Do you have experience in developing/managing large PostgreSQL databases in a UNIX environment and are you familiar with GIS and OGC standards? Do you have an affinity for soil-related and environmental issues? Can you cope with the dynamics of large projects in an international setting and deliver results on-time? Then we are looking for you!

Under guidance of senior staff, you will be responsible for the daily management and further development of ISRIC's World Soil Information Service (WoSIS). This large PostgreSQL database is designed to provide the world community with quality-assessed, standardised soil data to support modelling at (sub)regional and global scales. Besides contributing to WoSIS itself, you will gradually be involved in various international projects dealing with the generation of inter-operable soil information systems and the use of this information to support sustainable land use and improve soil health.

Would you like to know more about us? Please check out our flagship WoSiS/SoilGrids platform, ongoing collaborative projects , and virtual World Soil Museum.

Tasks:

• Daily management of WoSIS, including data ingest/screening and ultimate serving of the standardized data.
• At a later stage, technical development of WoSIS.
• Conduce efficient employment of open data standards in soil information.
• Provide support to selected ISRIC projects concerning relational databases and GIS.

• BSc or MSc degree in computer science/informatics, GeoInformatics or within Environmental Science with relevant experience/affinity with GeoInformatics
• Innovative mindset, open to integrate evolving procedures/tools into the WoSIS workflow.
• Affinity with data wrangling using scripting/programming approaches.
• Familiar with managing complex PostgreSQL/PostGIS databases
• Proficiency in using and administrating LINUX systems.
• Familiar with OGC standards and open-source SDI software.
• Willingness to travel when needed.
• Good command of English.

Desired:

• Familiar with mapping techniques, preferably in the context of Environmental Science.
• Awareness of technologies and infrastructure for data workflows on distributed systems (e.g. cloud)

A challenging temporary position for a period of 2 years with possibilities for extension. Depending on your experience, a competitive salary of between € 2.790,- and €4.549,- gross per month, for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Wageningen University CLA (scale 10). A part-time assignment of 4 days per week is negotiable. Applicants with non-Dutch citizenships may qualify for tax reduction over a period of 3 years.

You will work in a challenging and international working environment with a diverse, experienced and motivated team at a renowned institute in the field of soil information. While working at ISRIC you have ample possibilities to engage with researchers from Wageningen UR and their projects.

In addition we offer:

• possibilities to cooperate with users and clients from different parts of the world;
• ample possibilities to further develop your technical or personal skills, because we believe lifetime learning is important;
• 8% holiday allowance;
• a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent secondary employment conditions;
• flexible working hours and holidays that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• excellent ABP pension regulations;
• 232 hours of leave, the option to purchase additional hours, and good additional leave regulations;
• a choice model to partially create your own benefits package, which includes a bicycle scheme;
• a lively green workplace where it is easy to establish new contacts, and where many activities take place on Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research, and business are all represented;
• the opportunity to use the sports facilities on campus for a small fee.

Wageningen University & Research

ISRIC - World Soil Information (www.isric.org) has the mission to serve the international community with information about the world's soil resources to help addressing major global issues. We are the International Council for Science (ICS) accredited World Data Centre for Soils (WDC-Soils) since 1989 and maintain the World Soil Museum. In partnership, we operate in four priority areas: (I) standard setting for soil information; (II) production and serving of spatial soil information products; (III) education and capacity building; and (IV) development of derived products for specific user groups.

ISRIC is an independent foundation located at the Wageningen Campus with a strategic cooperation agreement with Wageningen University and Research (WUR).