World Learning – QITABI 2: DSpace Software Developer

World Learning – Quality Instruction towards Access and Basic Education Improvement” QITABI-2 Program (QITABI 2)
Position: DSpace Software Developer

Background
USAID’s “Quality Instruction towards Access and Basic Education Improvement” (QITABI -2) is a five-year program seeking to improve learning outcomes for all students in public primary schools in Lebanon. Its activity targets an estimated 200,000 girls and boys, including those who are registered in second shifts of public schools.

World Learning has an immediate vacancy for an experienced “DSpace Software Developer” for its Beirut based USAID-funded Quality Instruction towards Access and Basic Education Improvement (QITABI 2) project in Lebanon. This position is for Lebanese nationals only.

To apply: Please send your resume to recruitment@qitabi.org with the post title on the subject line along with a cover letter (in English) explaining why you are best qualified for this position with a sample of your work. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis on a rolling basis, and qualified candidates should apply as soon as possible.

Scope and Responsibilities
QITABI has completed the development of DSpace basic functionality to address needs at the Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD). The QITABI 2 Advanced DSpace assignment calls for developing a set of DSpace functionalities that build on the development accomplished under the first Phase and further develop advanced DSpace functionality as guided by the project’s DSpace focal point and needed at CERD.

Principal areas of responsibility

1. Maintenance of Phase I and Inception Report according to Phase II:
In phase 2, maintenance of these Communities should be performed in order to reflect any changes in physical or logical design; Digital Library Structure, Metadata, in addition to managing and organizing new Users and Archivists.

2. Digital Library Construction: The construction and development of the Digital Library to set up the following Communities:
a. Video: The video community/media will store instructional and educational materials, including tutorials and class recordings captured in video formats. Additionally, the Video Community includes interactive Animation media.
b. Audio: The audios community/media will store audio recordings covering various activities and exercises that can be used in class.
c. Documents: The documents community/media will store many types of documents, including exercises, activities, homework, lessons,
d. Simulations: The simulation community/media will store simulations, which are a form of experiential learning. The teacher controls the parameters and uses them to achieve the desired instructional results.

3. Arabic and French User Interfaces: Arabic and French Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) will be developed and deployed, and integrated with the English interface. Users will be able to easily switch between the three interfaces (English, Arabic, and French) according to their preferences. The consultant will perform all needed changes to the Graphical User Interfaces in all three languages.

4. Graphical User Interface Styling: The Graphical User Interface will be styled in order to provide a more attractive interface. The styling includes; logos, buttons, colors, tables, boxes, fonts. The help of a graphic designer may be needed in order to propose attractive Web design styles and draw vector graphics to incorporate into the interface.

5. Additional Functionalities (optional): Additional Functionalities may be requested and implemented as needed throughout the contract’s period of development and maintenance.

6. Evaluation Process:
o Under Phase II, these two simple Evaluation Processes will be modified in order to reflect a more complex process. Additionally, new Evaluation Processes will be analyzed, developed, and deployed for the newly constructed Communities; Video/animation, Audio, Documents, Simulations, and Presentations.
o The Project must have a clear workflow process for curation and/or production or buying digital learning objects.

7. API integration with Moodle, TMS, and DLP: The Project will ensure that the consultant properly aligns and integrates DSpace development and its Digital Library with CERD’s existing digital platforms.

8. Deployment and Testing: After completion of the previous points, the respective modules will be deployed and integrated with the present system from Phase I. This will also include thorough testing of all of the system’s modules and functionalities in order to discover production bugs and fixing them.

9. Training: Provide training and capacity building to the project team and to CERD’s team as guided by the Project. The project and CERD teams will be trained on using and administrating the newly deployed system.

10. Maintenance and Support: Provide support and maintenance of the deployed system and for Project and CERD’s admins and users on-call or remotely.

Documentation: Deliver code with full documentation, and provide documentation of all meetings and project progress updates and deliverables.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s in computer science with a specialization in Web Development or equivalent, a Ph.D. in Computer Science is a plus
• Experienced DSpace developer/programmer
• Research experience and publications in the field of Computer Science
• Experience in Documentary Informatics and Process Automation.
• Experience in Web Development and Programming.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Arabic, English, and French.
• Knowledge and experience in Programming Languages including Java, .net, C#, and C++.
• Knowledge and experience in Web Technologies including PHP, Asp.net, HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
• Knowledge and experience in Database design and technologies, including Structured Query Language (SQL)
• Knowledge and experience in Apache Tomcat Server
• Strong communication skills (written and spoken)
• Good organizational and time management skills

World Learning is an equal employment opportunity committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.