At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data management for digitising natural science collections across Scotland.
- Company: Join the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a leader in plant science and conservation.
- Benefits: Fixed-term role with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
- Other info: Be part of a groundbreaking £155 million project transforming UK natural science collections.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on biodiversity and climate change through innovative data solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in data management and a passion for natural sciences.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is an internationally renowned centre for plant science and conservation. Our collections are at the heart of our mission to explore, explain and conserve plant diversity, and include a living collection maintained across our four sites, a Herbarium of 3 million preserved specimens, the nation's botanical Library, and Archive. Our vibrant digitisation programme is helping to improve the accessibility of our collections.
We are now recruiting talented people for a major programme to digitise natural science collections throughout Scotland. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and National Museums of Scotland are establishing a national hub and network of partners for specimen digitisation in Scotland as part of DiSSCo-UK. One of the most ambitious research and digital infrastructure programmes ever undertaken in the cultural or environmental sectors, DiSSCo UK is a £155 million, 10-year national mission to digitise the UK's natural science collections and transform how they fuel world-class research, innovation and public value.
The programme is coordinated by the Natural History Museum (NHM) in partnership with UKRI, and will unlock tens of millions of specimens as open digital assets, establishing a sovereign national information resource that underpins UK leadership in tackling biodiversity loss, climate change, biosecurity and sustainable development.
We are looking for a National Data Manager to join the Scotland national hub team. Working closely with project leadership at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and National Museums of Scotland, the National Data Manager will be responsible for data management to support delivery of digitised specimens to the DiSSCo-UK portal.
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Science (Collections) and working closely with the Keeper of Natural Science Collections at the National Museums of Scotland, you will ensure consistent, efficient and accurate sharing of digital specimen images and metadata from multiple natural science collections in Scotland to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
You will be involved on a daily basis in decision making and technical support within expert teams of curators at the national hub collections. You will collaborate with the relevant technical teams to embed robust data infrastructure and management procedures that support long-term preservation of digital specimens.
You will also design and implement a robust approach to inform data management, sharing and preservation at diverse partner institutes, ranging from council-owned museums to historic University collections.
This role provides strategic and technical leadership focused on delivery: leading on data management, developing and coordinating data sharing pipelines, monitoring data quality, resolving issues, and supporting institutions to meet agreed data standards and schedules.
With a track record of successful design and implementation of data management protocols, you will play a key role in establishing and maintaining a reliable, unified national dataset for Scotland that meets FAIR principles.
Vacancy for National Data Manager Scotland at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh employer: Digital Preservation Coalition
The Humanitarian Archive Emergency Project, led by the University of Manchester's Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute, offers a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful work that directly impacts the preservation of vital humanitarian knowledge. With a strong commitment to ethical practices and collaboration, employees are supported through a culture of innovation and professional growth, ensuring that their contributions not only enhance their skills but also strengthen the resilience of humanitarian archives globally. This project is not just a job; it's a chance to be part of a transformative initiative that addresses critical challenges in the humanitarian sector.
Contact Details:
Digital Preservation Coalition Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Vacancy for National Data Manager Scotland at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
✨Tap into Online Data Science Communities
Join online communities focused on data science like Kaggle, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit threads. These are goldmines for temporary gigs, as you can network with professionals and potentially hear about opportunities at companies like Digital Preservation Coalition before they're even advertised!
✨Show Off Your Skills With Projects
Got some cool data science projects? Showcase them on platforms like GitHub or create a personal portfolio website. This visibility is crucial for landing temporary roles—let recruiters see your actual skills in action, which can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Check Out Specialist Job Boards
For temp roles, hit up job boards dedicated to tech and data science, like Stack Overflow Jobs or DataJobs. These platforms often feature openings that you won’t find on general job sites, including contracts with companies like Digital Preservation Coalition.
✨Leverage University Resources
If you're currently at uni or recently graduated, tap into your school's career services. They often have connections with companies looking for temporary data science interns or contract workers, and they might even host job fairs with employers like Digital Preservation Coalition.
We think you need these skills to ace Vacancy for National Data Manager Scotland at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Data Projects:When applying for a temporary data science role at Digital Preservation Coalition, make sure to showcase any relevant projects you've worked on. Whether it's a personal project, an academic undertaking, or contributions to an open-source initiative, detailing these experiences can really set you apart and demonstrate your practical skills.
Emphasise Your Analytical Skills:In your CV and cover letter, focus on the specific analytical skills that are key to data science. Mention any experience with statistical tools, programming languages like Python or R, and data visualisation software. Don't forget to include any certifications that may bolster your expertise!
Show Your Flexibility:Since this is a temporary role, it's important to convey your adaptability and willingness to learn. In your cover letter to Digital Preservation Coalition, emphasise how quickly you can get up to speed with new tools or projects. Highlight any previous experiences where you've had to adjust to new environments or challenges.
Craft a Unique Data-Driven Cover Letter:Instead of the usual generic cover letter, spice it up with some data! Maybe you’ve improved a process by 20% in a past role or cleaned a dataset with over a million entries. Use these stats to your advantage to grab Digital Preservation Coalition’s attention and show the tangible impact of your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Digital Preservation Coalition
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
For a data science gig, it's crucial to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Be ready to discuss previous projects and the methodologies you used. Think about how you can quantify your impact—did your analysis improve efficiency or save costs? These are the stories that will stick with interviewers at Digital Preservation Coalition.
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
You might face technical questions on tools relevant to data science, like Python, R, or SQL. Prepare to solve a problem live—perhaps they'll ask you to write a simple query or code snippet. It’s cool to talk about them, but we need to show we can do it in practice, especially in a temporary role where quick results matter.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools or workflows. Share examples of how you've thrived in fast-paced environments before, and how you can hit the ground running at Digital Preservation Coalition.
✨Prepare a Portfolio of Your Work
Bring your portfolio to the table—showcase projects where you've leveraged data science techniques to solve problems. Whether it’s a GitHub repository or a set of case studies, having tangible examples of your work will help you stand out and show what you bring to the team at Digital Preservation Coalition.
