Head Data Scientist Remote
Job description
Location: Remote Europe with regular travel to the UK (see details)
Salary: €53,000 including 8% holiday pay if you are based in the Netherlands.
Hours: 40 hours per week
Responsible to: Innovation and Technology Director, MapAction.
The Opportunity
Are you a Data Scientist who wants to have the opportunity to take on their first leadership position? Do you want to make a difference without the complexity of managerial responsibilities and lead MapAction's Data Science Lab?
MapAction has a unique opportunity for a Data Scientist looking for their next challenge in a fast-paced and dynamic humanitarian organisation. We’re looking for someone who can design and develop innovative tools that will make an impact not just at MapAction, but also for our partners in the humanitarian sector.
We are in the process of developing solutions to address the complex challenges facing the humanitarian response sector. Our aim is to adopt appropriate Data Science solutions to enable our partners and volunteers to engage with Anticipatory Action mechanisms as well as Disaster Risk Reduction projects. To this end we implement tools and processes that make complex data analysis accessible.
These tools will enable more effective mapping and data analysis, and allow us to draw valuable insights that will increase our ability to be prepared for emergencies, solve geospatial challenges, increase resilience, and more effectively coordinate relief efforts. These tools will ultimately allow MapAction and its partners to better support early action and emergency response activities. We are aiming to make vulnerable communities more resilient and to prepare those partner organisations that work with them to act as early as possible to prevent or at least minimise the effects of common hazards.
This is an opportunity for the right candidate to use their skills to make a real difference in a fascinating and rewarding sector. This role will involve working closely with our technical team and our emergency response team to help bring together a streamlined, cohesive set of products that will influence decision-making at the highest levels of humanitarian response and help save lives.
MapAction
MapAction is a leading humanitarian mapping charity delivering information services and products to enhance decision making in disasters and conflicts. In collaboration with our partners, this mapped information helps responders understand vulnerabilities and target their response effectively, contributing to saving lives and minimising suffering. We work through a team of skilled volunteer professionals and a small paid staff team.
We have built a strong reputation in the humanitarian sector and are a technical partner of the United Nations, Non-Government Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, the Red Cross, Red Crescent Movement, regional entities and national authorities.
The humanitarian sector is evolving, and technical expertise such as data science, GIS, mapping, information management, data processing and visualisation are becoming increasingly utilised for improving decision making in complex humanitarian response. MapAction and our partners are uniquely positioned to provide technical expertise in support of this.
The Innovation and Technology function ensures the continuous improvement through innovation on the areas of Data Science, Software and other technology-based opportunities.
The function comprises an Innovation and Technology Director (focusing on the leadership of the function and infrastructure for the charity and operations), Head of Software Development (focusing on technology development that evolves the service offer), Senior Systems Engineer (in charge of infrastructure and systems integration) and IT Support Engineer (focusing on IT support tasks).
Purpose
This role will continue to build MapAction’s data science portfolio of work, largely focusing on emergency response, disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action.
The objectives of this post holder are to:
- Lead the activities of the Data Science Lab, a space where a team of dedicated data scientists collaborate to carry on projects related to data analytics and data science.
- Communicate and share MapAction’s data-science work via internal training, conference presentations, and blog posts.
- Participate in development of project concepts and funding proposals.
- Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for innovation in MapAction's work, leveraging partnerships and a deep understanding of data science and data analytics.
- Foster and maintain collaborative partnerships with academic and scientific institutions as well as local organisations, in order to enhance MapAction's impact and expand its network of resources.
- Support MapAction teams in analysing and visualising data during humanitarian emergency responses.
- Undertake administrative duties as part of MapAction’s small staff team, such as attending regular meetings, contributing to personnel recruitment, developing training materials, and supporting the implementation of our MEAL framework.
Required
- 2-5 years of experience in data science and geospatial data analytics.
- Strong data editing, analysis and processing skills.
- Advanced programming skills in Python (numpy, geopandas, xarray, matplotlib, plotly, scikit-learn).
- Experience in data visualisation (using Python, R and/or PowerBi).
- Exceptional communication skills, in order to be able to convey complex concepts in a clear and understandable manner to people who may not have a technical background.
- Experience in understanding partner needs and requirements, in particular working with non technical clients.
- Self-motivated and organised; adaptable, resilient and solution-orientated.
- Great team player.
- Committed to MapAction values.
- Strong project management skills.
- Eligibility to work in the EU. We can not consider anyone living outside the EU. Ideally to be Netherlands based.
- Experience working with volunteers or volunteering for similar roles or organisations.
- Experience with GIS and software development.
- Humanitarian knowledge/experience.
- Knowledge of other languages (particularly French and Spanish).
- Teaching, training or capacity building experience.
- Experience with open source software.
- Practical experience with one or more of these: Google Earth Engine, PostgreSQL / PostGIS, Leaflet, MapBox, QGIS.
- Project management experience.
You will be part of an innovative team at an organisation that is making a difference in the world of humanitarian aid. With a far-reaching international network, MapAction is truly making a positive impact in the sector. We offer a social and flexible working environment, with space for free initiative and personal development.
Additional Information
The candidate must have the right to live and work in the Netherlands (preferred location) or in Europe and be able to freely travel to the UK. (MapAction is unable to consider candidates who do not already hold appropriate permissions). Taxes / holidays etc will be dependent on the country that you reside in.
The job holder will be required to regularly travel to head office in Chinnor, UK and attend MapAction weekend team training days through the year.
Flexibility and willingness to work outside office hours including evenings and weekends occasionally. In particular, training events will be scheduled for a weekend, once a month and this post needs to attend these events in the UK.
Note: this is an operational role in a small, highly specialised charity and an appreciation of, and affinity with the humanitarian purpose of the charity is essential, as well as a willingness to take up additional tasks outside of the normal role when needed
Equal Opportunities Policy
MapAction is an Equal Opportunities employer. All employees have a personal responsibility to promote and support measures designed to create a working environment which is free from harassment or discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, membership of the Traveller community or HIV & AIDS status. MapAction also positively encourages Women and those from the BAME community to apply.
How to apply
Please provide a CV and a cover letter that sets out how you meet the required competencies for the role. We are unable to consider any applications who do not include a cover letter as requested. All applications should be made via our website and GoHire. Deadline for applications is 23 June 2023 however we are running a rolling recruitment and will interview any suitable candidates as soon as they apply.
About GoHire
Revenue: Unknown / Non-Applicable
Size: Unknown
Type: Company - Private
Website: www.gohire.io
