With the focus on data stewardship and other research data management specialists, ETH needs to consider whether the current role descriptions, functions, employment conditions and trainings are suitable for ORD and RDM specialists and, if necessary, develop proposals for future career paths of ORD professionals and training programmes.

The ETH Domain ORD Programme currently is concerned with career paths of ORD professionals. Within Measure 5 “Career Paths for Open Research Data Professionals” a project will be launched under the direction of HR ETH Board together with the Heads of Human Resources of the ETH Domain, to

• identify and delineate RDM/ORD roles (i.e., with example job descriptions);
• estimate FTE distribution across institutions and units of roles in each category;
• assess how roles are effectively defined in terms of written job descriptions; perception of roles by staff, their managers, and internal customers; and
• identify the drivers of staff hiring, retention, and job satisfaction/engagement.

The project will make recommendations, to inform strategy and for operational guidance and advice re roles, career paths and training.