Full Stack Web Application Developer

Full Stack Web Application Developer – NBN Trust Vacancy

Location: Fully remote, working from home, with some travel.
Contract: Fixed term to 31st March 2025, with possibility of extension.
Secondments and sabbaticals welcomed.
Hours: 35 hours per week. Flexible working available. We would consider part-time working (minimum 28 hours per week) for the right candidate.
Closing date: None.
Interview: Within 10 working days of your first enquiry.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a Full Stack Web Application Developer with extensive MVC experience in
developing database-centric web applications. While the lead developer will provide oversight,
you will be the sole developer working on the application. You will play a significant role in
establishing conventions, patterns, and development strategies that will result in a clean,
maintainable, and extensible codebase.

This application will serve as a template for all future web application development, so
getting it right from the start is crucial.

What we are developing

We are developing a multi-tenant data management web application for the biodiversity recording
community throughout Scotland. The application will enable Local Environmental Records Centres
(LERCS) and Recording Groups to collate and manage data, as well as generate reports using
their data holdings. It will also replace an outdated desktop application that is reaching the
end of its life.

About the Role

As a true full-stack developer, you will have solid experience across the stack, from setting
up the PostgreSQL database with row-level security to customizing the authentication framework
and implementing editable data tables on the front end. It’s likely that you’ve developed your
own web applications as side projects. Our application will be developed using the Grails
framework on Linux, so experience with Grails, Jakarta EE, or Spring is ideal. However, we are
also open to candidates with experience in MVC .NET or similar technologies who are willing to
quickly get up to speed with Grails. In such cases, we would expect you to have started
familiarising yourself with Grails if invited for an interview.

Essential requirements

• MVC frameworks (ideally Grails/Jakarta EE/Spring, but we would consider .NET, etc.)
• Database-driven web application development
• Database/schema migrations and data mapping
• ORM such as Hibernate
• PostgreSQL
• JavaScript
• Bootstrap
• Competent UX skills
• Linux and infrastructure setup

Highly desirable

• An understanding of biodiversity data, for example, Darwin Core Archive
• Knowledge of the NBN Atlas
• Experience with AWS, particularly EC2 and RDS

We understand that developers are not graphic designers, but skilled full-stack web application
developers should be able to create clean, functional data administration applications with
good UX. We use Bootstrap for our front-end styling.

The application will primarily follow the MVC pattern, though there may be instances where a
React component or similar can provide a better user experience for specific features. Please
familiarize yourself with HTMX if you aren’t already. While we occasionally use Alpine.js,
we’re open to other JavaScript frameworks that can facilitate rapid, clean development. What we
don’t want is verbose vanilla JavaScript or, even worse, jQuery.

We follow an iterative approach to development. Our business analysts have worked closely with
stakeholders to create a clear list of requirements. Some of these will be familiar web
application features, while others will require you to collaborate with the BAs to refine
details.

We have a happy path demo application available for you to review. It currently has an issue
with responsiveness, which you’re welcome to try and fix. We can discuss this further in an
introductory call.

You will liaise with:

• NBN Trust colleagues, including the BBD Team and Business Analysts.
• External service providers such as Amazon Web Services.
• BBD Partner organisations such as the LERCs and Recording Groups in Scotland.
• Other conservation bodies and stakeholders, for example at our annual NBN Conference and
  occasional stakeholder workshops.

We’d like you to be someone who’s passionate about making a difference, and who enjoys being
part of a team but is also able to work independently using your own initiative. You should
have excellent organisational, problem-solving and communication skills. Applicants must be
UK-based and eligible to work in the UK.

We can offer you:

• A meaningful role making a genuine difference for nature.
• Your place in a small, friendly, and mutually supportive team.
• Flexible, fully remote working with occasional travel. 28 days leave per annum.

The NBN Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we’re striving to create a diverse and
inclusive team.