Associate Director of Web Communications
DRAFT Job Description
Contact kentabachnick@nyu.edu
1) POSITION SUMMARY – What is the main purpose of this position? Why does it exist?
Manage planned complete redesign of Tisch’s web presence, in conjunction with the Web Committee, Tisch consultants and external vendors, over the course of the next 18 months. Oversee and perform all aspects of web site and content management system development and administration, including: front and back end programming, and hands-on management of all parts of web stack – including server and system, access, database, security, information architecture, and content creation and image processing. Provide oversight, training, and advice to departmental web managers, or act on their behalf when necessary. Act as liaison to NYU Information Technology Services (ITS) and coordinate integration, with network services, between Tisch and NYU IT systems. Serve as advocate, guide, and advisor for best practices as related to design, development, and accessibility and usability of online services. Oversee, manage and maintain the Tisch web site, a dynamic site that attracts approximately 3,000,000 visits per year from over 80 countries, worldwide.
2) PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES – What are the major responsibilities of this position?
20% – Administer, oversee, and manage the Content Management System (CMS) for all of Tisch. Architect, develop and maintain CMS development structure, templates and components. Define and administer CMS user roles and access and permissions. Lead web development in the creation of new and modification of existing pages, templates, and scripts; troubleshoot site, page or CMS problems. Secure and manage editor and viewing access to information. Train and collaborate with CMS developers and content contributors. Advise, assist and supervise 40+ departmental content contributors in basic web-editing techniques to permit maximum advantage of the freedom within the framework, yet ensure adequate web maintenance and security. Provide oversight, guidance, and technical expertise for school intranet sites and other Tisch-related external sites. Evaluate operations and recommend improvements and modifications.
15% – Provide training, support and management of 40+ web site content contributors across 21 departments. Oversight of approximately 13,000+ live pages on 5 to 8 web servers, including interactive forms and applications, and a variety of files and documents. Serve as help desk to clients both external and internal. Develop technical support standards and procedures. Consult with departments, deans, and chairs to incorporate their vision into future plans for the web and online services support for staff and faculty. Review and evaluate web-based proposals. Explain Internet and web site opportunities and technical limitations.
15% – Security, redundancy, disaster recovery and response planning for Tisch.nyu.edu, and all web-based services in conjunction with the network services department. Assists with plans, procedures, and activities to support data and application recovery when problems occur, including backup and restoration procedures, vendor agreements, data retention and restoration planning.
15% – Serve as liaison with outside vendors regarding online services. Present needs of school and provide initial specifications and design drafts. Research, compile, and analyze information exchanged with service provider. Coordinate secure vendor technical system access with NYU ITS when necessary.
10% – Web application development including: project management, gathering user requirements, design, development, and supervision of web development staff producing online web applications/programs developed for Tisch departments. Management of development and production environments for these applications span an additional 4 servers that are maintained internally. Multi-year planning of web site and web application projects for the school. Vetting and prioritization of web and web application projects. Provide guidelines, make recommendations, review specifications and approve design and implementation. Research and promote new web-based solutions, modifications, upgrades, and enhancements to facilitate faculty/student communication and maintain data security.
10% – Identify need for, recommend and develop web policies and procedures. Verify that web content meets University guidelines and policies. Establish policies and procedures regarding web and social media to ensure the integrity, scope and security of content delivered. Enforce web protocols across the board.
5% – Represent school’s requirements and needs at University venues and committees. Collaborate with Student Information System (SIS) and ITS on integration of web products, data and site design; consult with SIS and ITS on technical problems and transmission of data.
5% – Stay up-to-date on current practices and trends and maintain technical skills through attending workshops, seminars, classes and conferences, and reading technical publications.
5% – Supervise staff and casual support staff; make effective recommendations for hiring, training, and evaluating performance. Identify and prioritize assignments to ensure efficient use of resources so that deadlines are met and review work for accuracy.
3) REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
5 years relevant experience or equivalent combination. Must include experience administering massively complex web sites with tiered access privileges and high levels of security, as well as a background in information architecture and content creation.
4) REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES
Excellent management, organizational, planning, verbal and written communication skills. Ability to prioritize resources and work in teams. Understanding of time management and meeting deadlines. Good technical, analytical and problem solving skills. Proven ability to monitor, analyze, troubleshoot and report on web site performance and use.
Well versed in current and emerging web technologies. Required proficiency with PHP, MySQL, MSSql, Unix/Linux, HTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript/JQuery, Apache Server. Preferred proficiency with Java/JSP/JSTL, XSLT, JSON, Symfony and Zend PHP Frameworks. Content management systems, especially Adobe/Day CQ5, and EM3 iOn.
