The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is a multilateral initiative designed to facilitate access to and sharing of data relating to the world's biodiversity via a global network of institutions and organisations. The Secretariat has designed and operates a Data Portal (http://data.gbif.org/) that facilitates access to these data. Today, this Portal provides access to more than 150 million specimen and observation records provided by more than 3,000 datasets.

Within a strategy to expand our Informatics capacity, the GBIF Secretariat is seeking two motivated and experienced software developers to be based at the Secretariat in Copenhagen, Denmark. These software developer posts are an exciting opportunity to work in a multi-cultural organisation on a major global, open-source information system project.

The GBIF Secretariat Informatics team is responsible for the development of the Data Portal as well as the infrastructure to support a distributed network of data providers and users worldwide. This critical role covers the development of standards, tools and services allowing data providers to discover, share and index their data, in response to multi-stakeholder needs.

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Informatics, these posts are to expand our general Informatics capacity and in particular to work on:

• maintenance and improvement of the GBIF Data Portal interface (searching, browsing, and downloading functionalities);
• improvement of the existing distributed information retrieval and indexing system;
• development of new global discovery services (e.g. metadata, names, nomenclatures);
• development of new applications and services responding to a variety of scientific needs in close collaboration with expert communities (e.g. 2010 Biodiversity Targets, Climate Change, Invasive Species);
• management of existing and future core Secretariat services and databases.

Minimum qualifications and experience:

• University degree in an IT subject or in an area with specialisation in software development. Master degree is desirable.
• Minimum 2 years experience in all aspects of software development and/or development of web applications using Java technologies.
• Working knowledge of Hibernate, Spring and familiarity with the Maven build environment.
• Working knowledge of XML technologies, particularly XML schema, XPath and XSLT
• Strong experience in SQL and experience of Mysql or Postgres environments.

Desirable expertise:

• Knowledge of standards and protocols developed by the Taxonomic Databases Working Group (TDWG).
• Knowledge of GIS/Mapping solutions, particularly based on open standards.
• Knowledge of semantic web applications using RDF and OWL.
• Knowledge of other programming languages such as PHP, Python, Perl.
• Aware of challenges associated with the management of large database environments.

Skills and abilities:

• Fluency in English, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to integrate in a multicultural environment.
• Self-motivated and able to contribute constructively to a multi-task environment.
• Self-organised, good abilities in priority setting and problem solving, ability to manage multiple priorities at the same time, while meeting tight deadlines.
• Keen to take responsibility for the overall success of the products worked on.
• Superior client orientation and service approach.

Terms and conditions and further information:

• These posts are available for an initial period of up to 3 years starting in August 2008 or as soon as possible thereafter.
• Due to its diplomatic status the Secretariat GBIFS offers an attractive remuneration package.
• Further information about GBIF can be found on http://www.gbif.org

Applications:

A cover letter of application (responding to the required qualifications and competencies) and curriculum vitae in English with names and full contact details (phone, fax and email) of at least three referees should be sent to javadevelopers@gbif.org.

Closing date: 28 July 2008.

Further enquiries could be addressed to: javadevelopers@gbif.org.

All received applications will be acknowledged; but only short listed applicants will be further contacted.