2 Opportunities to become a Manchester Code Fellow

Manchester City Council is part of a European funded project Commons 4 EU which has just launched a Europe-wide fellowship programme “Code 4 EU”, which aims to place talented developers and creatives in 5 cities across Europe to help develop new and innovative digital applications and services.

In Manchester we will have 2 “fellows” and will be interviewing in mid-December or early-January. Fellows will be paid on a freelance basis and the fellowship will take place during 2013, and fellows must be able and willing to travel to a range of training and mentorship events as part of the fellowship, beginning with a 3-day induction and team building session in Barcelona in January 2013.

We can now confirm that one fellow will be primarily based with Transport for Greater Manchester and the other fellow will work with Manchester Art Gallery and the city’s Museums and Galleries Partnership. 

Please read about the fellowship here -, find out about the city calls including Manchester here, and apply online with a CV and examples of your work here.

Our colleagues at NESTA have also announced a fellowship, based in London, as part of this programme – with more details here.

Overview of the Manchester Fellowship

Duration:

9-12 months, part-time (60 days plus training in Barcelona and elsewhere, travel, accommodation and expenses paid.) The placement will take place between January and December 2013.

Num of fellows:

2 developers

Salary:

£200 per day for 60 days work = £12,000

Organizing host:

Manchester Digital Development Agency (www.manchesterdda.com) which is part of Manchester City Council. You will be employed by Manchester City Council on a freelance basis.

Fellow 1

Will be working with Transport for Greater Manchester. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is responsible for implementing local transport policy. They are looking for an innovative and enthusiastic individual who can use transport data to deliver something that is cutting edge, sustainable and benefits commuters.

Fellow 2

Will be working with Manchester Art Gallery on behalf o the Manchester Art Galleries and Museums consortium. Manchester Art Galleries are keen on working with a develop to be creative around their collections, and how young people and others can have improved access to their collections and resources online and in the venue.

Description: We are looking for enthusiastic people with knowledge and experience of front-end web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.), scripting languages (PHP, Ruby, Python, etc.), data formats (XML, JSON etc.) and “back end” technologies such as database systems (MySQL, MongoDB, etc.) and web servers.

Developers should be able to work proactively, have a good level of spoken and written English, and a willingness to engage with public sector staff and with young people on both a technical and non-technical level are important. Each developer will be placed within a different public sector host organisation (to be confirmed) to work on a range of projects during the period of the placement, therefore creativity and self-reliance are important.

Closing Date for Applications:

CLOSING DATE NOW EXTENDED TO SUNDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2012

Interview Date:

To be confirmed, but probably 9-11th January 2013

How to Apply

Online application – a single application procedure for all the city fellowships. If you are interested in the Manchester fellowship then please tick the appropriate box when you complete the application.

Please apply here.

Further information:

Adrian Slatcher, Senior Digital Development Officer, MDDA, a.slatcher@manchesterdda.com
Frequently Asked Questions about the Manchester Fellowship.

Where is it based?

You will have an office space in Manchester, either with the Manchester Digital Development Agency or with one of our public sector partners.

What equipment will be provided?

We will expect fellows to have their own laptop, but access to the necessary networks and systems will be provided, and server space for development, and appropriate development tools as necessary. If there are any special requirements of each placement, or for each fellow then we will discuss this on appointment.

What travel will be required?

This is European project, based across 5 cities, and the “fellows” will form a peer group. Fellows need to be willing and able to travel as part of the project. The travel, accomodation and expenses will be covered for this fellowship in line with Manchester City Council procedures. A valid passport, and right to work within the European Union are required. The fellows would need to be available to travel to Barcelona during the week commencing 21st January 2013. Further travel during the course of the fellowship is also likely.

What will I be working on?

We are currently identifying partners in the city who have particular projects to be worked on. The fellowship will involve you working with the partners and agreeing a development time schedule and project plan. These are likely to be in the area of neighbourhood and locative services, and applications for transport, culture and young people.

Criminal Records Check

As part of the fellowship we will be wanting the fellows to be involved with the Young Rewired State project working with young coders. Fellows should therefore already have, or be willing to undertake a CRB check, which will be paid for by the project.

I’ve already got my own business, can I apply?

Yes. We have structured the fellowship as a “part time” placement in order that it might appeal to developers who are working on other projects or freelancers.

Do I need to be based in Manchester?

Although the fellowship is part-time it is important that you are working with partners and as part of the fellowship there will be opportunity to be involved with a number of community hack events in Manchester during the year. Therefore, although you do not need to be based in Manchester, you will need to work in the city during the course of the placement.

I am applying from outside the UK

You are very welcome, however, in line with the other fellowships, we are unable to pay travel to interview costs.

Posted on: November 23, 2012.