Established in 1964, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species.

The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyse action for biodiversity conservation and policy change, critical to protecting the natural resources

“The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List tells us where we urgently need to do something to prevent the despoliation of this world. It is a great agenda for the work of conservationists.” – Sir David Attenborough

In this role you will have the privilege to lead the development of the core software application that is the backbone of the Red List - the Species Information Service (SIS). You will be required at all stages of the project lifecycle from collaborating on initial designs with our partner UI/UX consultant to hiring a team and engaging with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver the next generation of SIS. There will also be plenty of opportunities for to get stuck in with hands-on software development.

This role would ideally suit a candidate that is passionate about addressing the biodiversity global crisis, who has experience in hiring and managing software engineers and write code to deliver robust and reliable software.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES

As the Lead Software Architect, you will be at the forefront of the technical development of the next generation of a strategic IUCN project. You will lead an engineering team, providing both strategic and hands-on technical leadership to shape the architectural direction of the platform. Your role is pivotal in ensuring the technical excellence, scalability, and reliability of a brand-new platform and its maintenance in the future.
You will collaborate closely with stakeholders from across the world to deliver a top-quality product.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Architectural Leadership

Working closely with the Red List Systems Manager and other members of the Conservation Informatics team, defining the overall architecture of software products, including the technology stack, integration patterns, and deployment strategies.
Establish and enforce technical standards and best practices for software development, ensuring high-quality code and effective use of technologies.

2. Team Management

Hire, lead, mentor, and manage an engineering team, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
Facilitate professional development opportunities for team members to enhance their skills and career growth.

3. Technical Strategy and Planning

Develop and communicate a clear technical vision and roadmap for managed software products.

4. Project Management

Oversee the technical aspects of the project lifecycle, from initial concept through to delivery and maintenance
Ensure that all technical deliverables are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

5. System Design and Implementation

Lead the design and implementation of key system components, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and secure.
Ensure that the system architecture supports modularity, extensibility, and maintainability.

6. Quality Assurance

Implement and maintain rigorous testing and quality assurance processes to ensure the reliability and performance of software.
Conduct code reviews and enforce quality standards across the development team

7. Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Stay up to date with emerging technologies and industry trends and integrate relevant advancements into the software products.
Continuously evaluate and improve development processes, tools, and practices to enhance team productivity and product quality.

8. Documentation and Training

Ensure comprehensive documentation of the system architecture, design decisions, and operational procedures.

9. Compliance and Security

Ensure that all the software complies with relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Implement robust security measures to protect data integrity and privacy.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will be responsible for managing a small team of 3 junior to mid-level developers. It is likely that the position will also be responsible for managing external contractors if/when the project demands external skills and experience.
The post holder is required to delegate and co-ordinate day-to-day software development and infrastructure engineering tasks with other members of the team.