CIRES/ NSIDC DAAC Data Product Team Lead

Job Summary

The NASA Snow and Ice Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) encourages applications for a full-time Data Product Team Lead (DPTL). The DPTL supports the NSIDC DAAC mission to preserve NASA Earth science data and make it discoverable, accessible, and usable.

The DPTL is a member of the NSIDC DAAC management team and is responsible for data management activities for assigned NASA Earth science data. The DPTL serves as the primary point of contact and decision maker for the stewardship of assigned satellite, airborne, ground, or researcher-produced data products. The DPTL leads an interdisciplinary Data Product Team to accomplish data management objectives including data acquisition, description, distribution, and support.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado at Boulder, serves as a national information and referral center in support of snow and ice research. NSIDC is the authoritative data management and science center for cryospheric data and research. We advance understanding of Earth’s frozen regions and the changes taking place to inform decision making in service to humanity and Earth.

https://nsidc.org

At CIRES, the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, more than 800 environmental scientists work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

https://cires.colorado.edu/

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The Data Product Team Lead position includes project management and data stewardship responsibilities in support of NSIDC DAAC’s activities for assigned satellite missions, airborne missions, field campaigns, and other product suites.

Project Management

• Lead one or more interdisciplinary Data Product Teams consisting of members from Data Operations, Data and User Support, Technical Writing, Science, and Science Programming.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external partners related to the assigned data products and work to develop and foster positive relationships with those external partners.
• Develop and achieve data management goals and deliverables through coordination with internal groups and external customers.
• Internal groups: Data Product Team, DAAC Management, DAAC Data Stewardship Team, NSIDC Service Groups
• External customers: NASA Earth Science Data and Information Systems (ESDIS) Project, NASA mission/project science teams, NASA data producers, DAAC User Working Group, user communities
• Provide status reporting to DAAC Management and external team members.
• Communicate information internally and externally through various channels including leading and attending NSIDC DAAC meetings, presenting at external meetings and conferences, and contributing to the development of the DAAC annual work plan and budget.

Data Stewardship

• Develop, evolve and implement data stewardship practices by using the expertise of the Data Product Team, the DAAC Data Stewardship Team, and other data management programs at NSIDC.
• Coordinate with NASA missions, projects, and data producers to develop formal agreements, including data management plans and operations agreements.
• Ensure data products are ingested, archived, and distributed according to NASA and NSIDC DAAC standards.
• Ensure data and supporting metadata and documentation conform to NASA and NSIDC DAAC requirements and best practices.
• Ensure data system technologies and capacities meet or exceed the requirements for data ingest, archival, and distribution.
• Identify and coordinate efforts to promote and support the use of data products in scientific research and other applications.
• Coordinate the development and integration of new data products or data services through consultation with DAAC Management, NASA science teams, DAAC User Working Group, ESDIS, and other relevant groups.

What You Should Know

• Please note that while the position details both required skills as well as desired skills and experience, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the desired skills and experience to be considered for this position. If you have a Bachelor’s degree, transferable experience, and passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on‐the‐job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.
• Due to NASA funding restrictions, candidates who have paid or unpaid appointments or positions with Chinese Government organizations, Chinese Government controlled organizations, Chinese-owned companies, or any company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China are ineligible for hire.
• This is an on-site position with the option for a hybrid work modality. CIRES and NSIDC are currently supporting a higher degree of work location flexibility due to COVID-19 circumstances.
• For questions about the job, please contact Kate Heightley, hiring supervisor, at kate.heightley@colorado.edu. For questions about the application process, please contact J. Reeves at joni.reeves@colorado.edu.
• All University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to comply with the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement . New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

What We Can Offer

• CIRES can offer a generous compensation package. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
• The annual hiring salary range for this position is $76,500 - $100,000.
• Relocation funds are available for this position following CIRES and the University of Colorado’s relocation processes and procedures.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be successful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• A Bachelor’s degree, preferably in an Earth science or a Library science field, is required for this role.
• We require a minimum of three years of combined Earth science data and project management experience.

What You Will Need

• Experience creating, using, or supporting Earth science data.
• Understanding of the phases of the science data lifecycle (collection, assembly, discovery, access, preservation, and use).
• Ability to lead a diverse team to develop and implement project plans to achieve the organization’s goals.
• Experience managing and coordinating multiple projects.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to succeed in a dynamic and evolving environment.
• Ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to clearly communicate scientific and technical information.

What We Would Like You To Have

• Master’s degree, preferably in an Earth science or a Library science field.
• Experience in Cryospheric sciences.
• Experience providing data management for Earth science research and/or federal agencies (NASA, NOAA, NSF).
• Working knowledge of NASA and international data and metadata standards.
• Experience using geospatial data analysis and/or visualization packages.
• Experience using project planning and management tools such as JIRA, Trello, or similar.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
3. List of contact information for 3 references who will be willing to offer a professional reference or write a confidential Letter of Recommendation for you.

If you are selected as the finalist, we will contact you through email and request that you submit 1 name and email of a reference who will be asked to submit a letter of recommendation (can be one of the 3 noted above). This information will be kept confidential and viewable only the search committee.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Position will remain posted until 12/22/21.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs .

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: J. Reeves

Posting Contact Email: Joni.Reeves@colorado.edu