Web Developer – HigherEdJobs

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

64351BR

Position Description

Reporting to the Director of Marketing Services at the Division of Continuing Education (DCE), the Web Developer serves as a key member of the team responsible for setting the technical and strategic direction of DCE’s websites. This position works with a small team of developers, performs front and back-end coding, and participates in shaping the future of each website, keeping in mind departmental and organization goals.  

Duties and Responsibilities include:  

Back-End Design and Development 

• Create new WordPress themes, page templates, and from scratch and modify existing themes as necessary to achieve the desired design and functionality. 

• Build custom WordPress plugins to add specific features and functionalities to websites, enhancing user experience and overall site performance and/or modify existing plugins as see fit. 

• Manage back-end services and interchange of data between server and user, including server-side logic and database integration. 

• Integrate wide range of WordPress plugins, API calls and third-party apps and forms, such as HubSpot. 

Front-End Design and Development 

• Design and build new features and functionality for the website front-end and establishing 

• Creating the website architecture. 

• Provide front-end development of digital marketing communications, including full websites and micro-sites, landing pages, emails, and other initiatives. 

Project Management 

• Research, design, and implement technical specifications for projects based on stakeholder’s requirements. 

• Establish and manage timelines of the projects assigned. 

• Provide updates at various project stages to stakeholders. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather and define project requirements. 

Quality Assurance 

• Troubleshoot and debug issues to ensure projects are built to meet performance, security, accessibility, and functional requirements. 

• Develop, test, and troubleshoot across multiple browsers, platforms, and devices, including tablets and smartphones, to support a consistent and positive customer experience. 

• Identify and resolve technical issues, bugs, and errors in existing WordPress websites to ensure seamless operation.

Website Maintenance 

• Keep up to date with the latest WordPress trends, technologies, and best practices to ensure the team is using the most effective solutions. 

• Optimize website speed and performance through caching, minification, and other techniques. 

• Implement best practices for SEO, website speed, and performance to enhance search engine rankings and user experience. 

• Implement security measures and best practices to safeguard websites from potential security threats and vulnerabilities. 

• Use version control systems like Git to manage codebase changes, ensuring efficient collaboration and easy rollback when needed.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of two years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• BA/BS in computer science, engineering, or related technical field 

• Experience developing for WordPress 

• Experience solving problems for large marketing WordPress site, highly preferred 

• Familiarity with Twig and Timber for WordPress preferred 

• Familiarity with a WordPress multisite preferred 

• Experience with PHP, JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, and W3C 

• Exceptional interpersonal and project management skills, and a proven record of working collaboratively with a wide range of constituents 

• Self-starter who can work as part of a larger, complex, and evolving team and to balance interests and needs of a variety of stakeholders 

• Broad technical delivery expertise, and experience with agile practices 

• Demonstrated ability to plan and manage complex, time-sensitive projects 

• Experience with project tracking software like JIRA, or Monday.com preferred 

• Experience with Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager preferred 

• Experience in Pantheon, GitHub, Docker, Algolia 

• Experience in web accessibility compliance 

• Higher Education experience preferred

Working Conditions

The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines. 

Additional Information

We will not provide visa sponsorship for this position. 

A cover letter is highly encouraged for consideration. .  

All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

Work Format Details
This position will be based in Cambridge, MA. Hybrid workplace models in place at DCE with a minimum of 2 days per week on campus. DCE may adjust these as necessary or appropriate. 

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

About Us
The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) comprises several entities serving about 30,000 students annually. The Harvard Extension School, the Harvard Summer School, the Harvard Professional Development Programs and the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement allow Harvard to serve the learning needs of students across their life. For more than a century, Harvard Extension School has made Harvard faculty and teaching accessible to a diverse community of local, national, and international students. Harvard Extension School enrolls approximately 17,000 students per year in approximately 46 graduate and undergraduate liberal arts and professional fields. More than 1,500 open enrollment courses are offered year-round with over 600 available online are offered at affordable prices to our communities across the world. Harvard Summer School offers approximately 450 courses on the Harvard Campus to 11,000 secondary school, college and adult learners and more than 30 international study abroad programs for up to 600 students each summer. The Division also includes the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement with approximately 550 active members and Harvard Professional Development Programs offering nearly 130 short noncredit programs to more than 3,000 participants annually

Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard’s Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function
Information Technology

Department Office Location
USA – MA – Cambridge

Job Code
I0756P Applications Professional II

Work Format
Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Sub-Unit
Division of Continuing Education

Salary Grade
056

Department
Division of Continuing Education

Union
00 – Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Time Status
Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening
Criminal, Identity

Schedule
Monday-Friday, 9-5pm

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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