Organizational Unit
University of Victoria -> VP Research -> Ocean Networks Canada
Location
University of Victoria - Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2 CA (Primary)
Posting Close Date
14 September 2026
Please note that positions will close at 4 p.m. on the closing date.
FTE
1.0
Salary Grade
$84,211.00 - $109,532.00
Additional Posting Information
Please note that while the university encourages and accepts external applications, a strong pool of internal candidates has been identified for this opportunity.
Salary posted will be pro-rated based on FTE and achieved as per the collective agreement, if applicable.
Classification
SG12
Employee Group:
PEA - Regular
# of Hires Needed
1
Category
Science
About this Opportunity
Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is seeking a Data Steward for the Research Data Management team with a strong background in metadata standards and schema profile development. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing standards for and maintaining metadata, especially for OpeNDAP and ERDDAP datasets. Strong foundations in the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System, and Essential Ocean Variables will be integral to this position. Knowledge on scalar and grid-based dataset like CODAR is considered an asset.
*This position is eligible for a hybrid flex arrangement*The salary range for this position is: - Recruitment range: $84,211 to $92,849. Starting salary is determined in accordance with the PEA Collective Agreement.
- Performance range: Up to $109,532. Progression beyond the recruitment range is available through annual performance increases, in accordance with the PEA Collective Agreement.
Job Summary
Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is a world-leading organization supporting ocean discovery and technological innovation for science, society, and industry. ONC monitors the west and east coasts of Canada and the Arctic to continuously deliver data in real-time for scientific research and discovery and technological innovation.
ONC operates and manages innovative cabled observatories that supply continuous power and Internet connectivity to various scientific instruments located in coastal, deep-ocean, and Arctic environments. ONC's cable arrays host thousands of sensors distributed in, on and above the seabed along with mobile and land based assets strategically located, instruments that address key scientific and policy issues (subsea earthquakes and tsunamis, ocean acidification, marine biodiversity, etc.) within a wide range of environments.
ONC is a Major Science Initiative funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and is governed as a not-for-profit society that operates world-class innovative cabled observatories on behalf of the University of Victoria.
ONC's Observatory Operations' division is mandated to ensure the acquisition, curation and delivery of high-quality data to a global research community. As a department within Observatory Operations, Data Stewardship supports this mandate through the critical activities of metadata and data curation, and the provision of geospatial services and operations support. Curation activities enhance metadata and data discovery, retrieval, provenance, quality, archival, and interoperability. Geospatial services focus on maps, geodatabases, notices to mariners/shipping, and bathymetric/navigational data management. Operations support ensures that the extensive and complex workflows that guide the preparation and deployment of underwater instruments are conducted in a manner that maximizes the probability success and the delivery of quality data to the global research community.
The Data Steward is primarily responsible for acquiring, verifying and maintaining metadata and data for ONC. Properly curated data is critical for scientific and non-scientific users to understand, interpret and analyze the information collected via the instruments on the network operated by ONC. ONC's primary mission to maintain long time series data sets cannot be achieved without robust and accurate metadata. Secondary duties include field and at-sea support during infrastructure maintenance operations that occur multiple times a year for up to four weeks duration, or day and multi day trips.
This position is required to work designated shifts through extended hours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when supporting expedition operations.
Job Requirements
The successful candidate will have at a minimum a master's degree in Information Science, Computer Science or related field, and 3 years of experience working in a related discipline.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Experience requirements:
• Demonstrated experience with metadata schemas, controlled vocabularies, linked data
• Experience with web-services for scientific data discovery and delivery
• Experience with digital content management tools
• Experience with metadata and data manipulation
Knowledge requirements:
• Expertise with geospatial and oceanographic community conventions and standards
• Familiarity with XML, RDF, NetCDF tools and formats
• Ability to program in Python, Matlab, R, or other scripting languages
• Fluent in the use of SQL-based database access tools
• Basic knowledge of scientific instrumentation and measurements
• Familiarity with international meta data standards and practices and their creation
Competencies requirements:
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to deal with multiple parallel projects involving several stakeholder groups, and consistently meet deadlines
• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks and to effectively manage assigned work during periods of peak demand
• Strong oral communication and writing skills
• Ability to work in a team-oriented, multidisciplinary environment
Assets:
• Demonstrated interest in ocean sciences and/or Earth sciences
• Familiarity with problem and project tracking software such as Jira, Bugzilla or equivalent
• Experience with oceanographic expeditions
Additional Information
992078.2-ONCS-2021 JD-DataSteward_SG12
