Data Management Specialist

Job Description

For our client —a world-leading research and innovation hub in electronics and digital technologies—we are looking for a Data Management Specialist. In this role, you will act as a bridge between research, ICT, and business stakeholders to accelerate Open Science principles, structure critical data assets, and streamline information governance across multidisciplinary teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Drive Open Science & Empower Researchers

• Lead the business adoption of the data catalog and business glossary, embedding them directly into researchers' daily workflows.
• Assist researchers in managing knowledge assets—including datasets, definitions, reports, code, and machine-learning models—via workshops, visual tools, interactive training, and tailored communication channels.
• Guide the creation and completion of Data Management Plans (DMPs) and oversee their execution across active projects.
• Represent the client within Flemish Research Data Network (FRDN) initiatives focused on data management planning and ontology development.

Structure & Improve Information Management Tooling

• Partner with ICT, researchers, and business stakeholders to translate needs into tangible requirements, tool prototypes, and validated capabilities.
• Collect user feedback and actionable insights to guide the selection, configuration, and enhancement of information management platforms.
• Design and set up lifecycle-oriented document libraries in SharePoint in close collaboration with end-users.

Define Frameworks & Operational Standards

• Develop and refine policies, guidelines, metadata standards, templates, and terminology to ensure consistent, efficient ways of working across research and business units.
• Support the definition and maintenance of cross-organisational ontologies and reference data management tools to ensure high data coherence.

What You Bring to the Team:

• Education & Experience: Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) paired with 2+ years of relevant experience, or demonstrated high potential as an analytically strong junior professional.
• Analytical & Conceptual Strength: Excellent abstraction skills with the ability to translate complex research processes into clear metadata models, structures, and actionable frameworks.
• Communication & Alignment: Strong spoken, written, and visual communication skills. Experienced in running workshops, creating conceptual diagrams, and aligning diverse stakeholders.
• Mindset & Working Style: Highly autonomous, self-directed, and solution-oriented. You thrive in ambiguous environments, enjoy figuring things out, and take proactive ownership of your domain. <button>Verhaert</button>
• Languages: Working proficiency in both English and Dutch (spoken and written).
• Technical Assets (Plusses):
  • Hands-on experience with SharePoint setup/architecture or Power BI.
  • Familiarity or interest in software tool development, data governance frameworks, and metadata management tools.