Advanced Research Computing Coordinator

**Advanced Research Computing Coordinator**:
The University of Saskatchewan is a world leader in water and food security, vaccine development and infectious diseases, and human, animal, and environmental health. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) division provides innovative and disciplined support and expertise as an integral part of ensuring USask becomes the university the world needs. The division is also committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes diversity, collaboration, and professional growth. USask provides employees many benefits such as flexible work arrangements; access to the university’s recreation services; ongoing professional development and mentorship and a comprehensive benefits and pension program.

**Primary Purpose**:
The University of Saskatchewan and Digital Research Alliance of Canada partner to provide advanced research computing (ARC) support, including high performance computing, high performance storage, and data management support to researchers at the University, using local and national ARC infrastructure and services. The Advanced Research Computing Coordinator manages the central University ARC services and support, leads the University’s technical and operational participation in the Digital Research Alliance of Canada organization. This position requires expertise in the use of research computing services, and an understanding of the research process and the IT environment of the university.

**Nature of Work**:
Reporting to Manager of research, Library and Data Center Technologies department in ICT, this position involves collaboration with colleagues around campus and across the country, including researchers, and Digital Research Alliance of Canada staff and leaders. The environment is complex and fast paced with numerous competing deadlines. The position provides consultative leadership through committees and working groups in advanced research computing. The consequences of error or of sub-standard work are significant as there is potential for loss of researcher data, and impact on institutional reputation. Frequent participation in local and Digital research Alliance of Canada meetings and working groups is expected, and occasional travel, both within Canada and internationally, is also expected. Occasional weekend and evening work is required. Frequent use of video-conferencing and remote collaboration technologies is required.

**Accountabilities**:

- Supervising staff assigned to Advanced Research Computing projects and services
- Providing or arranging consulting services to researchers regarding accessing ARC resources at USask and throughout Digital Research Alliance of Canada, and the effective use of these resources
- Planning of advanced research computing services in coordination with Digital Research Alliance of Canada, ICT management, and Research Services. This involves multi-year plans and budgets, and extensive consultation
- Representing the University of Saskatchewan to Digital Research Alliance of Canada. Actively participating in Digital Research Alliance of Canada meetings, and briefing University management on developments and opportunities within Digital research Alliance of Canada
- Participating on Digital Research Alliance of Canada working groups and leadership teams and ensuring USask-Digital Research Alliance of Canada staff are effectively participating in Digital Research Alliance of Canada teams aligned with their expertise
- Managing and coordinating the provision and ongoing evolution of University of Saskatchewan Advanced Computing services and support, including institutional High-Performance Computing (HPC), research data storage, research data management and training services
- Providing or arranging training for researchers in specialized areas of Advanced Research Computing, e.g. Big Data processing, parallel programming, scientific computing, computational accelerators
- Consulting with researchers regarding USask ARC infrastructure and on options available for integration and utilization of ARC resource
- Accelerating research and enabling research publication and presentations for USask and Canadian researchers
- Participating as part of the larger team in discussions, decisions and tasks related to the overall configuration, operation, and support of IT for University of Saskatchewan research and scholarship
- Providing expert advice and counsel to senior business unit leaders related to Advanced Research Computing.

**Qualifications**:
**Education & Experience**

A graduate degree in Computer Science or related field is strongly preferred. A combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Five years of employment experience, supporting Advanced Research Computing and/or High Performance, large-scale storage in an academic environment is desired. Experience working within an ARC consortium (e.g. Digital Research Alliance of Canada, XSEDE etc) would be a significant asset