Senior Web Developer

As one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s top contractors, ISS is seeking a Senior Web Developer to support National Ocean Service (NOS) office.

Where you will be: This role is hybrid in Silver Spring, MD, with expectations typically being two days per week in the office.

What you will do: Provide senior-level project management expertise in web development. The primary responsibility will be to work with the lead Federal web content manager to migrate two existing static HTML websites into one dynamic, manageable WordPress environment by architecting and creating custom themes and templates using Elementor. This includes:

• Serve as the subject matter expert for WordPress development, ensuring the new site is secure, accessible, and easy for content managers to publish content.
• Oversee two direct reports (junior web developers).
• Deliver the design and development of one NOS website that effectively communicates National Ocean Service information, science, and imagery to the public using WordPress as the primary content management system (CMS).
• Plan and architect website structures within WordPress, including building and maintaining custom page templates, taxonomies, and advanced custom fields to organize and display scientific text, data, and image content.
• Architect and execute the full lifecycle of migrating two static HTML websites to the WordPress platform through the creation of custom WordPress templates, ensuring user-friendliness and visually appeal while maintaining the integrity of the scientific information, and leveraging search engine optimization.
• Develop and customize WordPress themes and templates, ensuring that the finished website adheres to modern web standards, accessibility guidelines (Section 508), and IT security best practices.
• Provide technical assistance and training to web content developers for the ongoing maintenance and updates of the migrated WordPress website.
• Document the technical development processes of the WordPress site for ongoing updating, support, and maintenance.
• Conduct testing and quality assurance on the WordPress website functionality, ensuring that all features work as intended and meet content goals of the lead Federal web content manager and user needs.
• Create, manipulate, and optimize original graphics, artwork, and other visual assets for the web, ensuring they are seamlessly integrated into the WordPress environment.
• Manage multiple concurrent tasks and projects, often under tight deadlines, while maintaining a high level of quality and attention to detail.

Note: The static websites requiring migration are oceanservice.noaa.gov (1,470 html pages) and oceantoday.noaa.gov (580 html pages). The Ocean Today website must be integrated into the Ocean Service content in a manner that allows search engines and users of the existing site the ability to find content. The existing two static websites must be maintained and updated during this timeframe.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Six (6) years of experience in the area of Information Technology (IT) with at least two (2) years of specialized experience in project management, web development, and WordPress
• Strong project management
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Experience in migrating websites from static HTML into custom WordPress environments
• Experience in web development projects utilizing WordPress
• Experience in writing HTML code for the maintenance of multiple static websites concurrently
• Experience and mastery in writing clean, error-free, and standards-compliant code including PHP, HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript
• Knowledgeable around the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) to design and build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites and digital services
• Skilled at prioritizing multiple concurrent tasks on short deadlines
• Proficiency in:
• WordPress platform
• Elementor theme builder
• Custom theme development from scratch (without relying on page builders)
• Plugin customization
• Gutenberg block editor
• Underlying WordPress database structure

You’re REALLY going to love it here if:

• You thrive in a close-knit, friendly corporate culture dedicated to fostering personal career development
• You work in an environment with accessible and available senior corporate leadership without the micromanagement
• You’re looking for a great work/life balance
• You’re seeking above standard benefits – Health insurance where the company pays 75% of premiums, 401k match, paid holidays, referral bonuses, and ‘take what you need’ paid time off
• You seek a work environment where you have a voice in the development and modification of the policies by which the company is governed

The admin stuff: You must be a US Citizen and be able to pass a Public Trust investigation from the U.S. government.