As the Director, Back-End Developer, PHP, you will be responsible for writing custom code to implement new functionality, as well as support and augment existing libraries and frameworks at Teach For America that spans all web properties. As a member of a team consisting of Front-End Developers, a Full-Stack Developer, QA, Business Analysts, and a Scrum master, you will build the required back-end technology to create a seamless experience for customers as well as internal stakeholders. The work you do will be central to how Teach For America achieves its powerful mission to transform society through educational reform.
You will report to the Managing Director of Web and serve as the lead developer on the technology team of Teach For America’s digital marketing organization. You will focus on implementing and maintaining PHP applications, while working closely with Channel Strategy team members to build web solutions.
- Work with members of the user experience team and web team to continuously improve the user experience of Teach For America’s web properties
- Help drive the improvement of Teach For America’s content management system (Drupal) and related tools. Extend and customize Drupal to meet business needs
- Perform support and maintenance of existing PHP code base
- Leverage modern development principles and libraries to ensure web platforms are architected to be scalable and maintainable
- Help the web team reach its goal of achieving high end visual design and functionality on Teach For America’s web properties, understanding the ultimate goal of increasing the volume of applications, donations, and other support for the organization and our mission
- Partner closely with the IT team, system administrators, freelancers, and vendors to optimize the whole site
- Be accountable for production support/emergencies as a point of contact
- Merge code into shared repositories, validate code, and perform quality assurance on your work to ensure it meets high quality standards
- Review build specifications and documentation
- Champion conceptual integrity
- Partner with developers to define code standards and best practices
- Work with the product team (Developers, Project Manager, Business Analyst) to design systems, code, and test new dynamic site features/functionality
- Contribute ideas and execution strategies for new projects and site features; develops and codes new site and site support features
- Collaborate with IT Tech Leads directly and be responsible for creating a shared technical community of practice with IT
- Liaise with outside vendors on larger initiatives and on ongoing smaller projects
Prior Experience:
- 6-8 years of experience in back-end / server-side coding
- Experience developing PHP applications
- Experience writing automated tests and following Test Driven Development (TDD) processes
- Experience working in an agile environment
- Experience working on a large website rebuild or re-platform project
Skills
- Deep expertise in Drupal and PHP, including experience working in Drupal 7 with custom theming as well as with key contributed modules, custom Views, Panels, Chaos Tools, and Features
- Proficiency in custom module development with the Drupal Core API (Database API, Entity API, Form API, Batch API, Field API, File API)
- The ability to write clear maintainable, and scalable code
- Familiarity with multiple PHP frameworks on the market, and their strengths and weaknesses
- Up to date knowledge of best practices in code design
- Passionate about educational equity as well as a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness
- Ability to think big, generate ideas and drive solutions to complex problems in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Strong written and oral communication skill
- Maintains a sense of possibility in the face of obstacles, and balances both short- and long-term results
- Focus on the team’s success over personal recognition
- Participate in pair-programming, and collaborate with the team
Work Demands:
- National travel for in-person meetings will vary throughout the year, but is estimated to include an average of 1 trip per month; some weekend and evening work expected
Salary for this position is competitive and depends on prior experience.
Teach For America encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to this effort. Learn more about our diversity on staff: www.teachforamerica.org/about-us/careers/life-at-tfa/workforce-diversity....
Teach For America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
This job description reflects Teach For America's assignment of essential functions and qualifications of the role. Nothing in this herein restricts management's right to assign, reassign or eliminate duties and responsibilities to this role at any time.