Експерт/ка з адміністрування та розвитку платформи «Крокус»

Location: Kyiv (hybrid)

Expected start date: 20 February 2026

Duration of assignment: 20.02.2026 – 07.11.2026

Number of working days: 65

Background

Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development project, UCORD is implemented with the support of Switzerland via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation through NIRAS Sweden AB. 

UCORD aims for citizens, businesses, and public authorities to contribute and equally benefit from recovery actions and coherent regional development that fosters improved quality of life, resilience, peace, and social cohesion in Ukraine. The project currently supports six pilot oblasts of Ukraine: Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn and Odesa oblasts as the starting points, targeting capacity development and awareness-raising initiatives nationwide. UCORD consists of three components:

Component 1 embeds regional policy development in Ukraine by supporting and strengthening Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in pilot oblasts.

Component 2 seeks to improve public service delivery in the WASAW (water supply, sanitation, and waste management) sector, focusing on the environment.

Component 3 aims to construct social cohesion through culture, dialogue, and creative industries.

UCORD aims for citizens, businesses, and public authorities to contribute to and equally benefit from recovery actions and coherent regional development. As part of its digital tools, the project develops and maintains learning resources to support regional initiatives.

The KROKUS platform is a comprehensive integrated solution based on LMS Moodle, utilizing both commercial and free plugins, as well as custom modules. It includes an automated project concept generation module, AI components for data analysis, and a vector database for semantic search. To ensure stable operation, controlled development of advanced functionalities and compliance with web security requirements, UCORD seeks to engage a qualified IT Specialist to support the maintenance, enhancement and security readiness of the platform. 

In this context, under Component 1, UCORD is looking to engage Expert on Administration and Development of the KROKUS Learning Platform, who is expected to perform the following tasks:

• The expert will design and configure a testing environment for updates and changes.
• The expert will perform a technical audit of the platform: checking all plugins and custom code, evaluating compatibility within platform architecture
• The expert will update and maintain server components: Linux, PHP, server packages, ensuring security strengthening and performance optimisation.
• The expert will organize secure database migration process: transfer and integrity verification as well as rollback procedures if and where required.
• The expert will perform adaptation of custom modules: project concept generation, surveys, and other specialized modules
• The expert will perform AI integration: including creation of a vector database for concepts and training models
• The expert will perform functional, load, and security testing of the platform following its updates or changes.
• The expert will perform error correction and optimization: fixing identified technical issues and improving stability.
• The expert will organize process of deployment to production: implementing the updated platform in the live environment in a documented manner.
• The expert will organize obtaining a web security certificate: preparation and audit for certification
• The expert will prepare platform documentation: preparing complete technical and user documentation, including architecture, functionality, module descriptions, system requirements, and administrator/user instructions.

Candidate Qualifications

Education & Knowledge:

Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, and related fields or equivalent professional experience of at least 1 year.

Experience:

• Proven experience in Linux VPS administration (preferably for educational platforms);
• Practical experience with LMS Moodle and plugin integration;
• Experience working with relational and vector databases (for AI and semantic search);
• Experience in preparing IT systems for security audits and certification processes;
• Experience in preparing technical documentation for operational handover;

Skills:

• Knowledge of web security standards and preparations for certification;
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to solve technical problems smoothly;
• Understanding of SCORM standards and deep knowledge of AI service integration;

Required Programming Languages and Technologies:

• PHP, JavaScript, HTML/CSS (for Moodle and custom module development) 
• Python (for AI components and model training) 
• SQL (for relational databases) 
• Experience with vector database queries and APIs (e.g., Pinecone, FAISS, Weaviate, Elasticsearch vector search) 
• Bash / Shell scripting (Linux administration and automation) 
• JSON, YAML, XML (for configuration and API integration) 
• Docker, Ansible, or CI/CD pipelines (for deployment automation) 
• REST / GraphQL (for integration with external services and AI APIs) 
• SCSS / SASS (optional, for modern theme styling in Moodle) 

Evaluation of response & selection: 

• The expert reports to the technical team leader on operational issues, but is subordinate to the component 1 Lead on issues related to the implementation of technical specifications and deliverables;
• Interested applicants should send their proposals to [email protected] no later than February 15, 2026

The proposal should contain the following documents: 

• A cover letter demonstrating the candidate’s suitability for the position and summarizing relevant experience.
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) detailing qualifications and professional experience, including a minimum of three contact references.
• The preferred daily rate.
• Note: Candidates must be registered as a Private Entrepreneur (PE), 3rd group, as this is required for contract signing.