FRA Webmaster
Mon 8 Aug 2022
We looking for someone to replace the current Webmaster on the FRA Committee. It won't require deep technical skills or expertise with graphics, as those aspects are covered by other people. The main requirement will be to manage the site, and to progress enhancements which may appear over time. Click on 'Read more' for further info.
Webmaster on the FRA Committee
We’re looking for someone to replace the current Webmaster at the AGM in October. We’re fortunate to have a recently-completed web site, in excellent working order and without a whole lot of legacy ‘stuff’ to complicate maintenance. The site is built on standard SQL and PHP technology, and is currently supported by Chris Elsby, the developer, who is also undertaking various enhancements still in the pipeline. Tory Miller, our graphics designer, has worked extensively with images and with the look and feel of the site. So the Webmaster activities are at the ‘super-user’ level, and don’t require graphics design, coding or any serious involvement with the software.
The responsibilities of the role are to oversee the functioning of the site, and to ensure that it works well for FRA members and the general public who view the content. The content includes information on all aspects of fell running, and also the database of races. The race database is generated by our Race Organisers, who take out an account on the system and can then themselves create and submit their own races and ultimately upload the results. All the activities of content management (new postings, updating results tables, uploading documents) can in principle be done by other Committee members, though in practice the Webmaster often stands in for Committee members who lack the confidence or the time to manage their own content. Management of the Race Organiser processes is handled by our Fixtures Secretary, with occasional need to escalate if a Race Organiser has managed to tie themselves in knots. A key role of the Webmaster is to set standards (for example of information management) to keep the rapidly expanding volume of material on the site in some kind of order. Some aspects of the FRA’s IT are managed by the Secretary, including the FRA email system and external document management systems, though these activities may come to the Webmaster over time.
The Webmaster also needs to be aware of potential enhancements to the site, arising perhaps from Members’ requests or from technical advances, and to seek approval from the Committee to make the investment. We still have some significant pieces of work to accomplish to complete the migration from the old site, and we have discussed for some time the possibility of an FRA ‘app’ as another way to access the content and provide information to our Members. The Webmaster would be responsible for specification, technology choices and project management of website enhancements.
The Webmaster needs to have a sound knowledge and understanding of the relevant areas of IT. The time commitment is not huge, perhaps amounting to 10 hours per month, though action is sometimes urgent if information needs to be made public as quickly as possible. The Webmaster, as an FRA Committee member, will be involved with all areas of our activities and will able to contribute to the work of the FRA in many fields rather than just website management.
Please let Charmian ([email protected]), Andy ([email protected] or any Committee member, know if you would like to be considered, or would just like more information on the role.
