Application (php, node.js, mySQL, AWS) and User Support Specialist (contractor, 1 day/week on avg)

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Job description

Reporting to the Director of Technology, your task will be to help in supporting the day-to-day operations of the Royal Society of Biology's extensive suite of cloud-based applications and services, many of which are in-house developments. You will also help to support the users and respond to some support queries.

We make heavy use of the AWS cloud, including services such as EC2, SES, IAM, Lambda, API Gateway, CloudFront. We also use Office365.

A key part of the role is to stand in for the Director of Technology in his absence and to become intimately familiar with the ins and outs of the core business systems and services as part of the business continuity planning.

You will often be able to work from home/remotely, but will be required to attend the London office as required to carry out in-person or on-site duties and meetings from time to time.

Rate: £400-500/day (incl), depending on experience.

Job Description

• Assist with day to day management of our business applications, including our in-house CRM and Video Calling service, Windows desktops, VoIP platform and Office365.
• Help support our suite of in-house applications, mostly written in PHP, Javascript and node.js.
• Help with response to help-desk queries and provide remote assistance to users.
• Software configuration and deployment.
• Occasional help with on-site tasks and duties, including support of the facilities in the conference suite, the local network and hotdesking setup.
• Keeping ICT records and documentation up-to-date and accurate.
• Work with the Director of Technology to ensure Business Continuity.
• Other practical duties in the ICT area, as instructed by the Director.

Person Specification

Skills, abilities, experience

• Substantial and proven experience in managing AWS resources, including EC2, S3, IAM, SES, Lambda, DynamoDB, …
• Good understanding of languages such as PHP, Javascript and node.js and good expertise in MySQL databases.
• Detailed understanding of the Windows environment, including desktop and server OS, Active Directory with Group Policy and Windows Server management.
• In-depth understanding of core network technologies such as DHCP, DNS, RADIUS, …
• Significant experience in managing Office365 services.
• You can define and implement excellent security and data protection practice.
• Ideally, programming experience in the area of web/cloud applications.

Person profile

• You are friendly and good at engaging with people at all levels and in all functions.
• You communicate effectively and in a constructive manner.
• You operate at all times with the highest degree of integrity and honesty.
• You are organised and methodical.

The Royal Society of Biology is fully committed to equality and diversity and encourages the recruitment, retention and career development based on merit of the widest possible range of people. We expect all of our employees, contractors and suppliers to create a work environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation, where its members, employees and the individuals with whom it has contact, are treated with respect and dignity at all times.

The Royal Society of Biology is a single unified voice for biology: advising Government and influencing policy; advancing education and professional development; supporting our members, and engaging and encouraging public interest in the life sciences. The Society represents a diverse membership of individuals, learned societies and other organisations.

Individual members include practising scientists, students at all levels, professionals in academia, industry and education, and non-professionals with an interest in biology. Our vision is of a world that understands the true value of biology and how it can contribute to improving life for all.
Our mission is to be the unifying voice for biology, to facilitate the promotion of new discoveries in biological science for national and international benefit, and to engage the wider public with our work.