Web responsibilities and roles: web maintenance

Optional title or role/descriptor

Web Maintainer

Responsibilities

Creating and maintaining web pages. Transforming edited content (including metadata and non-text content) into web pages.

Checking web page quality, accessibility and usability.

Final proof-reading of text. Checking for broken links and valid code.

Final checking that copyright clearances and other legal requirements are satisfied.

Maintaining site/content inventory. Ensuring published content is current.

Periodically auditing and mapping site content.

Coordinating content review process. Coordinating creation and supply of fresh content.

Acting as the first point of contact for content changes and feedback from web users.

Typical skills required

The following skills would be beneficial to a staff member performing Web Maintenance tasks:

• XHTML 1.0
• Writing for the Web
• Metadata
• Excellent client consultation skills
• Content evaluation, review, forecasting and management
• Photoshop or equivalent image editors
• Form design
• Page layout skills
• Navigation

Web Maintenance web tasks require the ability to move effectively between a technical and communication role. It is essential that the web tasks associated with this descriptor are owned by one staff member per site area or page. Multiple Web Maintainers for the one site can lead to duplication of efforts and overwriting of existing work.

Typical current role

In the present University environment, the following positions and/or hybrids of, would already be taking ownership of the above responsibilities:

• Web Project officer or Manager

• Web Producer

• Web Developer

• Web Maintainer

• Academic with publishing responsibilities

• Content Creator

• Online Communications Manager