Neil Clement's Blog

Interface Developer – London – Up to £40k

calvinjnr — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:22:02 +0000

An Interface Developer is responsible for developing the front-end technology tasks on a project under the guidance of a senior engineer. They are expected to be specialists of front-end technology centred on the web browser interface. They are to be experts with HTML and CSS.

Interface Developers are the bridge between designers and server-side developers.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to pick up and understand legacy code quickly and must help with the general maintenance of the websites of our clients.

The role encompasses exciting and innovative uses of technology within a rapidly growing agency and dynamic, friendly team.

Skills
Required Skills
At least three years’ experience with each of the following:

· XHTML

· CSS

· Strong Javascript/jQuery skills

· W3C standards based coding experience

· Accessibility

· Cross-browser coding

· HTML email development

· Photoshop

“Nice to have” skills
· XSL

· XML

· AJAX

· Flash / Actionscript

· .Net / PHP

· Facebook apps

More details available.

Tech Lead/Senior PHP – London – Up to £60k

calvinjnr — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:19:06 +0000

We’re recruiting for a senior PHP developer to take ownership and lead development of a major new social commerce project. We are looking for somebody who is an excellent hands-on-coder whilst being able to grow and manage a team of developers, as and when its required.

We are looking for somebody with excellent leadership and technical skills with a passion for all things digital (web, social media and mobile). Specifically, we’re looking for a PHP developer with excellent understanding of social environments, Facebook Graph API’s, affiliate feeds and Linux system administration skills from managing LAMP stacks.

The major responsibilities of the Senior PHP Developer will be to design and develop the technical architecture for our social portal/affiliate platform, social plugins and applications and mobile applications. You’ll work closely with our UX/UI specialist to deliver a seamless user experience.

Technical requirements:

· Expertise in working with PHP, MySQL, Apache, SSH

· Proficiency with front-end scripting including: HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, CSS, AJAX

· Hands-on experience with web application architecture and relational database design

· Exposure to affiliate feeds & platforms

· Knowledge of open-source CMS platforms WordPress, Drupal, etc. & social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare.

· Track record of developing applications using Facebook Graph API

· Exposure to other server-side scripting languages

· Exposure to object-oriented languages

· Familiarity with the LAMP environment (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)

· Knowledge of best practices for cross-platform, cross-browser compatibility

· Professional experience building database-driven web applications and websites

General Requirements

· 5+ years professional web development experience

· 1+ years managerial experience

· Computer Science or technical degree preferred

· Strong analytical and problem-solving ability

· Strong familiarity with Web 2.0 / Social Networking websites

· Strong presentation, communication, and collaboration skills, enabling knowledge share within team and across teams

· Positive attitude and professionalism in the workplace

· A great sense of humour is always appreciated

· An independent worker with a high level of self-motivation and proven ability for self-study and learning on the job.

We’re really looking for a PHP developer who is passionate about Social Media, really understands the API’s, the opportunities and limitations of the technology right now, and the ways that it’s being used by other smart agencies

Senior Front End Developer – London Up to £55k

calvinjnr — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:20:03 +0000

You’ll be working in a challenging, but rewarding fast-paced environment within a small but passionate agile team that eat, sleep and dream development. We use Git and have a company Github account so we’re able to push work up and truly be in control of what goes live and we use tools such as SASS to write style sheets in a way that really scales. You’ll play a vital role in enhancing and expanding our product suite across our sites to create products that will surprise and delight our users. We’ll expect you to shape your role but you’ll spend the majority of your time:

• working within a cross-functional team of fellow developers, designers and product managers to develop exciting new products
• establishing a structured and scalable front-end environment
• liaising with our User Experience team lead to work on UI patterns
• providing mentoring and sharing knowledge with fellow front-end developers to create a world-class front-end team

About you

This is an exciting role at the forefront of our product delivery cycle, everything you do will be seen by our many thousands of users. For you to be successful in this role, you’ll have/be:

