Project Manager Data Autonomy (0.8 FTE)

There is a growing concern of higher education’s dependency on ‘Big Tech’: these companies use the data of universities for commercial goals, which means that the universities have no full control over their data (‘data autonomy’).

The University of Groningen wants to become more data-autonomous and is starting a program which consists of three phases: drawing up a roadmap, initiating a pilot project and finally implementing the entire roadmap. For the first phase a project will be initiated to establish a roadmap towards data autonomy for the UG in a structured, broad-based, and viable manner. This roadmap will be developed in collaboration with all stakeholders within the UG, but also in collaboration with external partners, both national and international.

Project towards data autonomy
The CIT (Center for Information Technology) is looking for an experienced project manager to lead the project of creating and delivering the roadmap towards more data autonomy of the UG. In order to create a roadmap, the project will encompass all relevant stakeholders and partners of the UG to agree on a single definition of data autonomy and on what degree of data autonomy should be pursued. Some other key elements of creating a roadmap are:

– a stakeholder analysis to identify the stakeholders within the UG
– a stakeholder analysis to identify the potential partners for the UG (given the complexity of international data dependency it is unlikely the UG will be able to become data autonomous by itself)
– an analysis/photo of the current level of data autonomy of the UG (point of departure)
– establishment of a user platform that represents the user’s perspective in the drafting of the roadmap
– recommendations for follow-up steps in subsequent phases.

Responsibilities of the project manager:

– manage the project towards data autonomy
– identify, manage and facilitate dialogue with diverse groups of stakeholders inside the UG, but also on a national and international level
– translate customer needs
– ensuring proper reporting on the project for various groups: Steering Committee, Executive Board, grantors, faculty administrators, Executive Board, etc.
– budgeting of projects (drawing up and monitoring)
– preparing and initiating proper decision-making by the steering committee of the project.