TalkingBirdsTheatreCompanyisseekingacreativetechnologist–aprogrammer,webdeveloper,creativethinker,collaboratorandallroundsupertechnogenius.

Weareasmallcompany,withbigideas–likeourDifferenceEngineaccesstool,whichissettorevolutionisethecreativepossibilitiesofaccess.Wearelookingforsomeonewhosharesourvision,ambitionandenthusiasm–andwhocanbringnew,technical,strengthstowhatwedo.

Thisisanopportunitytoworkonawidevarietyofnewcreativetechnicalprojects,withinasmallbuthighlymotivatedcreativeteam.It’sachancetoreallymakeamark–withinthecompanybutalsointhefieldsofcreativityandaccess–onwhatisagroundbreakinginitiativewithnationalimpact.

Youwillhaveexperienceinthedesignofnewapps,websystemsandfeatures,withexperienceofJava,Python,PHP,Javascript,Java,iOS(ObjectiveCorideallySwift),HTML,CSS,Apache,Linux,andframeworkssuchasPylonsandJQuery.Youwillhavestrongtechnicalskills,andanenthusiasticapproachtolearning.

Theroleishighlytechnicalandthetechnologiesemployedaresubjecttocontinualinnovation–soyou’llbesomeonewhokeepsup-to-datewithdevelopmentswithinthesector,andactivelyseeksoutnewwaysofdoingthingsbetter.

www.talkingbirds.co.uk @birdmail

Resident Technologist Job PackMay 2016

Post title: ResidentTechnologist

Responsible to: Co-ArtisticDirector(JanetVaughan)

Salary: Salary:£23,000-£26,000PA Pluspensioncontributions

Hours of Work: Fulltime,37.5hours/week UsuallyMondaytoFriday,withsome flexibilityrequiredforevening/weekend workaccordingtoprojectneeds

Period of employment: Initiallyfor2.5years,ideallyfromJuly 2016.Withintentiontoextendthis, (fundingpermitting),potentiallytoa permanentpost. SeeTerms&Conditionsbelow

Job Purpose

Theimmediatepurposeistodevelopanddeliverarichsetofwebandinternetservices,tosupporttheCompany’sgroundbreakingcreativeaccesstool–theDifferenceEngine.Thisprototypeenablesthedeliveryofcaptioningandaudiodescription(andpotentiallymuchmore)topeople’smobiledevices–givingpeoplewhoaredeaf,hardofhearingorsightimpairedaccesstosmallscale,experimentalandsite-specifictheatre,fromwhichtheyhavepreviouslybeenexcluded.Webelieveit’samajorbreakthroughforthesector.Alotofothercreativecompaniesandpeoplewithsensoryimpairmentsagree,andwanttousetheDifferenceEngine–butweneedtomakesureitisrobust,andresponsivetouserneeds.WehavesecuredfundingfromthePaulHamlynFoundationforaperiodofbetatestinganddevelopment,andweneedanoutstandingtechnologisttohelpusrealiseallourambitions.

We’relookingforsomeonewhocansupportandcontinuetodeveloptheDifferenceEngine,butalsointhefuturecanworkonothercreativeprojectswithus-examplesofotherthingswemightwanttoexplorelongertermare:

• makingappse.g.locationlinkedactivities(e.g.followingapre-identifiedroute,triggeringpop-upsonanapp);appsthatwouldcollectdataandsendoutquestionsinresponsetodatagathered;appslinkinginto‘magicalobjects’(e.g.NFCenabled/ibeacons)• developinganevaluationtoolforchildrenwithspecialneeds,usingtechtoprovidedifferentwaysforthemtoshowenjoyment(we’restartingtoplaywithMakeyMakeyforthis,butwouldbegoodtodevelopasuiteoftools)

• integratingdigitaltechintoouroutdoorperformancework-e.g.portableunitswhichemitsoundthatchangesbasedone.g.howclosetothegroundtheyare,orhowclosetootherunits(somakingakindofbespoke‘symphony’aspeoplemovearoundinaspacecarryingthem)–wemightgetsomespecialistdevelopmentinput,butwouldthenneedsomeonewhocouldinstallandmaintainthese• someinteractivewebsitework-e.g.wearecurrentlydoingaprojectcelebrating70yearofCoventrytwinningwithVolgograd(Stalingrad)-andareinvitingcontributionstoa‘virtualtapestry’andwouldliketofindwaystoenableandcurateonline,creativesubmissions

What the job specifically involves

1. LeadingtechnicaldevelopmentandensuringmaintenanceofTalkingBirds’creativeaccesstoolTheDifferenceEngine,toprovidecaptioning,audiodescriptionandinduecourseotherfunctionality,includingthedeliveryofnativelydigitalartworks,tomobiledevices

2. Employingawiderangeofsoftwaretoolsandplatforms,including:Python,Javascript,Java,iOS(ObjectiveCorideallySwift),PHPHTML,CSS,Apache;Linux,andframeworkssuchasPylonsandJQuery

• Developingnewfeaturesonexistingprojects,undertakingexploratoryanddevelopmentalwork,andproposingtechnologicalsolutionsinresponsetoidentifiedneeds• Planning,designingandexecutingapplicationtestingandmaintenance,withinadevelopmentandevaluationframeworkdevelopedbythecompanyasawhole• Liaisingcloselywithusersandcreativepartnersinordertoensurethatprojectspecificationsareaccuratelydefinedanduserinterfacesappropriatelydesigned• Providingsupporttousersandpartners(includinginstallingsoftware,andtrainingoperatorswherenecessary)andansweringqueries• Workingonoff-the-shelfandcustomisableembeddedsystems(suchasArduinoorRaspberryPi)andsensorsandactuators• Maintainingprojectdocumentation

