The RASC Board of Directors has approved in principle (subject to budget approval) the engagement of a Co-op student for the summer of 2015. The Society is seeking a Website Architect and Developer who will spearhead an initiative to update and improve all of the Society's web properties (https://rasc.ca, events.rasc.ca and secure.rasc.ca). A key responsibility will be to ensure that the Society's existing website is successfully migrated to the Drupal 7 platform.
This opportunity will appeal to an intermediate to senior student with programming experience and initiative. The successful candidate will report to the Society's Executive Director but will also work very closely with the Society's Information Technology Committee as well as other staff and volunteers.
Application Closing: March 16, 2015.
To apply, send your resume, a covering letter and your salary expectations to:
Website Architect and Developer (Co-op)
Duration: May 3, 2015 - August 28, 2015
Salary: Commensurate with skills and experience
Job description
Working under a mandate supplied by the Society’s Information Technology Committee and under the supervision of the Society’s Executive Director you will be tasked with the uplift and restructuring of the Society’s large and content-rich web presence at rasc.ca. Currently running under Drupal 6 and hosted by the Society, you will be responsible for managing a successful transition to the Drupal 7 platform while improving and extending the site’s features and capabilities.
Your mandate will include:
- Assessing the Society’s needs and requirements versus available modules and determining the right ones to deliver required functionality
- Choosing and customizing an appropriate (ideally responsive) theme to ensure that the Society’s content is appropriately featured and displayed
- Undertaking several specific PHP-related projects to update, enhance or extend modules available via the Drupal ecosystem
- Planning, organizing and supervising the migration of all key website content from a Drupal 6 to Drupal 7 environment.
- Assisting with the integration of the Society’s eCommerce platform with the properties hosted at rasc.ca.
- Creation of appropriate user documentation and videos for day-to-day website maintenance.
- Design and delivery of website “launch” activities to ensure a successful transition from the D6 to D7 platforms.
Skills and Experience
- Programming exposure to PHP, understanding of ASP .Net technologies an asset
- Experience with Unix server configuration and options
- Excellent written English skills
- Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment with both paid staff and volunteers
- Astronomical background and experience is desirable but not necessary
About the RASC
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, founded in 1868, is Canada’s pre-eminent organization for astronomy enthusiasts of all ages and stages. With over 4,500 members, the RASC fulfills its charitable mandate by helping to educate and inform the public about the wonders of our universe.
Headquartered in Toronto, the Society has 28 Centres (chapters) from coast to coast and supports a wide variety of astronomical education programs. The Society’s key business activities are publications (including the world-renowned Observer’s Handbook), membership services and charitable programs.