Research Computing and Data Capabilities Model

The capabilities model allow an institution to evaluate how well it supports various data and research requirements.

https://carcc.org/2020/07/09/announcing-the-rcd-cm-2020-community-data-participation-window/

What I found most interesting is what it refers to as the "five facings"

Researcher Facing Roles

Includes research computing and data staffing, outreach, and advanced support, as well as support in the management of the research lifecycle.

Examples: Research IT User Support, Research Facilitators, CI engineers, etc.

Data Facing Roles

Includes data creation; data discovery and collection; data analysis and visualization; research data curation, storage, backup, and transfer; and research data policy compliance.

Examples: Research Data Management specialists, Data Librarians, Data Scientists, etc.

 

Software Facing Roles

Includes software package management, research software development, research software optimization or troubleshooting, workflow engineering, containers and cloud computing, securing access to software, and software associated with physical specimens.

Examples: Research Software Engineers, Research Computing support, etc.

 

Systems Facing Roles

Includes infrastructure systems, systems operations, and systems security and compliance.

Examples: HPC systems engineers, Storage Engineers, Network specialists, etc.

 

Strategy and Policy Facing Roles

Includes institutional alignment, culture for research support,  funding, and partnerships and engagement with external communities. 

Examples: Research IT leadership 

Which, at the risk of sounding like a Myers-Briggs evaluation, seems to sum up nicely the important categories of staff in research computing.