IT Architect/Search & Knowledge Specialist

The European Patent Office (EPO) is looking for an IT ARCHITECT/SEARCH & KNOWLEDGE SPECIALIST to work in its Search and Knowledge directorate, located in The Hague (Netherlands), responsible for the implementation and maintenance of prior-art search strategies for 4 000 patent examiners and currently facing a unique challenge in creating an "automated search ecosystem" for patent and non-patent documents relevant for incoming filings.

The directorate is part of the EPO's Information Management (IM) department. IM has some 450 permanent staff, as well as a number of managed service providers, working on IT and information processing, with a professional and proactive focus on supporting the EPO's different business processes.

MAIN DUTIES
As IT architect at the EPO, you will

• proactively utilise your experience in the field to help take our patent searching to the next level
• apply state-of-the-art data-visualisation techniques for annotated search data, with access to one of the world's biggest structured text corpora: our in house patent collection
• design and implement visual and dynamic data representations and selection mechanisms for users to explore, navigate and comprehend the information contained in the EPO's patent data collection
• create visual solutions for search strategies derived from user behaviour by applying data science methodology
• simulate and prototype the designs with a view to providing optimised user solutions

ADDITIONAL DUTIES
You will also

• lead the design and development of software or infrastructure architectures
• ensure, in co-operation with business representatives, that technical designs are consistent with business requirements
• ensure, in co-operation with transversal IM units, the cohesion of the design with enterprise architecture vision and requirements
• provide and maintain conceptual data models in conjunction with IM and business units
• provide support in drawing up and maintaining a multi-year implementation roadmap for systems, and propose solutions for such systems
• provide input into the development of systems and standards
• be responsible for the evaluation of technological solutions and support the development of systems and software
• participate in projects to manage the target design, in compliance with policies and standards, working proactively to maintain a stable, viable architecture and to ensure consistency of design across projects
• act as subject-matter expert
• check that the deliverables meet the standards and solutions defined
• participate in proofs of concept to answer architecture concerns
• provide direct and ad hoc support for the unit as requested by the director or head of department

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE

• a proven track record in information-visualisation methods and technologies applied to unstructured, structured and relational data
• worked on a project where the above methods were used to tackle a challenging problem (preferably in the field of search problems)
• knowledge of relevant toolkits (e.g. D3, InfoVis)
• working knowledge of JavaScript and modern JavaScript frameworks/technologies (React.js, Flux, AngularJS, etc.)
• thorough and up-to-date knowledge of IT and trends
• the experience to make informed business-related decisions to improve IT processes
• proven experience in creating IT solutions and in software architecture design
• experience in designing and formalising logical and physical solution architectures and using these to guide implementation
• strong analytical skills and the ability to think strategically
• strong planning skills and the ability to co-ordinate high-level plans with stakeholders
• excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills at all level
• the ability to work in a multicultural team

IT WILL ALSO BE AN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE

• experience in information retrieval, and willingness to monitor trends in this field
• experience with service-oriented architecture
• experience in COTS configuration and customisation as well as application development
• experience in the development and implementation of IT systems, including modelling, building block design, applications and role design, systems infrastructure and integration
• experience in modern development methodologies (TDD, Continuous Integration, code reviews)
• a good understanding of processes, alignment of business and IT capability, governance and change management (ITIL).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Diploma of completed studies at university level or - in exceptional cases - equivalent professional experience. Excellent knowledge of one official language and ability to understand the other two.
• Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
The EPO offers competitive salaries, an excellent social package, and varied work in a modern international environment. The net (basic) monthly salary* for this vacancy ranges from EUR 5 223 to 7 396, depending on experience. In addition, depending on their personal circumstances, EPO staff may be entitled to relocation benefits and various allowances (e.g. household, dependant's, childcare, education, expatriation, installation, rent and language allowance).

* after deduction of EPO internal tax and before deduction of staff contributions to the social-security and pension schemes.

DURATION OF THE CONTRACT
The contract will be for the duration of 3 years.

PROCESS AND TIMELINE
The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of qualifications, supplemented as appropriate by interviews, tests and/or a personality questionnaire.
It is intended to hold the interviews in April 2016 in The Hague.

Please apply online, using the 'APPLY' button!

Application until: 4 April 2016

Keywords: Job vacancy, Full-time, The Hague, Search architect, IT data architect.