Job Description
Data Steward
Job requisition Id:
16176
Job type:
Non-academic staff
Parttime in hours minus:
32
Parttime in hours max:
38
Location:
Leiden
Submission is possible untill:
11/28/25
Teaser Text
Are you passionate about supporting scientific research through excellent data management? Do you enjoy working closely with researchers and translating their needs into practical solutions? Join us as our new Data Steward and help shape the future of research data management at the Faculty of Science.
What you will do
As Data Steward, you will be the go-to expert for research data management (RDM) within several institutes of the Faculty of Science, including CML (Environmental Sciences), IBL (Biology), LACDR (Drug Research), and LIC (Chemistry). You will play a key role in implementing RDM policies of which the implementation is part of the strategic agenda of the Faculty of Science in line with FAIR and Open Science principles.
You will also contribute to building a vibrant RDM community to raise awareness and knowledge on RDM among researchers.
To achieve these goals, collaboration is key. You’ll work closely with fellow data stewards, privacy and security officers, process and business consultants, IT experts and the Information Manager. You’ll also advise the Ethics Committee on privacy-sensitive research proposals and be part of the university-wide data steward network.
Your responsibilities:
- Participate in implementation of the RDM-program as a subject matter expert.
- Monitor changing requirements and developments like the AI-act, Nis2, etc. and evaluate the impact thereof on RDM.
- Advise on and evaluate RDM policies and protocols tailored to research groups, aligned with university, national, and international standards.
- Monitor the implementation and adoption of RDM practices across institutes.
- Support researchers and institute staff in drafting Data Management Plans, Software Management Plans for grant applications.
- Collaborate on tools and infrastructure that facilitate RDM processes.
- Organize training and develop a train the trainer program for RDM.
- Stay up to date with developments in RDM, and legislation like AI-Act, Nis2 and knowledge security.
Where you will work
Curiosity and passion for science are what connect our people: the desire to know, understand, interpret, explain and create. Our mission is to provide excellent teaching and research across the full breadth of the sciences, contributing to solutions for major societal challenges. Our eight institutes, ranging from mathematics, computer science, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biopharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences, along with the Lorentz Center and the Hortus botanicus, form the backbone of our faculty and have a strong mutual interconnectedness.
We work in a safe, stimulating and international environment where people work and study with pleasure and passion, and where building connections and collaboration, both within and beyond the faculty, are a clear choice. The faculty has over 2,700 staff members and more than 6,000 students enrolled in nine bachelor's and fifteen master's programmes. We are located in the heart of the Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s largest science parks, where academia and industry meet.
The department Information Management has a number of core activities in which optimization is the recurrent theme. The department provides services for all units of the faculty, both institutes and other departments, on topics such as privacy and security, business consultancy where processes and data requirements are analyzed to achieve improvements, often in combination with requests for automation.
The department also offers specific services for research data management, both policy-related and with specific applications, managed by associated experts.
[Text about the context (team) and/or any relevant partnerships – write more about the team, its size, what they focus on, and any relevant recent developments]
What you bring
In this team, we are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need, and draw up a development plan. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:
- A Master’s, PhD preferred, or equivalent academic degree in Chemistry, Biology, or Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- At least 2 years of experience as a researcher, data manager, or data steward in a scientific environment.
- Familiarity with FAIR, metadata management and audit trails.
- Understanding of how data and software support high-quality research and translate this into processes.
- Active engagement in RDM, FAIR, and Open Science networks.
- Knowledge of AI and knowledge security is a plus.
- Strong interpersonal skills: communicative, empathy, influence without authority, analytical thinking, and a collaborative mindset.
- Bonus skills: experience with change management, machine learning, basic programming, or research software development.
- Proficiency in Dutch, both spoken and understood, is considered an asset.
What we offer
Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.
You can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University's challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre or the bustling city centre of The Hague. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University.
We also offer:
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An employment contract for the duration of one year with a view to permanent employment. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities;
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A salary between €4.728 - € 6.433, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (Scale 11);
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A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
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Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
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Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
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Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme;
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If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
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A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop and a mobile telephone.
For more information about employment conditions, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions
What we find important
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.
Want to apply or find out more?
If you want to apply straight away, click the application button.
If you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Johan Detollenaere, at j.detollenaere@science.leidenuniv.nl. You can apply until 11/28/2025; You will receive a response to your application no later than two weeks after the vacancy closing date.
To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions
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In choosing between candidates, in case of equal suitability, preference will be given to internal candidates, women, the occupationally disabled and employees with a migration background.
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A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas, certificate of good conduct (VOG)) may be part of the selection procedure.
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Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated. If you nevertheless choose to send us CVs, no rights can be derived from this. #LI-Hybrid
Information at a Glance
Faculty / Unit:
The Faculty of Science
Contact with (Name + position):
Johan Detollenaere
Contact Email address:
j.detollenaere@science.leidenuniv.nl