Lead Web Developer

About Uprated & The Role Uprated 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 Responsibilities This 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 code Help lead and manage our development team alongside the department head Collaborate in strategy and project planning including defining project scope, timelines, and deliverables Ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and meet quality standards Interpreting our client's needs into efficient and actionable solutions Working closely with our clients to identify technical opportunities for further growth for their businesses Support 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 projects Regularly 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 & Experience If you have the following skills and experience, we’d love to hear from you. A minimum of 5 years experience as a web developer At least 3 years experience of working in a similar role within an agency or client-side environment Mastery of front-end technologies Strong back-end development skills (PHP, Twig, Liquid) Strong WordPress theme and plugin development experience (not drag-and-drop editors) Strong Shopify theme development experience Strong problem-solving abilities and eagle-eye attention to detail to ensure high-quality output Excellent performance optimisation & debugging skills Ability to collaborate with designers and design software (eg Figma) A good understanding of e-commerce and CMS platforms Strong 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 processes A good understanding of build tools such as NPM, Composer, Gulp Ability to recognise where others need help and be able to assist as a senior member of the team Have a proactive work ethic & be highly motivated, with the ability to prioritise, solve problems and deliver results Bonus Points Experience of agency process, including task management, delegation, time tracking and project management and workflows Understanding of Timber/Twig Wordpress development Experience of Devops (DNS, Email, Cloudflare etc…) Experience of React framework Ability 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 reviews A competitive holiday allowance that increases with each year of employment Your birthday off (on top of your normal annual leave) Hybrid working, 2 days in office, 3 remote An opportunity to develop & grow your skills within an expert team Training budget & time Team social events Opportunities to attend leading conferences or virtual conferences Competitive Maternity and Paternity leave Coffees/teas/snacks (when in the office) Contributory pension scheme On-site parking Next Steps Congratulations 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 contactuprated.com There 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