Data Systems Lead

Global Canopy is a data-driven not for profit that targets the market forces destroying nature. We do this by improving transparency and accountability. We provide innovative open-access data, clear metrics, and actionable insights to leading companies, financial institutions, governments and campaigning organisations worldwide. 

Corporate Performance: A growing number of companies and financial institutions are seeking to mitigate their impacts on nature. But many have made commitments that are not being met, and others are failing to take any action at all. Through our Corporate Performance work and Forest 500 project, we assess the policies and performance of influential companies and financial institutions. Our newly launched Deforestation Action Tracker monitors financial institutions with significant climate commitments to track their action on deforestation and associated human rights abuses.

We also support financial institutions and investors by providing a suite of guidance including our Deforestation-free finance Roadmap, Pensions Guidance and our Deforestation-free investment mandate. And we support the finance sector, policy makers and other stakeholders by providing market-leading data on deforestation and ESG metrics through our Forest IQ project. 

The role: overview 

Global Canopy is seeking an experienced and effective Data Systems Lead at a moment of very rapid growth and ongoing opportunity for the organisation as we implement our 2023-2030 strategy to end market impacts on nature.

This newly created role is an exciting opening for a motivated individual with strong technical expertise to build out and support the expansion of Global Canopy’s world-leading environmental data into systems that will support our key audiences, particularly in the finance sector, to eliminate deforestation.

You will have a proven track record of effective planning and execution in a relevant organisational setting, and will be able to flourish in a collaborative and dynamic non-profit, working with complex programmes and partnerships worldwide.

You will line manage at least one other data team member as well as coordinating third party data and product service providers and the budget for engaging them.

The role will focus on the projects in Global Canopy’s Corporate Performance programme but will liaise closely with analysts, researchers and other data and product focused roles across the organisation.

To be successful in this role, these are the things that will matter the most:

• Demonstrated professional experience in developing and maintaining data systems. 
• Proficiency in SQL and Python; these are essential.
• A strong drive to contribute to our mission and a passion for sustainability.

Essential behavioural competencies: 

• Managing time across multiple priorities, projects and deadlines. 
• Engaging and developing good working relationships with multiple stakeholders.
• Attention to detail and quality.
• A problem-solving approach and ability to identify opportunities to improve data systems.

Desirable:

• An understanding of ESG data, nature-related data and/or assessment or disclosure initiatives.
• Experience with sqitch or other database change management systems.
• Experience in leading a team and/or managing direct reports.

At Global Canopy, we value diversity and inclusion. You can read our diversity statement on our website. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to having a team with a diverse set of skills, experiences and abilities. We are committed to reducing systemic barriers in our recruitment processes. 

Global Canopy works on issues of tropical deforestation. We are particularly interested in strengthening our team to include those with a background from forest regions such as Latin America and South East Asia. We welcome applications from people from these regions.

Global Canopy is an inclusive employer and accommodations will be made to allow anyone who requires additional support to apply for this role. Please get in touch with us if you require any additional support.

To find out more, download the recruitment pack or visit our website.