital object metadata and file management;
  • perform file management tasks for repository data;
  • perform quality control on new and existing data and metadata and upload files and metadata to the DSpace repository software for cIRcle;
  • liaise with data collectors in order to resolve metadata issues, including translation issues in a number of different Asian languages;
  • update and maintain public documentation and training materials for researchers in using the public web interfaces for accessing digital materials including the project’s custom website and the library’s search portal, Open Collections (open.library.ubc.ca);
  • assess other parallel channels for preservation and distribution of project data (GitHub, Zenodo, etc.) and make recommendations;
  • analyze data received and research ways to combine data from multiple FROGBEAR research clusters, and/or external data, and compose resulting proposals based on that analysis;
  • other duties, as required

Supervision Received
This position reports to the Project Manager, and is accountable to the Project Director and Executive Committee.

Supervision Given
May help supervise student workers.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The decisions and work of the Digital Scholarship Analyst reflect on the project. This position must exercise tact and diplomacy. The successful candidate must make decisions on how best to manage projects, especially when given short timeframes. Providing consistent information provides clarity and offers significant cost savings and improvements in efficiency if done well. Poor decisions or judgment may result in damage to the project and University’s reputation with funders and participants. Incorrect decisions will affect the project’s ability to deliver on its commitments, with a direct negative impact on the project’s objectives, and in extreme cases, potential withdrawal of participation and/or funding.

Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or Graduation from a technical college or institute.  Relevant disciplines include but are not limited to Library and Information Science, Digital Media, Computer Science, and Digital Humanities, Asian Studies.  Minimum of 3 years related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.  Required

  • Familiarity with digital library environments, including broad knowledge of current digital reformatting and conversion, standards and best practices, and issues relating to the application of metadata to digital objects.
  • Demonstrated project management skills, both independently and as a member of a team.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
  • Excellent communication, analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills.
  • Flexibility and willingness to assume a variety of assignments.
  • Accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Strong command of written academic English.
  • Ability to read Chinese.
  • Ability to prioritize and to meet deadlines.
  • Working knowledge and experience with word processing, spreadsheet and database software (MS Office preferred).

Preferred

  • Familiarity with Dublin Core metadata standards.
  • Working knowledge of a range of computing platforms, storage environments, digital library metadata and experience with DSpace or other digital asset management software.
  • Ability to read Korean, and/or Japanese is a strong asset.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence.  An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.  We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Apply now through the UBC HR job board.