Senior Data Steward II - Transiter Project - 24 months

Department: Service

Employment Type: Fixed-term

Schedule: Full-time

Seniority: Experienced

Location: Luxembourg - Esch-sur-Alzette

Luxembourg National Data Service (LNDS) is a brand of PNED G.I.E. an organisation created by the Luxembourg Government, to implement Luxembourg’s strategies in research, innovation, and digitalisation. LNDS enables value creation from secondary use of data, for public and private partners and supports the sharing and re-use of public sector data, in a trustable manner. The LNDS service portfolio includes know-how, capabilities, tools, infrastructure, and data services. Through efficient & responsible use of data and improving the secondary use of data, LNDS will support the acceleration of economic, ecological, and societal transitions.
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The Senior Data Steward II contributes to LNDS’s mission to promote responsible, systematic, and impactful data use by supporting applied research and public policy initiatives. Embedded within LNDS Data Stewardship team, the role focuses on designing and coordinating data‑driven research activities, such as large‑scale surveys and mixed‑methods studies, and translating their results into actionable insights for public decision‑makers. Operating at the intersection of data, research, and public policy, the position combines methodological rigor with strong ethical and societal awareness, and involves close collaboration with public authorities, research partners, and multidisciplinary teams. The role requires a high degree of autonomy, leadership, and responsibility for the quality, relevance, and credibility of project outcomes.

LNDS is seeking a Senior Data Steward II to support a major national and European research initiative at the interface between data, public policy, and societal impact (Transiter project coordinated by the Luxembourg Institute of Socio‑Economic Research (LISER) and other partners including LNDS).

This is a senior, project‑anchored role, offered on a fixed‑term contract of 24 months, requiring a high degree of autonomy, external engagement, and responsibility. The role involves acting as a lead expert on applied research activities, data‑driven surveys, and policy translation, in close collaboration with public authorities and multidisciplinary teams.

• Design, coordinate, and oversee large‑scale quantitative and qualitative surveys and mixed‑methods research activities.
• Ensure the responsible, ethical, and policy‑relevant use of data, including considerations of social acceptability, legitimacy, and governance.
• Translate complex research findings and data analyses into operational tools, indicators, and actionable insights for policymakers.
• Act as a key interface with ministries, public authorities, and institutional partners, ensuring alignment between scientific rigor, administrative constraints, and political timelines.
• Represent projects in high‑level meetings, workshops, and public or policy‑facing contexts.
• Contribute to the preparation of policy briefs, reports, and presentations for decision‑makers.
• Coordinate work across multidisciplinary teams (e.g. researchers, data scientists, IT developers, designers, communication specialists).
• Contribute to project planning, delivery, and reporting in line with funding and governance requirements.
• Anticipate and manage ethical, democratic, and reputational risks linked to data‑driven policy instruments.
• Work closely with LNDS teams in data science, data engineering, information security, and legal/ELSI to ensure coherent and compliant delivery.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and best practices within LNDS in areas related to applied data stewardship and policy research.
• Contribute to other LNDS projects and initiatives, where relevant, by sharing applied research insights, methodological approaches, and stakeholder perspectives developed through the project, supporting cross‑team learning and collaboration.
• Ensure knowledge transfer and organisational resilience by documenting and sharing key project learnings, such as methodologies, stakeholder landscapes, and governance considerations, with LNDS colleagues through internal briefings, materials, or workshops.
• Coach less experienced team members.

• MSc or PhD in social sciences, environmental studies, political science, public policy, or a related field with strong data and methodological components.
• 10 to 15 years of experience including relevant ones in applied research, policy analysis, or data‑driven projects involving public authorities or institutional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Survey design and analysis (quantitative and qualitative)
  • Translation of research evidence into policy relevant outputs
  • Ethical, societal, and governance aspects of data use
• Proven experience coordinating or leading complex, multi partner projects.
• Strong writing skills, with experience producing reports, policy briefs, or guidance for non-academic audiences.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; French is an asset.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage multiple priorities, and operate effectively in politically and institutionally sensitive environments.
• Solid working knowledge of data analysis tools (e.g. R or equivalent).
• Familiarity with data governance principles and regulatory frameworks (e.g. GDPR).
• Comfort working at the interface between data, policy, and technology, without requiring deep software engineering expertise.