Web Development Specialist

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) Regional Centre in Bangkok

Position title: Web Development Specialist (1 position) Salary: Depending on experience Contract: Initially one year contract with 3 months probationary period and possible extension Work hours/days: Full-time (7.5 hours/day), 5 days per week except for Saturdays and Sundays Place of work: IGES Regional Centre office in Patumwan, Bangkok

Background:
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) Regional Centre based in Bangkok is seeking a dynamic person with strong interest and relevant experience in website and IT systems management for the position of Assistant Website and IT Systems Manager.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing knowledge sharing platforms/websites that the IGES Regional Centre operates, providing IT-related technical solutions as a member of the knowledge management team. The successful candidate will also assist in implementing other outreach activities. Knowledge sharing platforms/websites to be managed include: - Network for Integrated Planning and Sustainable Development Strategies in Asia-Pacific Region (SDPlanNet-AP, http://www.sdplannet-ap.org); - USAID Climate Change Adaptation Project Preparation Facility for Asia and the Pacific (USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific,http://adaptasiapacific.org); - Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN, http://www.asiapacificadapt.net); - Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN, http://www.aecen.org); and
- IGES Regional Centre (http://www.iges.or.jp/en/bangkok/index.html).

The successful candidate will also lead in updating/renewing the structure and lay-out of the SDplanNet website and assisting in managing its contents. SDplanNet-AP is a network targeted at helping development practitioners, including national and local government officials, and professional planners, share innovative approaches and good practices on how best to mainstream sustainable development priorities into local, sub-national and national policies. IGES recently renewed its funding arrangement with the GIZ and International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to address anticipated emerging issues relating to the United Nations-led post-2015 development agenda.

Duties and responsibilities: Under the supervision of the Knowledge and Outreach Manager and Task Manager for the SDplanNet, and working with the Website and Database Manager and Assistant Office Manager of IGES Regional Centre in the knowledge management team, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following tasks:

Maintaining and upgrading websites and managing web content, with particularly focus on the SDPlanNet-AP website: • Lead in updating and upgrading the overall website for SDPlanNet-AP. o Manage and build SDPlanNet-AP web content and structure. Task includes conducting deskwork to collect sustainable development-related news, events, and good practices in Asia and the Pacific to post on the SDPlanNet-AP website and social media accounts. • Maintain and manage the other aforementioned websites. Tasks include: o Maintain, add and update content on pages/databases/catalogues that these websites host, which includes monitoring information in pages and databases so that content is kept current; o Communicate with stakeholders through the use of email marketing tools to create, track and send HTML-based emails (i.e. online newsletters); o Communicate remotely with other web mangers of partner organizations for collaborative regular maintenance of websites; o Provide IT support to conduct online chats and other web-based activities, including webinars; o Develop sub-sites on existing websites for special events or initiatives;
o Analyse website effectiveness and provide feasible solutions for improvement; and o Generate monthly/quarterly web statistics and analytics for reporting. • Work closely with members of the knowledge management team and other partners to develop, enhance (through in-house development or managing outsourced development) and maintain the aforementioned websites; • Assist in assessing new standards, technologies and trends, and formulating strategies and plans for enhancing aforementioned websites; • Maintain cross-platform and cross-browser compatibility so that certain web sites interoperate (e.g. automated content sharing; RSS feeds) and are accessible from a variety of different environments; • Assist in developing and maintaining necessary operational and technical documents, including web/online policies and web strategies, so that they are aligned with the individual projects’ overall knowledge management and outreach goals. • Assist in implementing other outreach activities of the Centre, including providing basic graphic design support for electronic and print materials.

Above tasks must be carried out in close communication with funding agencies and other key stakeholders. The successful candidate will carry out any other additional tasks as may be assigned by the Head of SDPlanNet-AP Secretariat and Director of IGES Regional Centre as necessary.

Requirements: • Excellent command of the English language (writing and speaking) is a must. • A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience and skills in: o Sound knowledge in web programming and client-server programming and architecture; o Managing an MNC-equivalent website; and o Managing web policy and web strategy. • Preferred technical knowledge/skills include: o Experienced in managing content management systems (Drupal and others), workflow system and project management; o Excellent understanding in HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, MySQL, JSP and XML; Java Virtual Management (JVM); web server and JSP-based Content Management System (CMS) administration; cloud-based CMS and Customer Relationship Management tools; website and internet search engines; Web 2.0 concepts and technologies; internet security and internet standards; o Intermediate skills in Adobe Photoshop and other CS applications, and MS Office products; and o Good understanding of web statistics and analytics. • A first-level university degree (B.S.) in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Software Engineering, or related field is preferred. Good knowledge of, or familiarity with, sustainable development issues is a plus. • Excellent interpersonal, project management and organizational skills, including the ability to efficiently take up multiple tasks under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Reporting: The Web Development Specialist will report to the Knowledge and Outreach Manager and Task Manager for the SDplanNet and ultimately to the Head of SDPlanNet-AP Secretariat and Director of IGES Regional Centre.

Term of Employment: The term of this position is initially offered for one year with a possible extension of up to two years subject to fund availability. Considering the time required for attaining a work permit for non-Thai nationals from the Thai authorities, an employment term of one year is usually initially offered. A probationary period of three months at the beginning of the term of employment will be also considered for applicants.

Place of Work: The IGES Regional Centre office located in downtown Bangkok (604 SG Tower, 6th Floor 161/1 Soi Mahadlek Luang 3, Rajdamri Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330).

Compensation: Salary will conform to the IGES Regional Centre’s payment system. Relevant work experience and professional skills will be taken into account. Income tax withholding and other requirements will be complied with under Thai laws.

Working conditions: Annual paid leave and other holidays will conform to the practice in Thailand and in accordance with the relevant rules observed at IGES Regional Centre under Thai labour laws.

About IGES and IGES Regional Centre:

Established in 1998, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is an independent, non-profit environmental policy think-tank, with headquarters based in Japan that goes beyond research to provide practical ways to protect the earth's environment and to realise greater sustainability and equity in the global community. While the outlook of IGES is global, the principal geographical scope of its activities is the Asia-Pacific region. IGES activities include strategic research, outreach, networking/multi-stakeholder dialogue, and capacity development (http://www.iges.or.jp/).

Since 2003, IGES has been operating a project office in cooperation with the Regional Resources Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP) of the Asian Institute for Technology (AIT), Pathumthani, Thailand. In 2011, the project office was upgraded to the IGES Regional Centre located in downtown Bangkok (Patumwan, Bangkok) to strengthen its functions and expand activities under the missions of IGES. IGES Regional Centre is a growing operation unit to respond to the needs of the institute as well as stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region.

The main role of the IGES Regional Centre is to manage three networks that IGES provides secretariat services for, including Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network (AECEN), Network for Integrated Planning and Sustainable Development Strategies in Asia-Pacific Region (SDPlanNet-AP), conduct/implement various region-wide activities including those that each network above has planned and others (ADAPT Asia-Pacific project, etc.), and to coordinate collaborative research with international, regional and national organisations and research institutes in the Asia-Pacific region. (http://www.iges.or.jp/en/bangkok/index.html)

How to apply:

How to Apply: A cover letter, recent CV (with photo), salary history, and a writing sample must be sent by email to the following address. The position is available now and will remain open until filled. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. Reference letter(s) from your supervisor(s) in the past positions (latest preferred) may be requested for short-listed candidates. Additional materials may be also requested in time for the interview.

Send your application to: regionalcentre-HR@iges.or.jp

The application documents are not returnable.