• expert in designing and architecting CSS and HTML reusable and scalable patterns
• at least 8 years experience in web development
• a deep understanding of JavaScript and jQuery and confidence in building jQuery-based widgets
• strong knowledge of code documentation and handover processes
• a high level of familiarity with server-side integration and content management systems
• proven line management and mentoring skills
• excellent communication skills
• appreciation for accessibility conformance
• experience of mobile web and slate devices and targeting them
• experience of working in a Microsoft-based environment of Windows and ASP.NET MVC.
• a genuine enthusiasm for web trends and keeping up-to-date with semantic web
• an expert in understanding and writing SEO optimised mark up
• passion for best practice and in-house guidelines on coding standards, undertake cross-browser compatibility testing
• strong time- management skills, you work effectively to always deliver and comfortably hold your team accountable to this as well
• fastidious and obsessive about detail to always deliver a quality product
• previous agency experience would be beneficial

In return for everything that you can bring, we pay competitive market rates and can offer you an exciting, challenging role in a growing technology-centric business that’s part of something bigger, with plenty of opportunities to learn – and of course enjoy it at the same time.

Developer – London – Up to £45k

calvinjnr — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:18:54 +0000

Responsibilities will include:
Working with a team to produce and deliver content for high profile clients.
Take concepts, designs and visuals through to complete coded sites and solutions for deployment.
Compliance with strict site-specific coding standards
Develop and manage web apps for data collection, tracking and marketing.
Feedback and consultation during the design process to assist Art Directors, front end developers and designers.
Gathering business requirements and developing solution architectures.
Checking and maintaining high standards of quality, including documentation and best practice.
Working with the team to resolve issues, snags and bugs.
Research and introduce new technologies.
Liaising with other internal, external and client development teams.

Personal Specification:
Web developer with solid hand coding experience delivering high quality, standards-compliant code.
Core skills
* CSS and XHTML
* XML, XSLT
* JavaScript (hand coded)
* Competence in ASP .NET
* Cross platform and browser compatibility
* Accessibility
* Google Analytics/Omniture

Beneficial skills
* Knowledge of front end design and implementation
* Action script & Flash experience
* Experience with software & tools such as Adobe Creative Suite CS5
* Understanding of cross-browser and cross-platform issues and testing
* Server admin (MS 2008 and IIS)
* SQL server/database management
* Web trafficking/Ad serving
* DART tagging
* Good communication skills

Tech Director – London – Up to £65k

calvinjnr — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:16:51 +0000

This highly successful, independent integrated marketing communications agency. With a staff base of over 160+, is looking to recruit a new Technical Director to lead the development teams, assist with growth digital offering across the group and be a key player in delivering innovative and creative technology solutions.

CURRENT TEAM STRUCTURE & REPORTING LINE
Reporting to Digital Production Director, you will be responsible for line management of small team of developers covering a number of disciplines. You will also manage technical freelance and outsourced development partnerships.

ROLE DESCRIPTION + RESPONSIBILITIES
• Oversee all creative technical development across agency group.
• Provide full technical scoping assistance where needed, for all integrated and digital projects, technical creative development, including new business pitches, ensuring accurate estimation, advising on technical team/supplier choice, writing functional and technical specifications etc.
• Ensure technical development is delivered to the highest standard.
• Maintain standards and best practices for coding.
• Manage development and hosting infrastructure.
• Work closely with Production Director to develop process and procedures.
• Promote our creative technology skills and expertise offering to both clients and internal team’s agency wide.
• Be a representative in all technical areas of a client / business relationship.
• Continually identify agency needs and broaden team technical capability
• Work closely with Innovation team in developing emerging creative technologies.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:
Ideally, you’ll have a min 5 years within the agency space, or a technical consultancy, and currently be working as a Technical Director / Technical lead. You will be commercially aware, understands our business and demonstrate a passion for innovation and creative technology.

