VacancyTitle: Web & Database Developer

The Vacancy

We’re looking for a Web and Database Developer to help us build, maintain, and evolve our key webservices and relational databases that support world-leading research, science, and operational excellence at the James Hutton Institute.

You’ll work across a diverse range of web applications, databases, APIs, and integration services — helping us deliver secure, reliable, and user-friendly digital experiences for staff, researchers, and external partners.

If you enjoy solving problems, building clean and efficient systems, and working in a collaborative environment where your work has real impact, this is a fantastic opportunity.

Main purpose of job:

The main purpose of the Web & Database Developer role is to design, develop, maintain, and support the organisation’s websites, web applications and databases, ensuring they are secure, reliable, and aligned with business and research needs.

The postholder is responsible for delivering high‑quality websites, web applications and databases, managing structured data, and enabling effective integrations between systems.

This role directly supports the technology strategy by enhancing user experience, improving data accessibility, and ensuring that web and database services operate efficiently, securely, and in compliance with organisational standards.

Main duties of post holder:

Web Development & Application Support

• Design, develop and maintain our websites (Drupal and WordPress), web applications and portals.
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve website related issues.
• Maintain our web analytics platforms (Google analytics, Search console, Tag Manager)
• Support the maintenance and development of research‑related applications

Database Development & Administration

• Maintain a small relational database estate to support our science and staff. (Oracle, SQL Server)
• Optimise database performance, indexing, and query efficiency.
• Ensure data integrity, security, and availability of our databases
• Support Lifecycle management of database systems.

GIS and Web Mapping Services

• Support the maintenance of ArcGIS Enterprise servers and managing upgrades and patches.
• Managing ArcGIS cloud presence, user roles, and publishing web mapping services and apps for internal and external audiences.
• Handling spatial data supply (Ordnance Survey) and ensuring datasets are updated and accessible to GIS staff.

Security, Compliance & Quality

• Implement secure coding practices and vulnerability remediation.
• Support incident response activities as part of the Cyber incident response team (CIRT).
• Work closely with the Security and Infrastructure team to ensure our websites and databases are kept UpToDate.
• Contribute to business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
• Act as the point of contact for ensuring web and database security

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with the wider technology team and science groups.
• Translate user requirements into technical solutions.
• Provide technical guidance and support to colleagues and end‑users through our ITSM portal.
• Identify opportunities to improve performance, resilience, and user experience.
• Manage relationships with third party vendors and service provides.

Project Delivery & Continuous Improvement

• Take a lead role in the delivery of web and database related projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams throughout the organisation to identify evolving development needs and implement solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve performance, resilience, and user experience of web services and databases.

Vendor Management

• Evaluate and manage relationships with third party vendors and service providers.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

	Essential	Desirable
Attainments:
Education / Qualifications	Diploma or Degree in a technology discipline or equivalent demonstratable experience.	Certification in web development Certification in database management
Experience:	Experience developing and maintaining websites Experience in database design and management	Experience of all aspects of the software development lifecycle. Experience working with GIS applications
Skills:
Technical	Core Web Technologies HTML CSS Java PHP Drupal / WordPress CMS	Front-End Development UI/UX collaboration and implementation CSS Framework and Libraries Front-end design
	Back‑End Development Server‑side development (PHP, Python, .NET) API integration Authentication and authorisation	GIS Software & Platforms ArcGIS (ArcGIS Pro) Web GIS and interactive mapping solutions administration Spatial database administration
	Databases & Data Relational databases (MySQL & SQL Server) Database design and query optimisation Oracle database administration
	Security Security hardening for websites and databases Patch management and vulnerability remediation
Personal	Proactive, curious, and eager to develop deeper developer expertise Ability to prioritise workloads effectively	Ability to deliver projects to a high standard and in budget Experience in extracting and specifying complex application requirements
	Proactive attitude to resolving issues
	Meticulous and accurate in completing work assigned to them
	Ability to work as part of a small agile team
	Strong technical documentation skills
Motivation	Enthusiastic and positive in the workplace, self-motivated Able to overcome significant challenges while remaining positive and committed to the task in hand
Other skills (please specify)	Willingness to work as part of the internal Cyber incident response team (CIRP)
Other requirements (please specify)	Willingness to travel to our other sites (only required in exceptional circumstances)

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity

We will not consider the use of 3rd party recruitment agencies for the sourcing of candidates for this position.

The James Hutton Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The James Hutton Institute is a: Stonewall Diversity Champion; Athena SWAN Silver Status Holder; Disability Confident Committed Employer and a Living Wage Employer.

The James Hutton Institute is Happy to Talk Flexible Working.