Call for Applications: TDWG Architect and TDWG Project Manager --------------------------------------------------------------
Background ----------
The Taxonomic Databases Working Group (TDWG, http://www.tdwg.org) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, http://www.gbif.org) have received funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (http://www.moore.org) to undertake a review and modernization of the TDWG standards development process and to establish new support infrastructure and tools for its subgroups.
This project will take place over a two-and-a-half year period and includes funding for the following activities:
- Revising TDWGs activities to ensure that all data standards are managed according to well-defined best-practice processes - Establishing web-based collaboration tools to support the work of the TDWG subgroups - TDWG subgroup meetings to work on standards development - Developing software components and writing technical documentation to support the use of TDWG data standards - Developing standards and infrastructure for the use of globally unique identifiers in TDWG data standards - Establishing long-term support and funding for TDWG operations
The grant includes funding for two TDWG staff (an Architect and a Project Manager) to coordinate these activities and to manage the necessary contracts with software developers and technical authors. The TDWG staff will work closely with the TDWG Executive Committee, TDWG subgroup conveners, and GBIF Secretariat. The host location will be determined in part by the availability and suitability of candidates.
TDWG and GBIF are therefore issuing this call for applications for these roles. The positions have been designated as Architect and Project Manager, but the emphasis will be on identifying candidates who together will be able to coordinate the listed activities.
Requirements ------------
Since TDWGs mission relates to the development of biodiversity data standards for use in web-based applications, candidates are expected to show understanding of biodiversity informatics and of a wide range of the following standards and technologies:
- Familiarity with: - Either: TDWG standards (DiGIR/BioCASe/TAPIR data exchange Protocols; Darwin Core; Access to Biological Collection Data [ABCD] schema; Taxon Concept Schema [TCS]; Structured Descriptive Data [SDD] schema) - Or: standards development processes in other communities (e.g. IETF, W3C, OMG, (N)ISO, OGC) - Working knowledge of HTML, website development and management, and Internet-based collaboration technologies (including mailing lists, wikis, content management systems, CVS) - Application of information modelling methodologies (e.g., ERD, IDEF1X, ORM, UML) - Familiarity with XML (including XML Schema, XPath, XSLT, XQuery) - Knowledge of Web services (including SOAP, WSDL, UDDI), OGC Geography Markup Language (including Web Feature Service), Grid Technologies, and programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, PHP)
Candidates should also be able to demonstrate the following:
- Experience working as part of a team and promoting collaborative endeavours. - Skills in negotiation and management. - Inter-cultural communication skills, including a good command of English. - Familiarity with the theory and practice of biological taxonomy (or systematics) and nomenclature, biological collections, and of biological data management.
Prior experience in IT development and/or project management will be an advantage.
Candidates should be prepared to undertake international travel to attend working meetings and to represent TDWG at relevant workshops and conferences.
How to apply ------------
Interested applicants should send the following by e-mail to Donald Hobern, GBIF Programme Officer for Data Access and Database Interoperability (dhobern@gbif.org):
- Curriculum vitae - Description of how you fulfil the requirements listed above - Description of the strengths you can bring to the project - Indication of whether you would be able to relocate to take up the position - Benefits and salary expectation
The closing date for applications is 18 June 2005.
Interviews will take place in late June or early July.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Donald Hobern (dhobern@gbif.org) Programme Officer for Data Access and Database Interoperability Global Biodiversity Information Facility Secretariat Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark Tel: +45-35321483 Mobile: +45-28751483 Fax: +45-35321480 ---------------------------------------------------------------