The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) is seeking a Research Data Manager (initially for two years, with the possibility of a permanent contract; up to TVöD E13) to start as soon as possible. One of the more than 80 institutes of the Max Planck Society, the MPIWG is among the world’s leading centers for research into the history of science. It offers outstanding working conditions for its scholars and sustainably promotes the use of digital methodologies in the humanities.

The MPIWG intends to further enhance its support for projects in the history of science by expanding its digital research infrastructure. For the management and preservation of the produced research data we are seeking a Research Data Manager, who will be based in the library and will act as an important interface between the library and the Institute’s research departments and research groups, and the research IT. This includes the analysis, cleaning, modelling, and transformation of research data using common target ontologies (CIDOC-CRM, among others).

The Institute is keen to conduct cutting-edge digital scholarship, while making use of established standards for data representation and exchange (Linked Data, CIDOC-CRM, IIIF, etc.). Projects are expected to build on and contribute to a common digital research infrastructure, producing sustainable digital research outputs that can be reused and shared openly.

Your responsibilities

• Management of the research data in the institute
• Maintenance and further development of the research data infrastructure
• Transformation, curation, and harmonization of (semantic) research data
• Creation and maintenance of the necessary documentation
• Provision of technical advice and support to research projects
• Implementation of best practices for collection management based on graph technology

Your profile

• Master’s-level degree, preferably in information science or a related discipline
• A proven track record in the analysis, cleaning, modelling, transformation, and management of cultural heritage data
• Practical working knowledge of semantic web technologies (RDF, RDFS, OWL, SPARQL)
• Proficient knowledge of domain specific ontologies (CIDOC-CRM, others)
• Excellent organizational and communicative skills
• Experience of project management, especially applying modern, agile approaches
• Resourceful, motivated, results-oriented with a well-structured working style and a strong sense of responsibility
• Excellent knowledge of English.

The Max Planck Society wishes to increase the proportion of women in those areas in which they are currently underrepresented. We therefore specifically encourage women to apply. The Max Planck Society is committed to employing more disabled individuals, and applications from people with disabilities are especially welcome. At the Institute, we attach great importance to the compatibility of work and family life. We support our employees through the family-friendly organization of working hours, including opportunities to work from home, and help them to find suitable childcare and schools.

Please send your application—letter, résumé, copies of qualifications, samples of your scholarly work (for example a publication), and contact details of two referees—as single PDF documents exclusively through our online application portal. 

We ask that applications are sent by January 10, 2021 (23:59 CET) (or until filled).

Please note: we can only accept applications submitted electronically through the application portal.