Lead Web Developer

About Uprated & The RoleUprated is an evidence-led digital marketing agency, based on the sunny south coast in Bournemouth. We work with a wide range of organisations - from well-known brands and charities to multinationals and startups, producing beautiful, bespoke websites and solutions, paired with a blend of digital marketing and insight services.As the agency continues to expand, we are looking to welcome a Lead Developer specialising in WordPress and Shopify, with strong skills in both front-end and back-end development to join our talented team.We are looking for someone with aspirations to eventually lead the development team and be a key part of shaping the future of development here at Uprated. We seek a candidate who will make the job their own and have a noticeable impact in a fast-growing company. We value candidates who like to build new systems and work with the latest technologies, but also find a challenge in understanding the intricacies of existing systems and working to continually improve and develop existing code.Tech is…technical, so we are looking for a fantastic communicator, someone able to discuss technical information and requirements in a clear manner to an audience of varying levels.This role is hybrid based with 2 days per week in our central office in Bournemouth (a short walk to the beach), with the remainder days being remote. Whilst we anticipate this to be a full-time position, we are also open to flexible working days and hours for the right candidate.We take the culture within the agency very seriously, and work-life balance sits at the very top of this.Core ResponsibilitiesThis role includes working in our design & development team within the agency and will include taking responsibility for the following activities:Develop user-centric web interfaces that provide exceptional results for our clients, ensuring best practices and high-quality codeHelp lead and manage our development team alongside the department headCollaborate in strategy and project planning including defining project scope, timelines, and deliverablesEnsure projects are completed on time, within scope, and meet quality standardsInterpreting our client's needs into efficient and actionable solutionsWorking closely with our clients to identify technical opportunities for further growth for their businessesSupport with the development of presentations, proposals, briefs and pitches outlining opportunities with new and existing clients.Ensure alignment between the development team and other departments, fostering cross-functional collaboration.Enhance the agency’s reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to projectsRegularly explore opportunities within new technologies and systems, keeping on top of changes in the marketplace.This is an outline job description and as an agency, employees may need to undertake other tasks from time to time. Core Skills & ExperienceIf you have the following skills and experience, we’d love to hear from you.A minimum of 5 years experience as a web developerAt least 3 years experience of working in a similar role within an agency or client-side environmentMastery of front-end technologiesStrong back-end development skills (PHP, Twig, Liquid)Strong WordPress theme and plugin development experience (not drag-and-drop editors)Strong Shopify theme development experienceStrong problem-solving abilities and eagle-eye attention to detail to ensure high-quality outputExcellent performance optimisation & debugging skillsAbility to collaborate with designers and design software (eg Figma)A good understanding of e-commerce and CMS platformsStrong understanding of user experience principles and best practices.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (You will frequently liaise with clients to discuss their requirements and present solutions)A deep understanding of source control, deployment & build processesA good understanding of build tools such as NPM, Composer, GulpAbility to recognise where others need help and be able to assist as a senior member of the teamHave a proactive work ethic & be highly motivated, with the ability to prioritise, solve problems and deliver resultsBonus PointsExperience of agency process, including task management, delegation, time tracking and project management and workflowsUnderstanding of Timber/Twig Wordpress developmentExperience of Devops (DNS, Email, Cloudflare etc…)Experience of React frameworkAbility to assist with Wireframing and Prototyping Understanding of web based API integrations (eg. make.com)Utilisation of AI into your work (eg. Github Copilot)What's In It For You?A salary of £45,000 depending on experience, including regular reviewsA competitive holiday allowance that increases with each year of employmentYour birthday off (on top of your normal annual leave)Hybrid working, 2 days in office, 3 remoteAn opportunity to develop & grow your skills within an expert teamTraining budget & timeTeam social eventsOpportunities to attend leading conferences or virtual conferencesCompetitive Maternity and Paternity leaveCoffees/teas/snacks (when in the office)Contributory pension schemeOn-site parkingNext StepsCongratulations! You made it this far. Sounds good? To apply for this position, submit your details on LinkedIn or email your CV and a covering message to let us know why you are the right person for this role.We would also like to see some examples of work showcasing your talent (Web, Github, etc).Messages can be sent to [email protected] is no deadline for applicants, we’re keen to hire the right person and willing to take our time to find them.**Sorry No Agencies Thank You**