
Web Application Developer
(Hybrid working opportunity)
Birds Canada is a science-based organization, dedicated to bird conservation. Every day, our thousands of caring donors, 70+ passionate staff, and 70,000+ outstanding volunteers are taking action to help us better understand, appreciate, and conserve birds and their habitats. Together, we are Canada’s voice for birds.
A non-profit, charitable organization (annual budget $9 million), Birds Canada was built on the enthusiastic contributions of thousands of caring members and volunteer Citizen Scientists. Data collected by Citizen Scientists, alongside targeted research projects, are used to identify significant bird population changes and help direct conservation planning.
Birds Canada’s Data Science and Technology branch, supports hundreds of research and monitoring projects focussed on better understanding the ecology, distribution and population dynamics of all bird species. The Data Science and Technology branch achieves this through two main platforms:
- NatureCounts (naturecounts.ca): NatureCounts aims to facilitate the handling of all Canadian avian data generated through Birds Canada’s programs, as well as through partnerships and data sharing. It consists of tools used for the collection, interpretation and sharing of avian data.
- Motus Wildlife Tracking System (motus.org): The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an international collaborative research network that uses automated radio telemetry to track small flying organisms (birds, bats, and insects). Motus answers fundamental research questions underpinning conservation and provides novel education on animal movement and behaviour, from local to global scales.
Data form the foundation of Birds Canada’s mandate to conserve wild birds. Therefore, robust data tools are mission critical. These platforms provide the technological tools to facilitate scientific research and monitoring; the analysis, interpretation, curation and communication of data for use by various audiences and direct conservation action.
Position concept
Birds Canada is hiring a web application developer. The position will be responsible for the development and maintenance of software applications, in particular web applications and APIs, used for the management of bird population and tracking data through the NatureCounts platform (naturecounts.ca) and Motus Wildlife Tracking Network(motus.org).
The web application developer, in conjunction with Data Science & Technology staff, will
- Develop and maintain application code (e.g. Java libraries, R packages, etc.) necessary for data interactions by staff, volunteers, partners and the general public,
- Develop approaches, APIs and web pages to incorporate data from external sources, and share data both within and outside the organization.
- Develop web based data visualization and exploration tools.
- Maintain appropriate documentation on created and existing applications.
- Ensure applications maintain appropriate levels of security and cyber-security.
- Maintain web servers and other application servers (e.g. Tomcat) required for normal operation.
Preference for the location of the position is at the British Columbia program office in Delta, BC, in a full time or hybrid format. Remote work elsewhere in Canada, or from our national headquarter in Port Rowan, are also possible.
Education
BSc in computer sciences, or a BSc in life sciences, with pertinent experience in web application development.
Experience
- Minimum 2 years of demonstrated experience in the following programming languages or platforms: Java, JSP pages, Java servlets, SQL language, as well as JavaScript and JQuery.
- Familiarity working with git version control and application deployment.
- Ability to work on multiple projects concurrently.
Assets
- Knowledge and interest in the life sciences (birds, in particular) and citizen science projects.
- Experience with additional standard programming languages (e.g. HTML, CSS, React Native, R, C++), would be an asset.
- English mandatory, French and/or Spanish would be assets.
- Database query optimization, working with large data sets and experience with Microsoft SQL Server.
- Familiarity with Linux Server Environments.
What Birds Canada offers in return
- Competitive salary ($60k – $80k CAD).
- Comprehensive health and disability benefits.
- A 5% RRSP matching after one year.
- Flexible/Remote work arrangements.
To apply:
Please submit your resume and cover letter in a single PDF document to Catherine Jardine via email: cjardine@birdscanada.org. We are looking to fill the position as soon as possible and will be holding interviews on a rolling basis starting Mid December 2022, so early applications are encouraged. We thank all applicants for applying, however, only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Birds Canada is committed to improving levels of diversity among its volunteers, membership, staff, and board to reflect the diversity of Canada. In an effort to do so, it is actively tracking and seeking to improve its ability to reach all candidates with job advertisements. Applicants belonging to racialized groups; who identify as Indigenous, LGBTQ+; or who have differing abilities are therefore invited to self-identify in their cover letter.
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