We are looking for a Drupal developer to join us in meeting the needs of a rapidly growing English-language graduate university for science and technology. Work with people from over 50 countries. Experience life in Japan while learning about Okinawa’s own unique culture. Enjoy cultural events, explore coral reefs, travel around Asia, and participate in an active multicultural university community while contributing to the future of Japan’s most international university.

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST; www.oist.jp) is a dynamic new graduate university of science and technology in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The university is located on 85 hectares of protected forestland overlooking beautiful shoreline and coral reefs. The campus is striking architecturally, and the facilities are outstanding. There are no academic departments which facilitates cross-disciplinary research. Outstanding resources and equipment are provided and managed to encourage easy access and collaboration. English is the official language of the university, and the research community is fully international. OIST is rapidly gaining recognition in the worldwide academic community as a model for excellence in education and research.

OIST helps families with relocation support, services for living in Okinawa, and onsite preschool and afterschool childcare facilities.

OIST is seeking an experienced web developer to join the Digital Content, Brand and Design (DCBD) team at OIST and focus on the development and presentation of the university's web properties. The DCBD team is made up of diverse and experienced experts in content strategy, design, development, media production, and social media marketing. While each member has an area of expertise, they all collaborate to promote OIST to the domestic and international public audience and the campus community using photos, videos, marketing, and websites.

A typical day in this role consists of collaborating with different groups at OIST to build out and maintain features on our Drupal web platforms. These sites include our public website as well as several internal portals. While you will focus on the front-end of our web properties in Figma and Twig, sometimes you will have to jump into a MySQL database or work with our cloud platform to perform server updates. In addition, people from around the university will ask for your expertise when scoping and proposing new projects and ask for help when they have a problem.

Come live in sunny Okinawa and help us to build a new and different university in Japan.

About OIST

Learn about OIST

Watch video "University of the Future"

Responsibilities

The Digital Content, Brand, and Design Section works within the Communications and PR Division and supports the development of a wide range of digital assets that meet the needs of a growing university. The section advances the research-driven communication program of OIST and helps promote the university to its global audiences. The services of the section are built upon expertise in web design, web development, user training, and content strategy and management.

1. Develop and maintain web applications and required resources like API, predominantly based in Drupal and PHP.
2. Responsible for Drupal theme, front-end development. Using modern web technology to Implement UI/UX design in website projects.
3. Develop custom tools and provide university-wide solutions to support the growth of the university.
4. Lead university-wide projects and provide advice and support members of the research and administration in web development.
5. Produce high quality documentation for all systems and services deployed.
6. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent undergraduate degree.
2. Minimum 5 years of experience as a web developer.
3. Minimum 3 years of experience working with Drupal.
4. Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate easily in spoken and written English.
5. Ability to develop, maintain, and modify Drupal websites.
6. Expertise with Drupal front-end development with Twig.
7. Familiar with modern front-end web technologies, including Javascript, Webpack, and jQuery.
8. Ability to write SCSS/CSS and experience using CSS frameworks, including Tailwind CSS and Bootstrap.
9. Experience with object-oriented PHP programming, MySQL and other SQL-based databases.
10. Experience with Unix/Linux.
11. Ability to use Git version control.
12. Experience with the Agile Method and project management systems.
13. Experience working in an international setting.
14. Ability to work autonomously and in a team.

Preferred

1. Experience with project management platform Shortcut Software (formerly Clubhouse Software).
2. Japanese language ability or an interest in learning.
3. Experience with using Figma for design.
4. Experience with automated testing frameworks and Continuous Integration or willingness to learn.
5. Experience with cloud hosting platforms including Pantheon (which is preferred) / Acquia Platform / AWS etc.
6. Experience with shell scripting.

Compensation

In accordance with the OIST Employee Compensation Regulations

Salary Range: 5.5 million JPY to 7.5 million JPY

Benefits

• Relocation, housing and commuting allowances
• Annual paid leave and summer holidays
• Health insurance (Private School Mutual Aid)
• Welfare pension insurance (kousei-nenkin)
• Worker's accident compensation insurance (roudousha-saigai-hoshou-hoken)
• Access to Child Development Center
• Access to Schooling Options
• Language Education
• Resource Center (Daily Life Support in Okinawa)

Submission Documents

• Cover letter in English required. Japanese version required only for Applicants whose native language is Japanese. (Please be sure to indicate where you first saw the job advertisement.)
• Curriculum vitae in English required. Japanese version required only for Applicants whose native language is Japanese.
• Names and contact information of 3 referees, one of which should be a previous employer, will be required if the Applicant is selected for an interview.

Background Check

Prior to the start of employment all new hires are required to successfully complete a background check. Personal information including employment history and academic background should be submitted to OIST after a conditional offer of employment.

Declaration

• OIST Graduate University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer and is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty, students and staff. The University strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups.
• Information provided by applicants or references will be kept confidential, documents will not be returned. All applicants will be notified regarding the status of their applications.
• Please view OIST policy for rules on external professional activities
• Further details about the University can be viewed on the OIST website www.oist.jp.

Starting Date

As early as possible

Contact and Questions

• To get more details and apply, go to the job post on the OIST website.
• Contact recruiting@oist.jp if you have questions.