About the Alliance
The Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) serves Canadian researchers, with the objective of advancing Canada’s position as a leader in the knowledge economy on the international stage. By integrating, championing and funding the infrastructure and activities required for advanced research computing (ARC), research data management (RDM) and research software (RS), the Alliance provides the platform for the research community to access tools and services faster than ever before.
The Alliance has an ambitious mandate — to transform how research across all academic disciplines is organized, managed, stored and used. The Alliance works with other ecosystem partners and stakeholders across the country to help provide Canadian researchers with the support they need for leading-edge research excellence, research, innovation and advancement across all disciplines.
The Alliance is a non-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada.
Researcher Council Role Description
The Alliance is seeking researchers to join the Researcher Council who are passionate about ensuring the digital research infrastructure (DRI) needs of the diverse researcher community are met. Members of the Researcher Council represent the interests of all researchers, rather than advocating for their own interests or respective disciplines. Researchers from all career stages have a prominent opportunity to make a valuable impact on the way the DRI ecosystem supports Canadian researchers.
The Alliance Researcher Council was established in 2020 to facilitate regular consultation between the Alliance and researchers across Canada, and to help the Alliance in establishing a researcher centric DRI ecosystem. Members of the Researcher Council represent a range of cultures, languages, identities, expertise and regions, as well as a broad array of academic disciplines and institutions, ensuring that the diversity of researcher voices is represented to the Alliance.
A well-rounded, robust and diverse Researcher Council is an important component of the Alliance’s governance model, and part of the organization’s by-laws. A key responsibility of the Researcher Council is to provide advice to the Alliance Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team on researcher needs for DRI infrastructure and services by collaboratively establishing a strategic vision and priorities to best serve the Canadian research community.
Time Commitment: Monthly meetings and participation in dedicated initiatives towards the development and advancement of a national DRI strategy.
Responsibilities
- Provide guidance to the Alliance Board of Directors to represent researcher needs and the digital research infrastructure (DRI).
- Participate in the development of the long-term strategy of DRI and help to define its vision, mission, strategic goals and engagement with diverse and multi-disciplinary researchers across Canada.
- Provide strategic advice and guidance to the Alliance management and staff on the prioritization of projects and services that meet the needs of the researcher community.
- Participate in working groups or subcommittees to support DRI planning, strategy and implementation of Alliance services and operations and engagement with Canadian researchers.
- Work with staff to ensure that Researcher Council recommendations are reflective of the diverse needs of the research community.
- Advise on strategies that ensure that the Alliance meets the needs of early-career researchers and students in the use and development of DRI resources.
- Advocate for a DRI culture of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, aligned with best practice and with that of the Alliance.
- Attend and participate in monthly Researcher Council meetings, bringing unique and diverse perspective, with respect and collaboration.
Qualifications
- Researcher at a Canadian university, college, research hospital and/or affiliate institution
- Experience in any one of the DRI domains (e.g., advanced research computing [ARC], research software [RS], research data management [RDM]) and cybersecurity).
- Willingness to engage with diverse research communities and stakeholders to aid in the development of a needs assessment used to advise the Alliance Board and Senior Leadership Team on DRI needs for Canadian researchers.
- Experience participating on a Board, Council or Advisory Committee would be an asset.
- Ability to negotiate competing interests in a productive manner with a large group and participate in advancing Council decisions.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking capabilities.
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Proven commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) principles in the research community.
If you are interested in being considered for a three-year appointment to the Researcher Council, apply now. Applications will be accepted until June 5, 2023.
The Alliance recognizes that challenges remain in achieving the full participation of equity-seeking groups (including women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups, and members of LGBTQ2+) in research careers and is committed to identifying and eliminating barriers that may exist within its own hiring process, programs, and practices.