Technical Director

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About MapAction

MapAction (mapaction.org) is a leading humanitarian mapping charity. It deploys skilled volunteers to

international humanitarian emergencies to map priority needs. This mapped information helps responders

target their response effectively, contributing to saving lives and minimising suffering.

MapAction has built a strong reputation in the humanitarian sector and is a technical partner of the United

Nations. Much of that reputation is based on the well honed procedures and capabilities that the organisation

has developed in the production of static and digital GIS products for humanitarian responders.

The humanitarian context is changing and requires organisations working in the field of information

management and GIS to adapt to this, ensuring the needs for rapid and accessible information are met. New

technologies offer opportunities and challenges. It will be for this post holder to guide the organisation

through these.

The charity has attracted funding from UK Government (DFID), EU and other major donors. HRH Prince

Henry of Wales has been the charity’s patron since 2007.

The technical function provides support to the organisation’s internal institutional and operational capability

and ensures technical services are available to service users. The function comprises a Technical Director

(focusing on the leadership of the function and infrastructure for the charity and operations), Head of

Technical Development (focusing on technology development that evolves the service offer), and IT Support

Manager (focusing on IT support tasks). It works closely with technical working groups of volunteer software

and IT systems experts.

Main Responsibilities

You will lead all aspects of the organisation’s technical capability and innovation in order to enhance and

strengthen MapAction’s GIS/Information management service. You will ensure new technologies are

continuously identified and incorporated where relevant whilst maintaining the charity’s IT infrastructure. You

will enjoy doing this in partnership with the charity’s technical expert volunteers, relevant staff, outsourcing

contracts, working in partnership with others, and undertaking tasks where needed yourself.

This role combines strategic leadership, day to day management and hands-on responsibilities.

Direct Reports

- IT Support Manager

- Head of Technical Development

The role works closely with the organisation’s development and policy groups to help them deliver their key

activities. It also oversees the coordination between groups to ensure coherent prioritisation and tasking.

Key Activities

Strategy and operations

- Propose/lead the implementation of technical plans in support of MapAction’s five year strategic

objectives to achieve improvements in humanitarian outcomes through the application of geospatial

technologies.

- Ensure this makes optimum use of latest technologies where appropriate, including those outside

the areas which MapAction currently focuses on.

- Ensure that suitable tools, processes and training are in place to support the specific technical

challenges of field operations.

- Maintain full oversight of the technical infrastructure of the organisation to ensure that it provides

cost efficient and effective support to the volunteers, staff and trustees of the charity as they deliver

MapAction’s services, both in UK and other countries.

- Ensure the technical function supports the monitoring and evaluation processes for response,

preparedness and training activities

- Ensure the technical capacity of the organisation is resilient and lead on responsibility for disaster

recovery planning, risk mitigation and out of hours support to field operations, where relevant.

Innovation and learning

- Foster an environment which encourages and facilitates technical innovation, covering all aspects of

the innovation cycle.

- Depending on the nature of the tasks and projects identified, take on project management

responsibilities or delegate as appropriate. The Technical Director is expected to directly project

manage some projects whilst ensuring others are managed by other members of the technical

function. Within this the project management role will be responsible for convening the resources of

the volunteer circles and working groups, staff members and paid contractors. For technical

collaborations this may involve managing relationships with operational partners and contractors.

- Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of MapAction’s extant capacity as projects are completed,

under the guidance of and in support of the operations team.

- More broadly the Technical Director should keep up to date with developments in the external

environment and with industry innovation, building effective working relationships externally with key

stakeholders

Management

- Participate as a member of MapAction’s management team providing strategic leadership to the

organisation.

- Support direct reports to deliver on and excel in their roles

- Be responsible for the technical budget working closely with the Finance Manager to achieve this.

- Represent MapAction at events and on external working groups, projects and networks.

- Take part in donor relations activities and communications activities as required.

- If requested, deputise for the Chief Executive.

Volunteer recruitment, training and support.

- Ensure the volunteer recruitment process meets the charity’s technical development requirements.

- Support the Operations Director to uphold the volunteer team, ensuring that it possesses the

necessary technical skill to be operationally ready at all times. This includes participating in recruiting

volunteers and providing input into training events as required.

- Lead on the coordination of development activity between the volunteer Circles and Working groups

through the Heads of Circles/Working Groups regular communication.

As a team member

- Act at all times in the best interests of MapAction while continually promoting the vision and mission

within all sections of the community, as well as the media and/or at appropriate events as agreed

- As required assist with the practicalities of getting teams to and from airports for emergencies and

help with the logistics of training events. This responsibility is shared by all staff.

Key Competencies

- Proven technical leadership experience with a practical "get it done" approach

- Proven experience in Windows administration, including using commandline.

- Experience in delivering organisational infrastructure requirements, including risk management and

recovery planning.

Proven experience in all or some of the following

- G. Suite Administration (Google Apps for Non-Profits)

- Linux administration

- Scripting using Powershell or Python

- CKAN

- Wordpress administration

- Git and Github

- One or more public cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)

- Geospatial technologies.

- Demonstrable ability to evaluate technical options, including for new and emerging technologies.

- Experience in leading the development of technical strategy as part of a wider organisational team.

- Strong motivational qualities with volunteers and staff and experience in line managing personnel.

- Budget management and reporting experience.

- Positive team player and ability to work collaboratively.

- Strong commitment to MapAction’s mission and values.

Additional Information

- Must have the right to live and work in the UK (MapAction is unable to consider candidates who do

not already hold appropriate permissions)

- Flexibility and willingness to work outside office hours including evening and weekends, attending

monthly weekend training events and some evening conference calls with volunteers. In particular,

training events will be scheduled for a weekend, once a month and this post is expected to attend

these events. Reasonable time off in lieu is available by agreement.

- The post holder must have a full driving licence and access to own car.

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 Travellers community or HIV&AIDS status.

This job description is not incorporated in the employment contract. It is intended as a guide and should not

be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic

developments and following discussion with the post holder. The post holder will be expected to work to

agreed objectives, which should facilitate achievement of the responsibilities in accordance with the

performance review process.