The OSM Foundation has recently received investment from the Sovereign Tech Fund to ensure the stability, growth and modernization of OpenStreetMap’s core software. In this context we are looking for a OSM core software development facilitator who will help the growing team of developers of the OpenStreetMap core software to coordinate and organise their work.
Please submit your application to the OSM Foundation Personnel Committee at pc@osmfoundation.org. Include CV, cover letter, and/or examples of work as attachments. Applications will be accepted until January 21, 2025.
In the role of facilitator, you will help the developers with prioritising and organising the work around the software development for the core OpenStreetMap database infrastructure. The work is mainly centered around the openstreetmap-website project and its C++ implementation openstreetmap-cgimap but also includes smaller “satellite” projects for providing data dumps and updates.
Your role is to organise communication with the OSM community to ensure visibility on the development work and to establish a space for the community to contribute productively. You will be responsible for managing the budget assigned to core development work. In that you will work closely with the OSMF Engineering Working Group and regularly report to the OSMF board.
Scope of work / responsibilities
The facilitator plans, coordinates and contributes to
- taking stock of the current state of the core OSM software stack, state of development, current issues and possible future developments
- clarifying together with developers what expectations for contributions are and ensuring accessible documentation
- developing a light-weight roadmap plan as guideline for current and future contributors
- creating a space for volunteers from the developing and general community to contribute productively
- identification of areas where paid support can assist the volunteer developers
- hiring and supervising of one or more persons to take on a supportive maintainer role
- communication within the group of developers, with developers and maintainers from interrelated software projects, the OSMF and the OSM community at large
The facilitator will be expected to take a leading role in shaping these tasks in close collaboration with the existing maintainers and developers, to ensure a modus operandi that works for all involved.
Profile
The successful candidates should have prior experience in management in an engineering project. Ideally they have also some experience with
- participating in open source projects, as developers and/or in a managing role
- mentoring other developers and working with volunteers
- working with OpenStreetMap and its community
Good communication skills are essential and you should enjoy working with developers with many different backgrounds. You should be able to work independently and self-directed and be able to shape your own role within a group of highly motivated and engaged volunteers.
Employment/contracting structure
Location: 100% Remote
The STF project is expected to start in January 2025.
The facilitator position will be a contractor position and is funded for 2 years with a total budget of 175 working days. We expect the facilitator to be more active in the first year, when they get to know the team and projects. At the end of the funding period, the OSMF will evaluate the impact and benefit of the facilitator position and may decide to continue funding the role.
The person will work from their premises, and determine their own schedule. The OpenStreetMap Foundation is a global organisation; working with people in different time zones and handling related scheduling constraints is expected.
This post is also available in: Spanish
