Data Services Specialist
Top Benefits
About the role
Please refer to the
How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates)
job aid for instructions on how to apply.
If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).
Position Summary
The Health Data Science (HeDS) Platform at McGill University is seeking a full-time Data Manager to lead research data management (RDM) and stewardship activities across collaborative projects in genomics, RNA science, and health data. This role will focus on the design, implementation, and monitoring of RDM policies and Data Management Plans (DMPs), the development of a Data catalogue aligned with FAIR and CARE principles, and the establishment of secure governance and data-sharing frameworks to support international collaborations. The successful candidate will ensure that project datasets are systematically curated, integrated, and shared according to best practices, while enabling long-term interoperability and readiness for ML and AI applications.
Primary Responsibilities
RDM Policy & Data Management Plans
- Oversee the creation, consultation, and review of project-specific DMPs in collaboration with D2R funded researchers and their teams.
- Ensure DMPs are integrated into research workflows, monitored, and updated throughout the project lifecycle.
- Provide expertise and training to researchers on DMP development, compliance, and best practices.
- Contribute to the development and refinement of the D2R RDM Policy, ensuring alignment with FAIR, CARE, Open Science, and Gates Foundation Global Access requirements.
- Perform periodic audits and analyses of RDM practices across D2R to identify gaps and recommend improvements.
Data Infrastructure & AI/ML Readiness
- Design and maintain the HeDS Data catalogue, making use of standardized metadata schemas, governance protocols, and secure access frameworks.
- Develop and test a prototype ML/AI-ready indexing system to ensure datasets are discoverable, structured, and usable for model training.
- Implement data pipelines and curation strategies optimized for downstream AI/ML applications (e.g., ensuring balance, bias-awareness, and quality in datasets).
- Assess existing infrastructure and develop a progressive plan toward a data catalogue full integration.
- Ensure compliance with ethical, legal, and funder requirements for data security, privacy, and open access.
Research & Collaboration Support
- Work closely with scientific data analysts and D2R researchers to prepare datasets that support reuse in research.
- Support R&D outputs, such as SOPs, technical notes, and methodological publications.
- Collaborate with researchers, collaborators and partner teams to ensure interoperability and integration of their data.
- Advise on data sharing standards that enable open science while protecting sensitive data.
Training & Capacity Building
- Develop training materials and deliver workshops on RDM, metadata standards, and data management.
- Mentor researchers, students, and collaborators in implementing data stewardship and governance policies.
- Co-lead capacity-building initiatives to foster local expertise in sustainable data practices.
- Contribute to online documentation and repositories to ensure training resources remain globally discoverable and reusable.
Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities
- Master’s degree in Information Science, Bioinformatics, Data Science, or related field; PhD preferred.
- Strong experience with database design, data-sharing frameworks, and cloud-based storage solutions
- Proven experience preparing datasets for AI/ML applications, including metadata management, annotation, quality control, and bias monitoring.
- Knowledge of FAIR and CARE principles, Open Science, and data access policies.
- Familiarity with RDM policy, DMP and data stewardship.
- Excellent project management and communication skills with ability to work across international institutions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience with ML/AI pipelines and data workflows in health or genomics research.
- Background in delivering training or mentorship on data management.
- Experience in ELSI (ethical, legal, and social implications) of biomedical data sharing.
- Background in large-scale, multi-institutional collaborations.
As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:
- Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
- Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
- Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
- Competitive vacation policy
- Two (2) personal days
- Two (2) floating holidays
- Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
- Paid time off over the December holiday period
- Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
- Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 on a scale of 0-4*.*
For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click
here
.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelor's Degree 5 Years Related Experience /
Annual Salary:
(MPEX Grade 06) $80,510.00 - $100,640.00 - $120,770.00
Job Profile:
MPEX-IST3S - Research Software Development - Senior Professional
Hours per Week:
33.75 (Full time)
Supervisor:
Academic Associate
Position End Date (If applicable):
2026-12-31
Deadline to Apply:
2025-12-05
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence,
accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca
.
About McGill University
McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from some 150 countries, our student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country. McGill was founded in 1821 thanks to a generous bequest by James McGill, and since then, we've grown from a small college to a bustling university with three campuses, 11 faculties, some 300 programs of study, and more than 37,500 students. The University also partners with four affiliated teaching hospitals to graduate over 1,000 health care professionals each year.
The goal of McGill University's social media platforms is to strengthen our community, which includes students, faculty, and alumni. The aim is to provide information on events, campus news and promote networking.
McGill University fosters freedom of expression, while valuing respect and collegiality. We encourage respectful dialogue and reserve the right to remove the following: Comments deemed offensive, vulgar or profane; comments off-topic and/or unrelated to posted content; content that infringes on an individual's privacy or copyright.
Data Services Specialist
Top Benefits
About the role
Please refer to the
How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates)
job aid for instructions on how to apply.
