Frontend Software Developer Volunteer

Overview

Frontend Software Developer Volunteer at MapAction. Are you a Frontend Software Developer wanting to use your skills to help people in a humanitarian crisis and ultimately help save lives? MapAction can enable you to volunteer to do just that. Volunteers have been the heart of MapAction for over 20 years and we continually evolve the range of skills needed. We are looking for enthusiastic frontend software developer professionals who want to commit to a great team and to help MapAction make a difference that has a lasting effect on vulnerable communities. MapAction works with humanitarian partners from local organisations to global UN partners. Be part of something exciting and impactful.

MapAction is a leading humanitarian mapping charity delivering information services and products to enhance decision making in disasters and conflicts. We collaborate with partners to provide mapped information that helps responders understand vulnerabilities and target their response, contributing to saving lives and minimising suffering. We work with a team of skilled volunteer professionals and a small paid staff team. The humanitarian sector is evolving, and technical expertise such as GIS, mapping, information management, data processing and visualisation are increasingly used for improving decision making in complex humanitarian response. MapAction and our partners are uniquely positioned to provide technical expertise in support of this.

Responsibilities

• As a volunteer, you will work with technical staff and volunteers on different opportunities. After onboarding, you can choose tasks and projects that fit your skillset and interests.
• MapAction external projects that require a frontend software skillset (e.g., hazard exposure platforms, conflict incident visualisation, custom data visualisation tools).
• Collaborate with external partners such as UN agencies, International NGOs and academic institutions.
• Work with Data Science and Data Engineering volunteers to enhance software used in data processing.
• Support internal systems maintenance in collaboration with MapAction's IT Support Engineer.
• Represent MapAction at technical conferences and train other volunteers or external organisations on Data Engineer tools and processes.

What are we looking for?

If you feel you are a good match but do not meet all requirements, we still encourage you to apply.

Core skills:

• A desire to use skills, experience and dedication in the cause of humanitarian ends.
• Good team player with leadership and/or project management experience or ambition.
• Exceptional communication skills to explain work to non-technical stakeholders and experience in understanding partner needs and requirements.
• Adaptable, resilient and solution-oriented.
• Self-motivated and organised.
• Time to commit to MapAction.
• Three or more years of professional experience in a software development team.
• Experience and proficiency with Python.
• Experience with testing regimes including unit and regression testing and continuous integration.
• Project management experience.
• Experience in participating in a volunteer organisation or open source projects.
• Experience developing with ESRI's GIS product suite and/or other geospatial technology.
• Experience with systems engineering.
• An interest in data engineering or data science (e.g., ML / DL / AI / Statistics).
• Humanitarian knowledge/experience.

What does it mean to be part of the MapAction team?

Being part of MapAction means joining a close-knit community of highly skilled professionals across sectors, using your skills to help prepare for, anticipate, or respond to humanitarian emergencies, enabling partners to provide life-saving support. At MapAction, training and team building are core. We host frequent online and in-person meet-ups where paid staff and volunteers train, share skills, and strengthen our service offering. Volunteers work alongside colleagues at UN agencies and other humanitarian partners, and may help shape the organisation's strategic direction and operational capacity.

You may have opportunities to travel for training events, project work abroad, missions or representing MapAction at conferences.

Availability for projects, including in-person deployments:

MapAction expects a high level of commitment to deliver projects, whether planned or emergency missions, remote or in-person, one-off tasks or longer-term commitments. Deployable volunteers should obtain commitment from their employer (if applicable) to permit time off for deployments when necessary. Emergency deployable volunteers should have arrangements for quick availability decisions, normally within 12 hours of alert, depending on time-zone. For non-emergency deployments and projects on the tasking grid, volunteers must respond by the deadline specified on the grid. Volunteers should undertake at least three substantive tasks per year (minimum two days each) and contribute at least 10 days of voluntary effort per year (excluding training). Volunteers should be prepared to take on a wide range of tasks to ensure MapAction can deliver on all commitments.

As a member of the team, you will be expected to participate in at least six internal weekend training events, including an annual simulation exercise. Training may also include six annual in-person weekends at various UK locations and four online development days. Volunteers should reside within the UK or nearby to attend face-to-face training.

We are committed to an inclusive environment and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We value diversity and provide equal opportunities regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Selection is based on skills, experience, suitability for the role, and alignment with our values.

Closing date: 19 July 2026

If successful after evaluation - test - week of 27 July 2026

Attendance for interviews online - week of 12 August 2026

Attendance for final round in person - 12 September 2026

We are unable to accommodate applicants who cannot meet these dates.