Location: Doha, Qatar
URL: http://www.qatar.vcu.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts in Qatar
Position: Web Developer
Position Number: FA3900
Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: Immediate Opening
Review of Applications Begins: December 15, 2008 and continues until position is filled.
VCUQatar (www.qatar.vcu.edu), the leading design school in the Middle East, is a four-year campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUQatar is affiliated with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (www.qf.edu.qa). VCU School of the Arts in Richmond, Virginia is ranked as the leading art and design program among all public universities in the US and maintains identical standards for VCUQatar. Celebrating its 10th year of operation, VCUQatar offers professional BFA degrees in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, and Interior Design for students from throughout the Gulf region, and over 30% international students. Plans are under way to initiate an MFA in Design, becoming the first Masters degree in the region. The School is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The School has substantial involvement with the emerging design industries in Qatar and is a significant catalyst for that growth.
VCUQatar benefits from a funding situation that allows it to be driven by innovative programmatic needs rather than typical fiscal constraints. Externally funded student and faculty research opportunities are expanding with the rapid development of Qatar, now among the wealthiest countries in the world based upon per capita GDP. (www.qf.org.qa) The VCUQatar Center for Research in Design has a contract for the design of Qatar military uniforms; is involved in the World Design Report with Icograda; is collaborating on the Qatar National Vision Initiative; and is expanding with multiple project opportunities in collaboration with faculty and external partners. With an annual budget of $20 million, VCUQatar’s full-time faculty and administrative staff of 75 (50% female), instruct an undergraduate student body of over 200 students. The school maintains an enviable student/faculty ration of 10:1 with enrollment of 12 – 16 in most classes. Transition to coeducation began fall 2007 with an incoming freshman class of 42 female, 6 male.
Housed in a 96,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, the school has 112,000 square foot addition in development. VCUQatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2,500 acre campus community with facilities designed by leading architects for US universities. VCUQatar has since been joined by Carnegie-Mellon University (Business and Computer Science), Cornell University’s Weill School of Medicine, Georgetown University (School of Foreign Service), Texas A&M University (Engineering) and beginning fall 2008, Northwestern University (Journalism and Communication).
Qatar, where English is the standard second language, is perhaps the most liberal, hospitable and progressive of the Arabian Gulf countries. The population of Qatar is 1,100,000 – 300,000 Qatari, 5,000 US citizens, the remainder ex-patriates. Doha, with a population of 350,000, has all the conveniences generally found in a modern city, but it also maintains a traditional Arab flavor, evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. The US Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.
Position Description:
This key position for VCUQatar will increase the international awareness of the university through excellence in innovative web presence. The Web Developer for VCUQatar will be responsible for the university website design and programming, content and graphics development (including streaming video, animations, illustrations and photography), editing and proofreading, compliance with current and future web accessibility and design standards, monitoring questions received on the site, general site maintenance, and development of supplementary websites for university events. This is a hybrid position requiring the Web Developer to create and manage the technical development portion of the website approximately 75% of the time and having an in-depth understanding to oversee the design and any associated changes to the design approximately 25% of the time. The individual applying for this position should have strong technical skills along with demonstrated ability to understand fundamental design concepts, website and end-user methodology and function. The Web Developer will work collaboratively with the VCUQatar Marketing and Public Relations Department, the School of the Arts web development team in VCU Richmond and with each university department for content creation and development.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be an independent, self-motivated collaborator, with a strategic and analytical approach to innovative web development, problem solving and excellence in client communications. A strong understanding of current developments in the both professions of web development and web design is expected. A Bachelors degree in Design or related field is strongly preferred with coursework in web programming. Progressive years of working experience in professional communications or design office (minimum three years) is preferred. Experience working in university environment is a plus.
Expert knowledge of XHTML design & coding, standards-based web page construction, CSS Levels 1 & 2, JavaScript, and experience designing Web sites to meet institutional requirements, federal accessibility standards, and cross-browser compatibility; Experience with dynamic server-based Web page coding & functionality, including PHP, ASP and VBScript. Experience with Filemaker and Filemaker API for PHP a plus. Experience with Ajax libraries such as JQuery is a plus.
Qualified applicants will have an overall understanding of design and expert-level knowledge of the major professional graphic and web design software from Adobe. Experience using digital SLR cameras & video cameras is desirable, including re-purposing for multiple delivery media and Web animation. Demonstrated ability to convert large-scale print publications for web applications. Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and experience developing web-based database applications preferred. Demonstrated ability to work on both Windows and Mac OSX platforms.
Benefits:
• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement to base salary
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including utility allowance and wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities
Application Process:
Qualified applicants who have a record of achievement appropriate to VCUQatar should submit a letter of interest with a resume, transcripts and the names of three references with phone and email contact information. Applicants must also submit a digital portfolio which should include either PDFs or URLs of relevant websites or work, and a description of your involvement in each project. Complete applications need to be submitted to Ryan Ellington (rfellington@vcu.edu), Human Resources Administrator, Qatar Support Office. Only Electronic submissions will be accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For more information on VCUQatar and this unique international opportunity, please visit
www.vcu.edu/arts/employment/qatar
To apply: Send a complete application to Ryan Ellington, Qatar Support Office (rfellington@vcu.edu)