If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).
Position Summary
The Health Data Science (HeDS) Platform at McGill University is seeking a full-time Data Manager to lead research data management (RDM) and stewardship activities across collaborative projects in genomics, RNA science, and health data. This role will focus on the design, implementation, and monitoring of RDM policies and Data Management Plans (DMPs), the development of a Data catalogue aligned with FAIR and CARE principles, and the establishment of secure governance and data-sharing frameworks to support international collaborations. The successful candidate will ensure that project datasets are systematically curated, integrated, and shared according to best practices, while enabling long-term interoperability and readiness for ML and AI applications.
Primary Responsibilities
RDM Policy & Data Management Plans
- Oversee the creation, consultation, and review of project-specific DMPs in collaboration with D2R funded researchers and their teams.
- Ensure DMPs are integrated into research workflows, monitored, and updated throughout the project lifecycle.
- Provide expertise and training to researchers on DMP development, compliance, and best practices.
- Contribute to the development and refinement of the D2R RDM Policy, ensuring alignment with FAIR, CARE, Open Science, and Gates Foundation Global Access requirements.
- Perform periodic audits and analyses of RDM practices across D2R to identify gaps and recommend improvements.
Data Infrastructure & AI/ML Readiness
- Design and maintain the HeDS Data catalogue, making use of standardized metadata schemas, governance protocols, and secure access frameworks.
- Develop and test a prototype ML/AI-ready indexing system to ensure datasets are discoverable, structured, and usable for model training.
- Implement data pipelines and curation strategies optimized for downstream AI/ML applications (e.g., ensuring balance, bias-awareness, and quality in datasets).
- Assess existing infrastructure and develop a progressive plan toward a data catalogue full integration.
- Ensure compliance with ethical, legal, and funder requirements for data security, privacy, and open access.
Research & Collaboration Support
- Work closely with scientific data analysts and D2R researchers to prepare datasets that support reuse in research.
- Support R&D outputs, such as SOPs, technical notes, and methodological publications.
- Collaborate with researchers, collaborators and partner teams to ensure interoperability and integration of their data.
- Advise on data sharing standards that enable open science while protecting sensitive data.
Training & Capacity Building
- Develop training materials and deliver workshops on RDM, metadata standards, and data management.
- Mentor researchers, students, and collaborators in implementing data stewardship and governance policies.
- Co-lead capacity-building initiatives to foster local expertise in sustainable data practices.
- Contribute to online documentation and repositories to ensure training resources remain globally discoverable and reusable.
Other Qualifying Skills and/or Abilities
- Master’s degree in Information Science, Bioinformatics, Data Science, or related field; PhD preferred.
- Strong experience with database design, data-sharing frameworks, and cloud-based storage solutions
- Proven experience preparing datasets for AI/ML applications, including metadata management, annotation, quality control, and bias monitoring.
- Knowledge of FAIR and CARE principles, Open Science, and data access policies.
- Familiarity with RDM policy, DMP and data stewardship.
- Excellent project management and communication skills with ability to work across international institutions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience with ML/AI pipelines and data workflows in health or genomics research.
- Background in delivering training or mentorship on data management.
- Experience in ELSI (ethical, legal, and social implications) of biomedical data sharing.
- Background in large-scale, multi-institutional collaborations.
As one of Montreal's Top Employers, here is what we offer:
- Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
- Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
- Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
- Competitive vacation policy
- Two (2) personal days
- Two (2) floating holidays
- Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
- Paid time off over the December holiday period
- Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
- Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
Knowledge of English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 on a scale of 0-4*.*
For a definition of our language proficiency levels, please click
here
.
Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelor's Degree 5 Years Related Experience /
Annual Salary:
(MPEX Grade 06) $80,510.00 - $100,640.00 - $120,770.00
Job Profile:
MPEX-IST3S - Research Software Development - Senior Professional
Hours per Week:
33.75 (Full time)
Supervisor:
Academic Associate
Position End Date (If applicable):
2026-12-31
Deadline to Apply:
2025-12-05
McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence,
accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca
.
About McGill University
McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from some 150 countries, our student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country. McGill was founded in 1821 thanks to a generous bequest by James McGill, and since then, we've grown from a small college to a bustling university with three campuses, 11 faculties, some 300 programs of study, and more than 37,500 students. The University also partners with four affiliated teaching hospitals to graduate over 1,000 health care professionals each year.
The goal of McGill University's social media platforms is to strengthen our community, which includes students, faculty, and alumni. The aim is to provide information on events, campus news and promote networking.
McGill University fosters freedom of expression, while valuing respect and collegiality. We encourage respectful dialogue and reserve the right to remove the following: Comments deemed offensive, vulgar or profane; comments off-topic and/or unrelated to posted content; content that infringes on an individual's privacy or copyright.