Head of Informatics

The WCMC Informatics Programme has a strong reputation for creating engaging web-based applications to distribute, visualise and communicate important biodiversity data and analysis to global conservation actors.

Our products are used around the world by Governments, the UN, international foundations and wildlife conservation organisations to track the trade in endangered species, catalogue the world's protected areas via Protected Planet (over 230,000 of them to date!) and help end the illegal trade in apes. The Blue Carbon iPad app is also an important tool https://vimeo.com/144896975.

WCMC are recruiting for a Head of Informatics to manage and grow the team, which currently comprises of four Ruby on Rails developers, one specialist front-end developer, two designers (a junior designer and a digital UX/UI designer), a DevOps engineer and a Product Manager.  

The successful candidate will be an experienced, qualified and a proven leader with the ability to manage the Centre’s expanding portfolio of work on informatics, and to build effective links between the informatics activities and other facets of the Centre’s Programmes. The intention is to broaden the role with respect to becoming an internal informatics ‘agency’ for the centre, taking in more of a communications focus, whilst leading the delivery of Informatics work. You will lead the team to provide relevant, performant and user friendly web applications that enable our target audiences to access the Centre's products.

You will need a strong contemporary understanding of web development using open source technologies, and large scale database development (the CITES Trade Database holds over 18 million records), especially in relation to web applications alongside significant experience of developing and managing a web development team with multiple projects. Proven success in recruiting, developing and managing a team of people, whilst controlling finances and budgets is a must. In addition to being a keen team player with the ability to motivate and lead staff to high levels of performance.

We will provide you with the challenge of working on high profile conservation projects, where your work really makes a difference to the field of conservation in an area aligned to our strategic aims and broader global initiatives. In addition to training and development opportunities, we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including generous pension contributions. Please note this post may be eligible for a relocation allowance.

WCMC is a UK charity, based in Cambridge, which works in collaboration with UN Environment, under the banner of UNEP-WCMC.  Our mission is to evaluate and highlight the many values of biodiversity and put authoritative biodiversity knowledge at the centre of decision-making.  Since our establishment in the 1970s, the Centre has been at the forefront of the compilation, management, analysis and dissemination of global biodiversity information, and has an outstanding record of achievement.

If you are looking for a rewarding and challenging post where you can impress us with your contemporary web and database development, skills, whilst demonstrating excellent people management qualities, we want to hear from you. Please complete our application form and send it together with your CV and a short covering letter using the link below by 22nd May 2018.

WCMC is a UK charity, based in Cambridge, which works in collaboration with UN Environment, under the banner of UNEP-WCMC. Our mission is to evaluate and highlight the many values of biodiversity and put authoritative biodiversity knowledge at the centre of decision-making. Since our establishment in the 1970s, the Centre has been at the forefront of the compilation, management, analysis and dissemination of global biodiversity information, and has an outstanding record of achievement.

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