IOSH
Job Description
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Job details
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Post A: Senior Developer – web applications
Post B: Senior Developer – data and business intelligence
Post C: Senior Developer - learning systems
Information Systems Department
Head of IS
Leading software development programmes
Leicester
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£36,000 to £48,000 per annum
TBA
April 2015
Job purpose
To act as lead senior software development programmer for major projects including undertaking
requirements definition, functional and systems design, implementation and overseeing release of
software into production.
To manage a portfolio of smaller developments, managing small project teams whilst balancing
priorities between new functional development and maintenance of existing software.
Post A – Web Solutions: will be responsible for the development and maintenance of a portfolio of
customer facing, complex, multi-tiered web applications built on ASP.NET / MongoDB/Sitecore
platform. They will work closely with the marketing web content teams and ensure a fantastic user
experience for IOSH members and web visitors through personalisation.
Post B – Data architect: will be responsible for the data architecture and data integrity across all IOSH
applications. They will lead on the design and implementation of our ‘data layer’ ensuring complete
rigour and integrity of our data systems, integrating multiple data sources and providing a suite of data
mining and business intelligence tools.
Post C – Learning Systems: will lead on the development of the IOSH Learning and Knowledge
Platform which will provide controlled and flexible access to all of IOSH knowledge and learning, and a
key platform for the global expansion of IOSH.
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Key result areas
Reporting to the Head of IS, the role will –
Portfolio Leadership and Ownership
1. Take complete ownership of a key part of the overall project portfolio and will proactively lead the
definition and development of this. Ownership will include working across the business to
champion the portfolio, to understand and negotiate how it should evolve, and to be accountable
for its fitness for purpose across the operating divisions;
2. Lead on the technical evolution of the portfolio – leading the design, being accountable for the
software and data architecture and for the quality standards of the products – including
performance, reliability, integrity and usability.;
Application development
1. Develop functional specifications for software solutions, working from requirements developed by
the Business Analyst, and supporting the Business Analyst in refining those requirements into
achievable definitions.
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2. Undertake software design for new software components and for modifications. Define and agree
design criteria and principles, use industry practice to ensure software is designed to achieve
performance, integrity, resilience and usability;
3. Review software design and functional requirements against 3rd party software availability and
provide objective evidence to support ‘build or buy’ decisions;
4. Develop software to meet designs and to meet agreed standards. Software must be of high
quality, subjected to extensive module test.
5. Integrate applications with each other and the website ensuring that data integrity, performance
and security is maintained. Integration will include but will not be limited to the Sitecore product,
the CRM business intelligence and data layers, and emerging software including the Learning and
Knowledge platform.
6. Identify and develop background processes necessary to provide support for interfaces with other
systems.
7. Maximise application performance working to defined best practices.
Quality Assurance Standards
1. Be aware of both membership sector trends and technology and industry trends relevant to the
portfolio, and will be required to proactively push and promote these within IOSH.
2. Create and manage standards such as coding (commenting, naming conventions etc.), application
quality, life cycle management, software architecture, testing, release cycle, code repositories and
deployment.
3. Be responsible for helping to plan, design, develop, test, debug, and deploy applications.
4. Adhere to agreed SLA for product development, maintaining development and data quality
standards.
5. Work with the Business Analyst, end users and other development team members to modify
existing and design new technical solutions.
6. Work with the relevant teams in defining success and quality criteria and plans for systems that
may impact or change new/existing processes.
7. Assist organisational personnel who test, evaluate and validate new functions and applications,
ensuring the business needs and processes are met.
8. Identify issues and impacts in new projects delivering software or services whilst counselling and
advising users on system capabilities and processes.
Team management
1. Give the business teams control over their systems without IT intervention, support global
businesses with Multilanguage support, promote sharing of content between businesses.
2. Manage small project teams responsible for creating and delivering applications in line with
IOSH’s project time line (working to project management methodologies).
3. Ensure that multiple staff can support specific systems to provide a resilient effective development
service.
4. Coach and assist junior IS staff in developing new skills and competencies.
General Duties
1. Work collaboratively with all stakeholders, providing appropriate input and advice.
2. Support the Project Management Framework in driving forward the organisation’s projects and
process change requirements.
3. To act as a supporter and a catalyst for change for IOSH
4. To carry out any other reasonable duties within the remit of the role, as required by the Head of IS
or management.
