Cires/Nsidc Data Operations Team Lead

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Job Summary

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) encourages applications for a full-time Data Operations Team Lead to strategically guide NSIDC's Data Operations team to manage and support our archive of satellite, aircraft, and ground data! The team operates multiple automated systems for ingest, archival, and distribution of a broad range of NASA, NOAA, and other cryospheric data products. The Team Lead supervises Data Operations Specialists and is responsible for the overall performance of the team, including setting policies and processes that ensure the successful operation of NSIDC's data systems. The lead will collaborate with members of other technical teams, engineering project leads, and members of senior management to provide insight into data operations processes, expertise on data archival systems, and information on data management standard processes. Additionally, this role will perform functional Operations activities; the successful candidate will be involved in the daily evolution, testing, and deployment of software systems supporting ingest, archival, publication, discovery, and ongoing management of scientific data both on-premises and in the cloud.

The Data Operations team is part of NSIDC's Technical Services Group, one of three service groups that support the center's mission to be the authoritative data management and science center for cryospheric data and research. This position reports to the Technical Services Group Manager.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

At CIRES, more than 950 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), affiliated with CIRES, at the University of Colorado Boulder, is a key national hub for snow and ice research. Renowned for its credibility in providing cryospheric data and services, NSIDC holds a leading role in research and development in this specialized field. Operating as part of CIRES, NSIDC supports research on Earth's cryosphere, including snow, ice, glaciers, frozen ground, and climate interactions. The center manages and distributes scientific data, develops tools for data access, supports users, conducts scientific research, and educates the public. As a NASA Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC), NSIDC plays a crucial role in managing significant data and science resources. For more information, visit our website.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Data Operations Technical Leadership

• Be responsible for operations of center-wide data systems.

• Provide operational impact assessments and mitigation strategies from external changes as well as guide the evolution of data archival systems.

• Provide data center management with operations agreements, interface control documents, metrics, projections, and other reports.

• Troubleshoot and resolve system integrity and system performance issues.

• Communicate data system architecture and data management standard processes with other groups and projects in the center, including software development project teams.

• Attend relevant meetings and teleconferences with team members and external collaborators.

• Perform configuration management and testing for a variety of custom software systems.

Data Operations Team Leadership

• Lead and manage the Data Operations team (currently with support from the Data Operations supervisor).

• Provide mentorship, development, and performance evaluation and reviews as needed for supervisees.

• Supervise, schedule, and track assignments of Data Operations full-time and part-time staff.

• Plan, coordinate, prioritize, and schedule Data Operations staff to support center-wide programs, projects, and teams.

• Ensuring effective and efficient staff communication within the group, to the group, and in representing the group within the management structure.

• Establish standard practices and professional guidelines for the group.

Duties may also include one or more of the following:

• Ensure effective monitoring and support of operational software applications.

• Represent the team in internal and external forums.

• Author and implement system documentation and operational procedures.

• Install, configure, and tune data management software.

• Lead projects that impact the team ‐ either with a team of Data Operations Specialists or other groups within the center.

What You Should Know

• Due to NASA funding restrictions, candidates who have paid or unpaid appointments or positions with Chinese Government organizations, Chinese Government controlled organizations, Chinese-owned companies, or any company incorporated under the laws of the People's Republic of China are ineligible for hire.

• Please note that those applicants requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future will not be considered for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to legally work in the United States on a full-time basis.

• For questions about the job, please contact Daniel Crumly, hiring supervisor, at crumlyd@colorado.edu. For questions about the application process, please contact Chris Pappas at chris.pappas@colorado.edu.

What We Can Offer

• CIRES offers a generous compensation and benefits package.

• The annual hiring salary for this position ranges from $87,000-$111,000. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.

• This position offers a hybrid work modality with both on-site work and remote work. We can consider the option for a fully remote work modality at the supervisor's discretion. All work modality arrangements will follow current CIRES and university guidance and policies.

• Relocation funds are available for this position following CIRES and the University of Colorado's relocation processes and procedures.

• Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues. Boulder was recently ranked as one of the top places to live in the U.S. by U.S. News.

• As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to the regional public transit system, an outstanding network of buses, and light rail systems that service Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be open. Be respectful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor's Degree.

• At least 3 years of experience as a Data Manager, Data Operations Technician, Data Systems Engineer, or similar position.

• Experience leading technical teams, either via supervision, project management, or similar leadership.

What You Will Need

• Ability to creatively problem‐solve: to break down system‐level problems into tasks, prioritize them, and work them through to completion.

• Ability to work collaboratively on highly efficient, cross‐functional teams.

• Ability to efficiently represent technical needs and archival standards to multiple different audiences, including technical teams, user facing teams, and managers.

• Ability to successfully supervise individual employees, including hiring, training, and performance management.

• Ability to provide leadership to the entire team, including setting expectations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to be self‐directed and recognize tasks that need to be completed, take ownership of them, work through them, and ask for help when needed.

• Ability to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to balance multiple assigned tasks, prioritize them, and efficiently context‐switch between critical tasks.

• Ability to contribute to a diverse and inclusive environment as part of the CU Boulder Inclusive Excellence vision.

What We Would Like You to Have

Please note that while the position requirements are detailed in the "What We Require" and "What You Will Need sections," we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the skills and experience from this "What We Would Like You to Have" section to be considered for this position. If you meet the requirements and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on-the-job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.

• Experience with Python, shell scripting, or other tools for automation.

• Understanding of how operational systems run, including monitoring, troubleshooting, and system impact dependence.

• Experience with project management methodologies, techniques, and tools.

• Knowledge of version control systems (such as Github), continuous integration (such as CircleCl, Jenkins, or Bamboo), and software delivery.

• Experience with cloud technologies, including deployment and troubleshooting.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• Resume/CV.

• Cover letter briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.

• List of contact information for 5 professional references (name, title, professional relationship, email) who may be contacted on your behalf for a professional reference. You don't need to include a letter of recommendation with your initial application. If you are selected as a finalist for this role, the search committee will request one letter of recommendation at a later time.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Applications received by March 29, 2024 will receive full consideration. The posting will remain open until filled.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Chris Pappas

Posting Contact Email: chris.pappas@colorado.edu