Junior researcher Data Management

Introduction

ODISSEI is the Dutch national data infrastructure for the social sciences. It is a consortium of 45 participating organizations working together to improve the digital research infrastructure in the social sciences. The data infrastructure is unique worldwide, offering a state-of-the-art supercomputer, advanced data collection, and support for innovative technologies. For more information, visit www.odissei-data.nl.

ODISSEI brings together an eclectic range of linkable data including administrative, survey, web and media data, providing analytical environments to answer ground-breaking questions. ODISSEI’s user base includes leading scientists at the forefront of social research. The ODISSEI Coordination Team (CT), based at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, coordinates work across the infrastructure. As part of the CT, the ODISSEI researcher on data management supports ODISSEI data providers in their implementation of the FAIR principles.

We are seeking a Junior researcher eager to take initiative in advancing FAIR data practices within ODISSEI. Working closely with the ODISSEI Data Manager, you will contribute to the technical development and optimization of metadata workflows, the implementation of tools to support data management, and community engagement activities such as training and outreach. This position offers an opportunity to contribute hands-on to national data infrastructure while learning from experienced colleagues and growing into a leading role in Research Data Management (RDM) and FAIR Data Stewardship.

Job description

As a Junior researcher data management you will:

• Maintain the ODISSEI Code Library and ODISSEI DataverseNL instance;
• Improve workflows and tools for metadata collection and ingestion into catalogues (e.g. CKAN, Dataverse);
• Coordinate with data providers to ensure ingestion of metadata into the ODISSEI Portal and into the Connecting data in Child Development (CD2) metadata catalogue;
• Contribute to dissemination and outreach activities on FAIR principles and Open Science, for instance by writing blog posts for the ODISSEI website and participating in (inter)national events;
• Work closely with the ODISSEI Data Manager on projects and consultations related to data management and FAIR implementation in the social sciences and humanities.

The Coordination Team consists of six employees. The team is informal. Independence, responsibility, flexibility and self-development are highly valued. Working from home is well organised with a laptop, payment for peripherals and working entirely in the cloud (so no cumbersome remote desktop). You will work at the office in Rotterdam at least one day a week, and regularly visit partners (e.g., DANS, SURF, Utrecht University Library, etc…) throughout the Netherlands to collaborate. Travel costs are arranged via an OV business card, second class. The working language is English.

Job requirements

• You are independent and self-motivated, with the ability to work flexibly in a team;
• You are able to communicate well with various levels of seniority and work constructively towards shared goals;
• You have completed higher education (preferably a master) in social sciences, data science, information sciences, or a related field;
• You have at least a basic knowledge of research data management concepts, Open Science, and the FAIR principles;
• You understand at least the basics of programming or scripting skills (e.g. Python, R, or SQL) for handling multiple tasks such as handling metadata ingestion scripts and publishing websites via GitHub pages;
• You have professional verbal and written command of English (C2 level CEFR or comparable).  

Employment conditions and benefits

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is 1 January 2026 and you will be based at team ODISSEI in Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB). This position is for 0.8 fte - 1 fte. The salary is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of € 3.546 to a maximum of € 5.538 gross per month Scale 10 on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is offered for a period of 1 year and can be extended with another year if suitability is proven, if continued in the same position and (financial and/or organizational) circumstances remain the same.

Everything else we offer you; you can find below!

- Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!

- Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.

- Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.

- Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.

- Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).

- Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Employer

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB)
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) combines various disciplines such as public administration, pedagogical sciences, psychology and sociology. In addition, the Erasmus University College is affiliated with the faculty. Within ESSB, we work in teams on education and research, emphasising interdisciplinarity, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. Together, we strive for societal and scientific impact.

ESSB distinguishes itself through inter-, multi- and transdisciplinary research, in which academics and students work together on complex social issues. Thanks to this approach, ESSB successfully attracts national and international research subsidies and funds, with which we continuously strengthen and renew our education and research.

ESSB serves almost 6,000 students annually with a wide range of bachelor's and master's programmes and has more than 600 employees. These programmes are highly rated by students and alumni. Within ESSB, developing new insights and realising positive societal impact are central, always with a focus on people and society.

Visit our website for more information about the faculty, and click here for more information about our academic teams.

Department

ODISSEI (Open Data Infrastructure for Social Science and Economic Innovations) is the national research infrastructure for the Dutch social sciences. We bring together researchers with essential data, expertise, and resources to conduct groundbreaking research and to leverage the computational trend in social research.

Through ODISSEI, researchers have access to large-scale, longitudinal data collections, as well as innovative and diverse forms of data. These can be linked to administrative data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The combination of this wide range of data sources enables researchers to address new, exciting, interdisciplinary research questions and to study existing questions in innovative ways.

Applying

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and CV, before the vacancy closing date.

The selection procedure consists of two interviews. Interviews are expected to be held Early December.

You can find more information about the EUR on our website www.eur.nl. For more information about this vacancy, please contact Angelica Maineri (angelica@odissei-data.nl). .

We look forward to receiving your application.

Persons of all gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, citizenships, or any other aspect are welcome to apply and join the EUR community.