3. Workingeffectivelyaspartofacreativeteam,andhighlightingpossibilitiestofeedthewidercreativeprocessesofthecompany.

4. Designingnewappsandinteractivewebsystemsandfeatures,forusebyawiderangeofmembersofthepublic,includingpeoplewithsensoryimpairmentsorotherspecificneeds.Initiatingnewprojectswithaviewtolongtermmaintenanceanditerativedevelopment

5. UndertakingotherdutiesallocatedbytheCo-ArtisticDirectorasappropriate,withinthecontextoftherole

What you’ll need to do the job - Person Specification

Technical expertise• KnowledgeandexperienceofusingPythonandJavascript(Essential)• Knowledgeandexperienceofarangeofothertechnologies,suchasJava,iOS(ObjectiveCorideallySwift),PHP,HTML,CSS,Apache;Linux,andframeworkssuchasPylonsandJQuery(Essentialtohaveknowledge/experienceofsomeofthese-themorethebetter!)• Knowledgeandexperienceofpopularonlinetools(egWordPress),andbuildingmobile,accessible,mobile-adaptivewebsitesfromscratch(Essential)

• Abilitytoadoptnewtechnologiesandframeworksandtoapplythem(Essential)• Experienceofdesigninganddevelopingnewappsandinteractivewebsystemsandfeatures(Essential)

• AgoodhonoursdegreeinComputerScience(Desirable)

Other experience, knowledge and skills (Essential)

• Excellentcommunicationskills-writtenandoral-withtheabilitytotalktoarangeofpeople,understandtheirperspectives,andbuildrelationships• Questioningskills,withawillingnesstoaskprobingquestionsandtochallenge,withtheabilitytointerrogateideastoensuredecisionsontechnicaldevelopmentsarebasedonrigorousprocess• Problemsolvingskills,withtheabilitytothinklaterallyandfindwaystomakethingshappen• Abilitytoembraceon-goingchangeinapositiveway• Appreciationthatdiversitywithincreativeteamsmakestheresultingworkricher• Appreciationthataccessibilityisbestdesignedintothecoreofcreativework,ratherthanboltedonafterwards• Beliefinethicalandenvironmentallyresponsibleworkingpractices.• UnderstandingofHealth&Safetyissuesandacommitmenttothehighestpossiblestandardsintheseareas

Aptitudes (Essential)

• EmpathetictotheworkandapproachofTalkingBirds• Enthusiasmforartsandcreativityanditscapacitytoeffectpositivechange• Excitedbythepossibilitieschangebrings• Naturallycurious-interestedinallsortsofstuff,andwillingtoofferanddebateideas• Bright,enthusiasticandconfident• Flexibleandadaptable,witharecognitionthatjobdescriptionsnevercovereverythingthatcomesup-andtheabilitytoseethatasachallengeandanopportunity!

Terms and conditions

Thisisinitiallyatemporarycontractfor2.5years(fundedbythePaulHamlynFoundationandEsmeeFairbairnFoundation).Wehopetoextendtherolebeyondthatperiod,aswedevelopabusinessmodelfortheDifferenceEngine,andastherolehelpsustosecurenewfundingandcommissions.

Theroleisfulltime,basedonaworkingweekof37.5hours.WearebasedinCoventryattheInstituteforCreativeEnterprise,CoventryUniversityTechnoPark,andwouldexpecttheResidentTechnologist

toworkprimarilyfromhere.Giventhenatureofthecoreproject,therewillbeaneedforsomeflexibility,toincludesometravelwithintheUK,andsomeevening/weekendwork.Thereisnoovertimeallowance,butreasonabletimeinlieu(atatimeagreedwiththeArtisticDirectors),willbegrantedforexcesshoursworked.

Salarywillbeintherange£23,000-£26,000perannum,withanticipatedsalaryincreasesafterthefirstandsecondyears.ThecompanyisjoiningapensionschemefromJune2016,andwillpayemployercontributionsof1%risingto3%inyear3.Therewillbe25daysofpaidholidayperannum.Inaddition,thereisentitlementtotheusualpublicholidaysinEnglandandWales.

Therewillbeaprobationaryperiodof2months.

How to apply

Toapplyforthisposition,pleasesubmitaCVwithacoveringletterandastatement(max2sidesA4)settingoutwhyyouareinterestedinthisrole,howyoufeelyourexperience,skillsandaptitudesmeettheneedsofthisrole,andhowyoucanbestcontributetothetechnologicalandcreativeambitionsoftheDifferenceEngineandTalkingBirds.

Pleaseincludelinkstoanypreviousworkyouareparticularlyproudof,andtelluswhyyouareproudofthem.

Sendyourapplicationbyemailtojanet@talkingbirds.co.ukbymidnightSunday 17 June 2016.

Shortlistedcandidateswillbecontactedby29JuneforinterviewonWednesday 6 July 2016.

Wearecommittedtomakingourworkasaccessibleaspossibletoeveryone:ifyouhaveanyspecificaccessrequirementsorconcerns,pleaseletusknowandwewilldoourbesttomeetyourneeds.

Ifhavingreadthispackfullyyouhaveanyquestions(aslongasthey’renottootricky!)pleasecontactJanetbye-mailortelephonetheofficeon02476158330.

Contact:Janet VaughanCo-Artistic Directorjanet@talkingbirds.co.uk

www.talkingbirds.co.uk

@birdmail

talkingbirds