Checklist for a Generic Data Steward Job Description within ETH-Domain Institutions

This document provides a checklist for defining and adapting job descriptions for Generic Data Steward* roles within institutions of the ETH Domain.

It was developed as a deliverable of Work Package 3 (Vision for Data Stewards in the ETH Domain) within the Data Stewardship Network (DSN) project, funded by the Open Research Data (ORD) Programme for the ETH Domain.

The checklist outlines key responsibilities/tasks, skills, and qualifications relevant to Generic Data Stewards involved in research data management and open research data support. It is intended to support institutions, service units, and hiring managers in creating clear, consistent, and context‑appropriate role descriptions, while allowing flexibility for local organisational needs.

To support a shared understanding of Data Stewardship roles, the document includes an appendix comparing Generic and Embedded Data Steward profiles, based on definitions from the Swiss Data Stewardship Environment (SwissDS‑ENV). This comparison clarifies differences in scope, responsibilities, skill sets, and positioning within institutions, and situates the Generic Data Steward role within the broader Data Stewardship landscape.

*The term Data Steward is used to refer to a professional who provides support for Research Data Management. This role may also be referred to as Research Data Management Specialist, Research Data Librarian, RDM Support Officer, Research Data Manager or similar. titles, depending on the institutional context.

How to use this checklist:
This checklist is designed to guide the creation of a clear and comprehensive job description for roles related to research data and software management. It lists key responsibilities, skills, and tasks that can be selected and adapted to reflect the specific scope, level, and focus of the position. Choose relevant items from the list to ensure that the resulting job description accurately represents the required expertise, duties, and expectations.