About Us
Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron, a cutting-edge scientific facility engineered to produce exceptionally intense beams of X-rays, infrared, and ultraviolet light. These beams enable our scientists to explore a vast array of research areas, from the development of groundbreaking medicines and disease treatments to advancements in engineering and state-of-the-art technologies.
Now is an especially exciting time to join Diamond as we embark on Diamond-II, a major upgrade project that will integrate new accelerators with upgraded and innovative beamlines. This transformative upgrade will strengthen Diamond’s global reputation as a world-class facility, empowering us to tackle some of the most pressing scientific challenges of the 21st century.
About the Role
We are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity for a Senior Research Data Manager to help shape and support the development strategy for managing Diamond’s Data Archive. This role is part of the Scientific Information Management Systems (SIMS) group, focusing primarily on data management for Diamond-II. Effective information management lies at the heart of Diamond’s mission, providing scientists with vital tools to convert groundbreaking theories into real-world, often life-changing, discoveries.
The Data Archive, a critical element of Diamond’s software infrastructure, ensures the long-term preservation of experimental and analyzed data. It plays a key role in supporting our Open and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) Data program, which makes scientific data publicly accessible to foster collaboration and support future research endeavors.
With the increased data flow anticipated from the Diamond-II upgrade, we are modernizing our data archiving systems and policies to meet these demands. This enhancement will promote greater scientific knowledge-sharing and collaboration. As part of this rewarding initiative, you will have the opportunity to grow and develop your expertise within a supportive, world-leading science environment.
In this role, you will collaborate with a talented, motivated team in a dynamic and open environment. You’ll work extensively with Diamond scientists, translating their needs for scientific capabilities into data management policies and software requirements. Additionally, you’ll engage in international collaborations, contributing to the development of data management strategies that benefit synchrotrons and research facilities worldwide.
About You
To succeed in this role, you should have:
- A relevant STEM degree or equivalent professional experience.
- A genuine passion for data governance, stewardship, and lifecycle management.
- Demonstrable experience across the full Software Development Lifecycle.
The following skills and experiences are highly desirable, and we’ll provide training where necessary:
- Expertise in handling and managing large-scale data volumes.
- A proven track record of working with scientific data in academic or industrial settings.
- A strong understanding of modern data management principles.
- Experience contributing to and influencing international collaborations, particularly in the Photon and Neutron research community.
- Familiarity with FAIR data practices, including vocabularies, ontologies, Persistent Identifiers, and metadata schemas (e.g., DataCite).
- The ability to clearly communicate complex concepts to both specialized and non-specialized audiences.
- The capability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, working closely with software development and IT teams delivering scientific services.
- Excellent communication and analytical skills, coupled with the ability to translate scientific objectives into clear policies and software specifications.
As the Data Archive is publicly accessible, a strong focus on user experience (UX) and quality is essential for this role. A passion for supporting scientific stakeholders is equally important.
Benefits
Diamond is committed to supporting a healthy work-life balance and offers an exceptional benefits package, including:
- 26 days of annual leave, plus a Christmas closure, public holidays, and 2 volunteering days per year.
- Flexible working hours.
- An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
- On-site amenities, including a nursery, cafes, a restaurant, and sports and leisure facilities.
- A relocation allowance (if applicable).
This role offers a hybrid working arrangement, with a minimum of 3 days per week on-site.
To Apply
To be considered, please apply via our online application system, outlining why you believe you’re the right fit for this role.
Application Deadline: 9th November 2025
Interview Date: 19th November 2025