Humanities and Social Sciences Specialist

**Department** Information Services & Technology - Digital Research Services

**Salary range** $75,869.95 to $107,406.50

**Hours per week** 35

**Grade** 13

**Posted date** February 25, 2025

**Closing date** March 11, 2025

**Position Type** Full Time - Operating Funded

**Description**:
**_This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA)._**

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.

**Location** - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person work at North Campus Edmonton.

**Working at the University of Alberta**
- The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community._

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

**Working for Information Services & Technology**

Information Services & Technology (IST) is the central support group for the university's technological landscape. IST plays a pivotal role in ensuring the evolution and smooth operation of technology for teaching, learning, research and working at the University of Alberta. Beyond having expansive technical expertise, IST fosters a supportive environment where our staff values include compassion, connection, collaboration, creativity and courage. If you are passionate about leveraging technology to empower education, research and to drive institutional excellence, join us and be part of shaping the future of the University of Alberta through innovative IT solutions.

**Position Summary**

Reporting to the Director of Digital Research Services the Humanities & Social Sciences Support Specialist will assist researchers of all levels (faculty, postdoctoral fellow, graduate student, undergraduate student, technician, etc.) with digital research efforts, especially, but not limited to, within the humanities and social sciences. This support is provided to researchers at both the University of Alberta as well as other research institutions in Canada that are eligible to receive services from the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, with an emphasis on Western Canada (MB, SK, AB, & BC). In order to deliver this support at the highest levels of expertise the Humanities & Social Sciences Support Specialist will collaborate extensively with other research support analysts both internally to the University of Alberta, across Canada, and, at times, internationally.

**Duties**

At the highest level the supports provided by the Humanities & Social Sciences Specialist include:

- leading consultations with researchers that will result in a more coordinated support network for them,
- Serving as a translator of researchers’ questions into technical strategies to design effective digital research workflows/solutions spanning hardware, software, and technical experts
- designing and delivering training, via both local and remote delivery,
- developing and implementing local and national strategies to improve the coordination of both local and national initiatives to make them more accessible to and usable by humanities and social science researchers as well as others with similar needs

Each of the activities listed above are expected to consume approximately 20% of efforts of this role, with the understanding that the attention needed on each will change based on the needs of the research community being served.

In some special instances the Humanities & Social Sciences Support Specialist may assist users in the technical deployment of research projects through activities such as designing, writing, debugging, and testing software, as well as the installation and maintenance of specialized hardware. Participation in the administrative aspects of all of the above (actively attending meetings, making presentations, etc.) will be expected.

**Minimum Qualifications**
- Master’s degree in a humanities or social sciences area is required. PhD in such an area is preferred.
- Experience with a wide range of the software tools used by humanities and social sciences researchers is required.
- Ability—and willingness—to quickly learn new digital tools and methods and then share this knowledge with others in a way that is accessible and relevant to their needs is required.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in English is required.

**Preferred Qualifications**
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and