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Experience, knowledge, skills and training
Qualifications and Knowledge
 Degree in Computer Science or equivalent - essential
 Extensive experience of software development in a professional capacity, meeting agreed
standards for quality, documentation, date and functionality – essential
 Significant experience of managing or leading a development team – desirable
 Working knowledge of online/systems health and safety aspects and DDA including security best
practice within software – desirable
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Understanding of legislative requirements e.g. PCI-DSS, Data Protection, electronic
communications – desirable
Experience of developing for mobile platforms
In addition, the following post specific skills are required:
Post A Web
 Significant experience of developing web applications using ASP.Net, MVC, JavaScript, jQuery,
HTML5, CSS3 and C# - essential
 Significant experience in designing the UI and exceptional user experience for web applications essential
 Experience of Sitecore Development/DMS with Sitecore Certification - desirable
Post B Data (all essential)
 Significant experience of data architecture (SQL, No SQL – MongDB and Hadoop) and database
design, with formal knowledge of data architecture techniques and models;
 Significant experience of business intelligence programming and data analysis tools and
techniques;
 Working knowledge of data integration and information mining tools – desirable
 Strong understanding of data security and data protection issues and techniques
Post C Learning systems (all essential unless stated otherwise)
 Detailed working knowledge of the Learning Platform marketplace, emerging technologies and the
key strengths and weaknesses of different approaches;
 Significant experience of developing software around and / or customisation of commercial
Learning Platform product;
 Significant experience of working with the integration of learning materials and knowledge content
into a Learning systems environment (knowledge of course and training materials structures and
construction – desirable)
 Knowledge of Enterprise Content Management Systems incorporating internal and external data
sources/systems - desirable
 Knowledge of Learning platform architecture and information architecture - desirable
Skills & Competencies (Essential unless stated otherwise)
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Excellent analytical, coding, and testing skills
Ability to quickly and accurately perform troubleshooting and repair of applications
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Ability to handle multiple assignments
Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills to communicate technical issues, understand
business and process requirements, and provide interactive demonstrations to client groups and
team members with the ability to influence at all levels
Ability to apply consistent attention to detail
Self-starter able to work from own initiative
Interest in enhancing skills and learning new technologies - desirable
Team fit is critical, we look for a positive can do attitude, a fun spirit, someone who is strong
technically
Strong situational analysis and decision making abilities - desirable
Customer focus - essential
Highly reliable, trustworthy, honest, and commitment oriented - desirable
The job-holder will also be expected to demonstrate IOSH’s STAR competencies, relevant to the
level of the role.
Post A Web
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ASP.NET, MVC, JavaScript, jQuery, HTML5, CSS3 – essential
Web services/API, MS SQL Server 2008 and above, MongoDB, Software specification and design
– desirable
Post B Data
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Experienced in SQL, No SQL- MongoDB and Hadoop technologies
Post C Learning Platform
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Ability to safeguard information security
Training
 Managing Safely and Manual Handling courses are obligatory for all new managers.
 The job-holder should be willing to undertake any relevant training/qualifications necessary.
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Job context
Within a small business systems team of 6-8 staff, the job-holder will lead on a specific area and will
be expected to bring real insight, thought and drive to ‘their’ portfolio.
The postholder will be expected to play a major part in establishing and reviewing ways of working,
overall design and policy, choosing and evaluating development tools and platforms and setting
standards for all software development.
The job-holder will work within the project management framework and will manage and supervise the
work of programmers and junior programmes in their project teams.
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Job dimensions
The role is one of a small number of Senior Developers who will be key in the delivery of IOSH’s
strategic IS goals. This is a key appointment to ensure the successful implementation of an ambitious
IS strategy to upgrade the IS support both in the UK and the expansion of the international reach.
The job-holder is responsible for providing Application and online development, business analytics
and Business Intelligence to IOSH in particular the Head of IS and the management structure.
The job-holder is responsible for defining and adhering to standards which will be approved and
adopted by Mangers and EDT.
The job-holder will need to consult extensively across IOSH and will need to establish close working
relationships in order to understand business processes and requirements.
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Complexity and creativity
High level of technical skills in the development of functional specifications for products to meet
requirements.
Ability to define software architecture, define design criteria and design software to meet these criteria.
This requires a combination of formal computer science education and creating and analytical skills.
The interactions and integration between major enterprise level applications are inherently complex –
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the post holder will need to be able to understand these both from a design and from a diagnosis
perspective.
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Decision making
Recommend on major software architecture and design approaches;
Decide with peers on the selection of tools, techniques and development approaches and standards;
Choose between a range of conflicting possible approaches;
Determine when software is ready for release into production, when software should be withdrawn
and when a new amended release should be prepared;
Decide whether third party software solutions or components meet IOSH requirements and whether
they present a better option than in house design and build.
Ensuring that existing and new systems are efficient, cost effective, maximises technology and
focuses of the Institutions (customers and suppliers) needs.
Decide when to refer decisions and ensure consistency across IS approach.
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Key internal and external contacts
Internal contacts
All IOSH employees working on project delivery and providing assistance on matters relating to the
areas of responsibility.
Close working relationships with other provider teams eg web development and training is key.
The Management structure and users when recommending or implementing IS change at IOSH.
The job-holder will have contact with the volunteers and members working with IOSH in supporting the
information and online systems provided or accessed.
External contacts
The job-holder will also have contact with a range of external suppliers, for example:
 Software suppliers
 Development and Design agencies
 Training providers
 Consultants
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