Afternoon all, I've had some free time today so looked into the technical gap Wikimedia UK is facing (this is somewhat tied into the 2013 activity plan/budget). My understanding is that the developer job failed to recruit a suitable candidate<http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/2013_Activity_Plan/Ideas#Build_a_tech_team>. I've not seen any feedback on that, but at the time I did criticise the process and suggested this might happen (not intending to gloat, just pointing this out).
One of the major problems, I think, was we wanted a multi-skilled individual with management experience... at a rate around £10,000 less than the average for London (and that is conservative). As I was such a staunch critic :) it seems only fair that I make the effort to submit a proposal I think would work out for us next year. To wit; I am proposing we fill the technology gap short term by contracting an individual one day per week. This will be a little more expensive than one-fifth of the full-time rate proposed before - but because it is contracted we are more likely to find someone able to address the varied requirements. My estimate for contractor cost + a technical budget (for servers, travel, etc.) is about £17,000 - just over half of this years budget. This based on my experience of doing similar work. The proposal is drafted here: http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:ErrantX/2013_Developer_role If you have a moment to comment on it that would be great! Ideally the community needs to identify *exactly* what development needs it has - and establish some fixed goals for hiring. If we can do this I am confident we could fill this gap. And if it seems ridiculous say so :) I am simply trying to present a possible option. Cheers, Tom
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