The Varsity is Canada’s largest student newspaper and U of T’s tri-campus newspaper of record since 1880. The Varsity launched a new website in 2011, which was created by former U of T students. Four years ago, we launched a redesigned website and magazine microsite. Two years ago, we started a digital magazine. This past year, we began a new website redesign, which was launched for the 2020–2021 volume of The Varsity.
We are looking for a back-end web developer who will be tasked with maintaining our website (thevarsity.ca), improving or upgrading the software it uses, and assisting on The Varsity’s digital magazine and handbook. The back end web developer, who is paired with a front end web developer and magazine web developer, will work under the direction of the managing online editor and features editor, depending on the project. This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in the online team at a major campus newspaper! Varsity Publications Inc. is an incorporated not-for-profit corporation entirely managed and operated by students. It publishes The Varsity newspaper in print and maintains a strong online presence through its website (thevarsity.ca) and social media.
Responsibilities
The back end web developer will:
- Maintain and improve The Varsity’s website and its related properties like the digital
magazine and handbook; - Manage services on DigitalOcean;
- Collaborate with the managing online editor to update software and implement new web
features; - Attend regular meetings every week;
- Be on-call for website-related emergencies;
- Monitor the website’s server performance.
Experience and Qualifications
The ideal candidate is:
- A current post-secondary student at U of T;
- Interested in journalism and digital media;
- Experienced or has working knowledge with LEMP stack;
- Experience with modern JavaScript;
- Experienced working with WordPress;
- Experienced working in Linux command line environment and basic shell scripting;
- Experienced or has a background in user interface design;
- Experienced writing PHP;
- Self-reliant and confident in troubleshooting issues as they arise;
- Able to be a team player in a fast-paced environment;
- A strong communicator and detail-oriented;
- And hardworking, self-motivated, organized, and punctual.
Terms of the position
The hired candidate will:
- Work 10 hours per week;
- Occupy their position from June 1, 2021–April 30, 2022;
- And receive a salary of $7,784.31 for their term.
Application Information
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and examples of your work to hiring@thevarsity.ca
addressed to Hannah Carty, Editor-in-Chief, and Stephanie Bai, Managing Online Editor, by 5:00
pm on May 21. Examples can include links to websites you have worked on, your GitHub
profile, and/or relevant attachments. Please specify the position for which you are applying in
the ‘subject’ field.
Varsity Publications Inc. is committed to providing its members with equal opportunity and a
workplace that is free from harrassment and discrimination. We encourage and welcome
applications from candidates who reflect the U of T community’s diversity, as defined by, but not
limited to, race, colour, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, political or religious
affiliations, place of origin, class, and gender.