The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a charity founded in 1826, is a world-renowned centre of excellence for conservation science and applied conservation. ZSL’s mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. This is realised by carrying out field conservation and research in over 50 countries across the globe and through education and awareness-raising at our two zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, inspiring people to take conservation action.

The Institute of Zoology invites applications for a Senior Technician to manage complex datasets on wildlife species from cheetahs to parakeets. The Institute, based within London Zoo and affiliated with University College London, runs long-term research projects on a variety of wildlife species including cheetahs in Tanzania, African wild dogs in Kenya, chacma baboons in Namibia, hihi (stichbirds) in New Zealand, and echo parakeets, Mauritius kestrels, and Round Island petrels in  Mauritius. Each of these research projects has been monitoring individually-recognisable animals for over 15 years, offering a valuable resource for research, conservation, training, and education. As these monitoring datasets have grown longer, they have also grown more complex, including data not just on individual demography and behaviour, but also genetics, disease, animal movement and associated environmental metrics. We thus require a dedicated database manager to develop data management systems for each long-term study that will ensure systematic data collection in the field, effective data streaming to appropriate databases, and efficient data sharing with project partners and the wider scientific and conservation communities. This is a unique opportunity to participate in some of the most detailed long-term mammal and bird studies in the world.

The Zoological The database manager will work closely with the managers of each long-term study to assess the current data management needs and to produce an optimal data management system for each project. This will include designing, constructing and maintaining databases in SQL and migrating existing Microsoft Access databases to SQL.  As there are many cross-project similarities, solutions developed for one project are likely to be directly transferable. This will be achieved through time spent at IoZ with project managers and their associated teams and the opportunity to visit several of the long-term studies. The role will also include training project managers and other staff in the use, maintenance and modification of the relevant project-specific databases.

• Experience in the design and implementation of relational databases is essential.
• A high level of knowledge and experience of Microsoft Access, Excel and MYSQL is essential.
• Experience in the design and implementation of web-based applications is essential.
• A good knowledge of current cloud-based data storage options is essential.
• An MSc or equivalent in computing science would be desirable.
• Experience of dealing with large ecological datasets would be desirable.
• Experience of the analytical software ‘R’ would be desirable.

Please click here for a full job description.

Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why they want the position and including details of availability) and can do this by clicking the “Apply for this job online” button on the ZSL website. If you have any queries regarding this position or when applying through the system please contact Human Resources at hr@zsl.org.

Closing date for applications: 9^th April 2017.

For any informal questions about the post, please contact Malcolm Nicoll at malcolm.nicoll@ioz.ac.uk

The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.