Consultant, Web Developer - PHP

Extended - previous closing date: 27 October 2014

ISDR/C/29/2014

United Nations Core Values:

Integrity ● Professionalism ● Respect for diversity

Background:

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR has around 100 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNISDR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people's lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as Prevention Web,publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organisation of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:

In March 2015, the United Nations will hold the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in Sendai, Japan, of which UNISDR is the secretariat. Over 8,000 participants including Heads of States, Government Ministers, Mayors, CEOs, Academics, NGOs and members of the civil society are expected to attend and adopt a post-2015 framework on disaster risk reduction that will be the basis for global cooperation on this issue in the coming decades.

PreventionWeb is the online disaster risk reduction knowledge platform, and therefore the knowledge platform for capturing current and relevant disaster risk reduction content and disaster risk reduction organizational profiles of a broad range of partners and stakeholders.

The UNISDR Information Management Unit has been tasked with the redesign of the PreventionWeb website and other sub-sites in preparation for the WCDRR.

The Consultant will report to the Senior Coordinator of the Information Management Unit (IMU) and work directly under the supervision of the lead Information Systems Officer, and in collaboration with other IMU colleagues.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the Information Management Unit of the UNISDR with technical web development of the PreventionWeb platform redesign and its related digital services.
• Develop, test and implement visual design templates based on web usability standards and responsive design (“mobile first”), where applicable.
• Develop, test and implement common elements, where applicable, across UNISDR web properties (e.g. UNISDR, HFA Monitor, Making Cities Resilient, Global Assessment Report, Regional and Global Platforms, WCDRR - as per the requirements of the PreventionWeb redesign plan)
• Develop, test and implement modifications to the content management system (CMS) for common content publishing

Results Expected:

• PHP Programming of 35+ visual design templates in within the PreventionWeb redesign plan
• Implementation of CMS to support the approved PreventionWeb redesign plan
• Technical documentation on development, testing and implementation to support in-house developers

Competencies:

Professionalism: Proven experience in developing web page templates following visual design and style guides for complex, large scale websites.

Planning and Organizing: Demonstrated effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner, working to tight deadlines.
Technological Awareness: Fully proficient computer skills, particularly in using relevant information databases, internet services, contact sources.

Qualifications:

Education: A university degree in Information Technology/Systems or related.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of working experience in web development of large scale websites. Experience developing websites and applications for multiple platforms an asset.

Other skills: Web development (LAMP technology), knowledge of Kohana and responsive design frameworks.

Language skills: Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.