About Open Data Services Co-operative

Open Data Services aims to make open data useful, usable and in use. We work with projects that combine innovation and engagement to deliver sustainable social impact with open data. We work with transparency initiatives such as Open Active, Open Referral, 360Giving, Open Contracting, Open Ownership and the International Aid Transparency Initiative, providing tools and technical assistance to organisations across the world. 

To strengthen our work, we’re looking for people to join our interdisciplinary team, working with data publishers and users.

We are a workers co-operative. After a probationary period, workers have the right to become members of our co-op, jointly owning and running the business. We are a remote working organisation. We do not have a fixed office.

About you and the role

You will join our growing team supporting clients and partners working with data about human services and physical activities, through the Open Referral and Open Active initiatives, as well as exploring opportunities for this data to be put to use supporting social prescribing. 

Open Referral develops data standards and open source tools that make it easier to share, find and use information about health, human, and social services. Across the US, Canada and the UK, human service referral providers and associated software vendors use Open Referral to establish interoperability among data systems that help people find and use information about relevant services. 

OpenActive is a community-led initiative for the sport and physical activity sector. Publishing open data about where, when and what activities take place can make it easier for people to find and book activities online. OpenActive develops a standard format to publish and use data about activities.

There has been a lot of interest in how OpenActive and Open Referral can work together. Physical activity is important to health and wellbeing, and the growing interest in social prescribing, in the UK’s National Health Service and other health systems worldwide, offers one route to how these domains can be brought together. 

In this role you will work alongside colleagues and experts in partner organisations to:

• Develop an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of information needs in the domains of physical activity and human services

• Build and maintain relationships with current and potential clients, partners and users of human services and physical activity data

• Connect people and organisations, helping to forge new partnerships, collaborations and business opportunities across these domains

• Design, oversee and support delivery of data-related projects to improve social and health outcomes, and to help people get active

• Develop strategies for how tools, technology, standards and data can help improve outcomes in these domains and work to put these into practice

After your probationary period, you will have the option to become a co-operative member, and be involved in the running of the business: gaining a stake in its future, and the opportunity to develop new skills in co-operative business management.

Your skills

We are looking for people with skills in several of the following areas and the desire to develop in the others:

• Ability to form relationships with partners at all levels of organisations, predominantly in the UK and US, and to explain and advocate for the effective use of technology in achieving organisational and policy goals

• Ability to identify strategic opportunities for collaboration and business development through the development of specific projects and by building and maintaining a longer term vision

• Understanding of both the potential, and the limitations, of technology, data and standards and the ability to employ these in supporting clients exploring these areas

• Ability to oversee and support the delivery of projects and contracts, with a grasp of commercial, technical and human factors

• Ability to work with software developers, data analysts and other technical professionals to develop ideas in conversation with external partners 

All candidates should have:

• An interest in using technology and open data as tools for social change

• The ability to work remotely, and with online collaboration tools

• The ability to work and learn autonomously and in a team, prioritising a complex workload

Co-operative working

In addition to working on client projects, you will take part in shared decision-making and running the business. All candidates should have an interest in co-operative working, and expect to use their skills to help run the business as well as working on contracts and projects.

After your probationary period, you will have the option to become a co-operative member, and be involved in the running of the business: gaining a stake in its future, and the opportunity to develop new skills in co-operative business management.

Benefits

• We operate a flat rate of pay for all staff, currently set at £43,120 per calendar year. The Members (Directors) may also decide to pay all staff a bonus at the end of the financial year

• We provide a 4% pension contribution to our Workplace Pension scheme

• We will provide all of the hardware, tools and software required for the job, including a laptop or desktop computer and any equipment or furniture required for a safe and comfortable home-working setup. Staff are also free to use their own devices

• We will pay for a local co-working space if you don't want to work from home

• We offer a training budget of £1,000 and 5 paid days per year, and are committed to supporting staff development, training and conference attendance

• Our benefits package includes a health cash plan, group life insurance, generous parental leave, a health and wellbeing service that includes GP consultations and counselling, a cycle-to-work scheme, and an allowance for eye tests

Further details

• As we are a remote working organisation we will consider applications from anywhere in the UK. You must have the right to live and work in the UK

• Full time hours are set at 37.5 hours a week with 33 days' holiday (inclusive of bank holidays). We welcome applications for part-time working of 0.8 FTE and above. Around half our workers are part-time

• Within reasonable limits, we operate a flexi-time policy to support a good work-life balance

• This role will involve regular calls with international partners, which may require occasional early mornings or late evenings

• This role requires regular national and international travel. We are committed to the safety and well being of our members and employees and offer a range of support for employees, to ensure that work travel complements your life situation, particularly  during the ongoing pandemic

Next steps

You can start the application process by clicking on the apply button.

You’ll answer some questions that are related to your day-to-day job. After the job closes, your answers will go through our de-biased sift process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised and then scored by members of our team.

If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next step, which includes a remote interview. At the end of the application process, we'll provide some feedback and let you know how well you performed.

Interviews are expected to take place in September.

If we can do anything to facilitate your application please get in touch via jobs@opendataservices.coop. Your application will still remain anonymous to people involved in the hiring process.

We are an equal opportunities employer

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, belief, disability, gender, marital status, religion, race, sex, or sexual orientation, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled, ethnic minority and women candidates as these groups are underrepresented in our organisation.