Lead Developer

350.org is looking for a Lead Developer to manage our technology stack, a small team of developers, and a UX/UI Designer. It will be a key position in 350.org’s Product Team - a team dedicated to providing the right tools at the right time, and to empowering 350 staff to use them for maximum possible impact in the world.

About the Lead Developer

Our product team is looking for a hands-on Lead Developer to manage our technology stack, a small team of developers and a senior data specialist. It will be a key position in 350.org’s Product Team - a team dedicated to providing the right tools at the right time, and to empowering 350 staff to use them for maximum possible impact in the world. The position reports to the Product Director.

The role of the Lead Developer is to oversee and optimise our web architecture and to make sure that it serves the evolving needs of our campaigners and organisers as well as the movement, and is doing so in a cost- and space-efficient way. Most importantly, we’re looking for a visionary technologist who knows how to inspire and innovate while dealing with constraints. 

As a global grassroots organisation, our sites and platforms are usually multilingual and the content is generally maintained by staff outside the Product Team. The relevant web domain includes our main website as well as numerous distributed websites and microsite networks, custom web tools, and web-based elements of other digital products that support our organising (e.g. donation, signup, event pages, etc). The role involves managing significant complexity, and offers the opportunity to lead innovative and high-profile projects that support and build the effectiveness of the climate movement.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Management (50% of the time)

• Lead in the technical direction for 350.org’s engineering team and the tech stack.  
• Line-manage two developers and a senior data specialist and coach them in solving technical problems. 
• Foster collaboration across the wider Product team, participating in prioritisation exercises, sprints, and help guide the continuous improvement of our ways of working.
• Set realistic goals so that the team is delivering on the most important challenges with high quality standards and the data to back it up.
• Work with a diverse set of stakeholders including Product Managers and UX/UI designer to understand our audience and their needs. 
• Engage and manage external expertise where needed.

Engineering (50% of the time)

• Lead the web development aspect of high-profile projects. This includes:

1. managing the team’s work on innovative web tools to support global and regional teams on campaigns, mobilisations and fundraising 
2. hands-on coding and taking care of the crucial parts of the work
3. ensure integrity of the codebase and make sure it is robust and scalable
4. facilitate code reviews and lead on the QA automation process 
5. provide feedback on the feasibility of concepts, estimation and timelines 

1. working with the team to identify and prioritise technical debt
2. coaching and guiding the team’s work to continuously upgrade our multisite networks (currently WordPress), theme and deployment processes 

Our tech stack includes:

Website EcoSystem:

• WordPress multisites
• Baseline (in-house theme and design system)
• Other in-house plugins
• Dreamhost (domain registration)
• Cloudflare (CDN)

Website/ Web App/ Asset Hosting Platforms:

• WP Engine
• Heroku
• AWS
• Netlify

Donation Platforms:

• ActionKit (Django)
• ActBlue
• ControlShift Labs

Climate Justice Action Map (CJAM) (hosted on Netlify)

• React (Frontend)
• CJAM ETL (Backend, built in Python)

Other:

• Gitlab
• Github
• Buddy (pipeline system)
• Google Analytics

Required Qualifications:

• At least 6-8 years of experience in web or application development
• Experience reviewing and mentoring the work of others in a developer/technical team
• Experience with WordPress or other web content management systems
• HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP
• Django, Python  
• React 
• Experience collaborating on codebases with remote teams
• User-centric approach to solving technical challenges 
• Experience with Git

Competencies:

Self-Management: Ability to set professional boundaries. Resilient and able to manage self and keep composure in times of stress. Able to work independently.

Management of others: Ability to ignite the interests and proclivities of the team to get top quality work, while protecting their prioritised workloads. Able to advocate both for the needs and mission of the organization as well as the challenges facing the team. Relentless to remove roadblocks to the team’s success.

Excellent communication skills: ability to communicate effectively to build a shared understanding of strategic priorities, goals and constraints

Justice and Equity: Must embrace the principles of workplace justice, diversity and inclusion and apply them to day-to-day work.

Desired (but not required) skills and experiences: 

• Experience working for a progressive organisation, previous involvement in grassroots movements and change-making, and/or a strong understanding of the potential of technology to support activism
• Experience with web accessibility best practices
• Experience working with teams using Agile/Sprint processes
• Experience line-managing others
• Some experience working with Headless CMS’s
• Additional languages a plus
• We are looking for someone who is comfortable working both independently and in teams, highly responsive, and able to lead initiatives as well as take direction from others.  

Position Type: Full time

Application Deadline: This position is open until filled

Salary Grade: SG 11.

Location:  Remote. Must be located in one of the following timezones: North, Central and South America, Europe and Africa

Travel: From time to time, travel may be required, both internationally and domestically

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If you have suggestions for us on how to do this better, we really value your input and strongly encourage you to write to us at jobs@350.org with the subject line ‘Hiring Feedback’.