The GBIF Secretariat is seeking two energetic individuals who combine well-networked research experience and excellent project management skills to facilitate mobilization of biodiversity data streams via the GBIF network. The new Programme Officers for Science Support will maximize data relevance and fitness for use across priority thematic areas.
The positions will advance GBIF’s support for research and the science-policy interface, strengthen implementation of GBIF’s new 2023-2027 strategic framework and respond to recommendations from the CODATA Twenty-year Review of GBIF. The new roles will expand the capacity of the Participation and Engagement team in the GBIF Secretariat, working closely with nodes, data publishers and user communities to optimize applications of GBIF-mediated data across thematic directions of relevance, including through funded partnerships and projects.
The duties of the Programme Officers for Science Support will be to engage key communities of data producers, data users and experts to drive pragmatic solutions for bringing data online and maximizing data quality. These targeted data mobilization efforts will ensure the availability of relevant data and address key questions relating to biodiversity science, conservation and sustainable development.
Function and job description
- Identify and explore research partnerships based on thematic priorities and engage target communities of data holders and data users, in collaboration with nodes, to improve GBIF’s understanding of their needs and practices
- Identify data mobilization priorities, taking into account the needs of research, policy and practice, data availability, and data gaps across different dimensions and scales
- Manage activities to improve data representation and data uptake through GBIF, including through use of thematic help desks, promoting incentives for data publishing among researchers, institutions, and professional communities focused on the thematic data streams
- Apply and improve the guidelines, communications and other resources available to nodes, data publishers and data users, aimed at increasing the application of better data to meet thematic priorities
- Facilitate the development of thematic use cases and promote teamwork among the data-holding, research, and policy communities
- Design and apply progress indicators on data mobilization, data quality, and data uptake in the priority thematic areas, in order to analyse and improve the thematic data streams approach
- Represent GBIF at meetings, workshops and scientific conferences
Thematic priorities and project context
In addition to addressing GBIF’s ongoing priorities to improve data relevance, the Programme Officers will support GBIF’s commitments as a partner in the Horizon Europe-funded Biodiversity Digital Twin project. These positions will be responsible for managing collaboration on data mobilization and coordinating use cases related to the following thematic priorities:
- Modelling species dynamics and ecosystem services under environmental change
- Interrelations of biodiversity and food security
- Ecological patterns and processes in the cryptic (e.g., soil and aquatic) environments
- Research supporting management solutions on threatened, invasive and alien species
- Species interaction research on pollinators and predicting outbreaks of infectious and vector-borne diseases
Additional thematic priorities identified in GBIF's 2021 and 2022 Work Programmes include pathogens, hosts, vectors, and reservoirs of diseases; soil biodiversity; and freshwater ecosystems. The two programme officers will contribute to the GBIF ‘s monitoring of and responses to the evolving spectrum of relevance and data use.
Required skills and experience
- Higher academic degree, experience and publication record in relevant discipline(s)
- Broad understanding of biological and ecological sciences
- Personal motivation to maximize data availability and access across biodiversity fields
- Project management experience in research or data intensive sector(s), with the demonstrated ability to balance parallel assignments while delivering reliable, consistent results
- Knowledge of discipline-specific data management patterns and activities relating to sharing and using biodiversity data
- Experience of active networking in thematic research and data communities
- Understanding of and experience with modelling approaches and statistical methods for analysing biodiversity data
- Strong intercultural communication and coordination skills, ability to achieve compromise and secure delivery across academic traditions and data cultures
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Demonstrated ability to work individually and in a team environment
- Willingness to engage in work-related travel
Recommended and advantageous skills
- Experience or familiarity with biodiversity data and biodiversity informatics; knowledge of data standards, data handling, and data citation routines
- Knowledge of cloud-computing, supercomputer, digital twin and/or, digital atlas approaches in biodiversity research and data projects
- Experience as a principle investigator or manager of a portfolio of funded proposals, familiarity with project reporting
- Lead, coordinating and corresponding author skills, editor, reviewer and data paper experiences
- Familiarity and participatory experience with the biodiversity-related conventions and organizations at the science-policy interface
- Confident leadership in workshops, symposia and conferences
- Data educator, advisor, or data supporter experience
- Working proficiency in additional languages
GBIF offers
- Lively work setting in a Nordic seaside capital
- Positive atmosphere and working in a close-knit new team
- International setting for broadening your professional network and experience
- Rewarding challenges of coordinating global data streams and use cases
- Opportunities to collaborate with highly skilled data scientists, informaticians and developers within the Secretariat and elsewhere
- Opportunities to act as lead or coordinating author on relevant publications
- Varied and unique prospects for personal and professional development
- A competitive remuneration package
These are exciting opportunities for the right individuals to develop or build on international experience in supporting evidence-driven research and policy for the benefit of science and society. If your motivation, interests and experience match these requirements, we look forward to hearing from you.
The Programme Officers for Science Support report to the GBIF Scientific Officer.
Remuneration and conditions
GBIF salaries are competitive and are exempt from Danish income tax.
The selected candidates are expected to take up residency in Denmark for the duration of the contract, and the GBIF Secretariat will secure the required residence and work permit with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A relocation package is available for internationally recruited staff.
Application procedure and deadline for position
Applications for the position should include:
- A letter of application, max two (2) pages, addressing your experience in respect to the listed responsibilities and requested qualifications, and why you feel you are the right person for the job
- A curriculum vitae, max two (2) pages - but with possible annexes such as lists of publications and data projects
- The names of two referees
Please submit your application in English by e-mail to PO_jobs@gbif.org by Monday, 18 April 2022, indicating where you saw this advertisement.
Enquiries concerning the position can be addressed to the Scientific Officer, Dmitry Schigel, and concerning HR issues to HR Manager, Susanne Sheldon.
Contracts are offered for three years with a possibility of extension. Interviews for the positions are expected to take place in May 2022. Our goal is for the successful candidates to start in the position during the summer 2022, so applicants are requested to indicate their availability in the application letter.
About GBIF
GBIF—the Global Biodiversity Information Facility—is an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world’s governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, free and open access to data about all types of life on Earth.
GBIF is an equal opportunities employer and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of gender, colour, racial, social, or ethnic origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation, marital status or family situation, or any other status. Staff are recruited on the broadest possible geographical basis.