Job Description

Salary - 48,414- 51,377

Hybrid working (50/50)

Permanent, full-time (37 hours per week)

Based in Lancaster

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.
You will join the Digital Research group at UKCEH Lancaster to play a central role in enhancing the experience of users engaging with our environmental science data, tools and services. You will draw on your stakeholder engagement experience to build our relationships with and understanding of a range of user communities. You will engage these communities using innovative stakeholder engagement methodologies and use your knowledge of scientific digital objects (e.g., data, models, software) to lead the research, co-design and implementation of user tools and services. This will include developing and maintaining resources to meet user needs, such as webinars, virtual helpdesks and workshops.
You will work with a variety of stakeholders - including scientists, policymakers, and the public - to understand their needs and translate them into creative, engaging technologies and community activities that enhance the user experience of UKCEH digital objects. This includes the nationally important datasets on terrestrial and freshwater sciences that are managed in the Environmental Information Data Centre (EIDC) as part of the NERC Environmental Data Service, as well as UKCEH's major programmes like FDRI and NC-UK.
You'll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that's committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. You will also be working closely with experts in user experience design, social science, data management and others in the Digital Research (DR) group. This group is an expanding multidisciplinary team that draws on co-design and agile approaches to develop digital research infrastructure for environmental science.
Your main responsibilities will include:Lead on co-design research that improves the user experience of UKCEH digital objects through digital innovations (e.g., AI-enhanced discoverability, AI-ready data, integrative tools and services), which will include taking into account their sustainability (environmental and operational). Maintain connections with existing user communities and seek new ways to expand and enhance this, including collaborations with potential user communities outside of the environmental science domain. Manage, monitor and enhance current user support activities through a range of channels and events, such as generating online resources or designing and facilitating training sessions and workshops. Work closely with the Digital Assets, Digital Engineering and Digital Innovation teams, specifically on the co-design, development and implementation of tools and services that enhance the user experience. Seek new ways to enhance impact of our digital objects with the UKCEH research and development impact team, the communications team and the NERC Environmental Data Service (including the latter's Impact Stories Working Group) Facilitate broad access to innovative digital object tools and services by actively engaging with the research community, and contribute to the advancement of digital research infrastructure through the publication of high-impact, peer-reviewed articles. Develop ideas and write research proposals that explore new avenues for the research and development of data and digital research infrastructure

For the role of Senior Data Engagement Specialist, we're looking for somebody who:Has a good degree in an appropriate subject (e.g., Computing, Communications, Sciences), as well as a PhD or equivalent relevant experience Has experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment and engaging with and supporting users of data, preferably scientific research data. Has a clear understanding of FAIR, CARE and TRUST principles and Open Science. Has experience of engaging with stakeholders through research and communication activities (e.g., hackathons, webinars, workshops, interviews, films, events, articles) and desirably knowledge/and or experience of innovative and creative ways of doing this Has a clear understanding of issues pertaining to the discoverability and accessibility of data and other digital objects (e.g., models, software). Has an understanding of research ethics and experience of publishing outputs at relevant venues and desirably experience of developing and writing proposals. Works well within a team and with minimal supervision, keeping managers appraised as appropriate Leads and engages others within their field and takes ideas forward Can present work clearly and expertly to a variety of audiences including researchers and non-specialists, and actively pursues opportunities to collaborate with others Shows a clear interest in using their skills for digital research infrastructure in environmental science

Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.
As a valued member of our team, you'll get:27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after five years 10% employer pension contribution Enhanced maternity and paternity leave 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues Flexible working opportunities

And much more...
Please note: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role and this does not qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. If you are considering pursuing self-sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.
If we've just described you, we'd love to meet. Apply now.

About Us


Here you can explore the kind of roles we recruit for, search our latest vacancies, learn more about what it's like to work at UKCEH, and find out about the many benefits of joining our team.
Every one of our 600+ staff and 50+ postgraduate students plays a vital role in delivering our ambition to understand the environment and the human impact on it, so that together people and nature can prosper.

How we work is just as important as what we achieve. We want UKCEH to be a welcoming, inclusive, engaging and collaborative place to work. We embed our values - excellence, integrity and teamwork - into everything we do.