Technical
We are looking for a multi skilled technical director who has the ability to lead a team and deliver campaigns across a broad range of technologies,

Principally we work with the following technologies:-

• HTML, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery and common web standards,
• PHP, MYSQL & Opensource frameworks i.e. Zend/Kohana
• SVN Subversion Control and TRAC.
• Experience of variety CMS such as WordPress, Silverstripe, Joomla & Episerver
• Solid understanding / experience in Microsoft .NET, IIS, SQL & SharePoint.
• Linux & Windows Server Operating systems and administration technologies.
• Understanding of Dedicated and Cloud based hosting environments.
• Knowledge and practical understanding of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube API’s.
• Knowledge and practical understanding of emerging Mobile/ Tablet technologies.
• Understanding of Adserver systems and platforms.

Commercial

• Excellent understanding of Digital Marketing disciplines.
• Track record of working with senior management in developing business offering.
• Build and manage business relationships with clients and technology partners.
• Assist with ideas generation using creative technology.
• Ability to articulate technology in layman’s terms.
• Excellent client facing skills and ability to work with client technical teams / partners.
• Proven team management and resource management skills.
• Financially and commercially aware.

WHAT THEY OFFER*
• Flexible benefits (pension, gym, healthcare, etc)
• Bonus schemes
• Sabbaticals
• Academy – Training & Development
• The Black Card – savings at local shops, restaurants
• Incremental holidays
• Structured appraisals – committed to developing our staff

Tech Director – London – Salary Up to £90k

calvinjnr — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:03:39 +0000

About the role:
Serve as a technical expert representative across teams, clients, and within the industry.
Provide technical support across practices in offering definition and positioning.
Develop our technical skills offer, and generally ensure the growth of the technical offering within the company as a whole, driving innovation where possible.
Provide relevant roadmaps and architectures for integrated campaign across multiple media channels with digital at the heart of them.
Provide full technical scoping assistance where needed, for all integrated and digital projects, including new business pitches, ensuring accurate estimation, advising on technical supplier choice (we do not have an inhouse development team), writing functional specifications for external suppliers etc.
Consistently deliver high-quality services to our clients, suggesting alternative technical solutions to meet client requirements more efficiently, and/or with greater reusability, and / or longer life.
Support projects in production by providing expertise and advice to aid problem solving and advancement.
Promote our Technical skills and expertise offer to clients, acting as representative in all technical areas of a client relationship.
Pro actively maintain up to date knowledge / R&D of Systems Architecture best practice, enterprise technologies such as CRM and Content Management, software development languages and tools, and emerging technology and multi / social media platforms.
Work closely with the Partners and Projects Director to develop our process and procedures.
Act as a technical escalation point with the client and internally during all development projects.
Translate technical concepts and approaches to other staff at all levels in an easy to understand manner.
Ensure activities meet with and integrate with organisational requirements for quality management and best practice.
Selection and overseeing (in conjunction with Production) of any freelance technical partner companies or developers, including implementing terms and conditions that can be used for working with external suppliers
Assist with project and company server, hosting solutions as well as work with in house IT team where necessary

Skills & experience:
The candidate must have around 8 years experience within a digital environment / agency environment at a senior developer/ technical lead/ director level, and be able to match as many of the below criteria as possible:
An excellent knowledge of emerging technologies, trends and mark-up languages & frameworks within Digital/Interactive
A platform agnostic approach, with experience of overseeing high profile integrated campaigns across different media channels. With expert experience and knowledge of implementing / integrating the following:
- Backend and Front end technologies, including – .NET, PHP, Action Script,
- Flash, html, Java script, CSS (all essential).
- Standards for accessibility, SEO and interactivity.
- A wide variety of CMS systems, database and server integration.
- A wide variety of social media API’s such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flicker, Blogs etc.
- Phone apps (iPhone, Android, Nokia).
Coding best practice across all work delivered.
Used to working with and overseeing external technical suppliers and development teams and able to communicate key information to integrated teams / number of
supplier companies.
Ability to create bespoke coding architecture and tech solutions, and to write clear
functional and technical specifications
Effective communication, leadership, management skills and able to client face.
To always maintain a calm, professional demeanor and objectivity, even in the
face of pressure.
To demonstrate a pragmatic and conscientious overall approach but also enjoy pushing
boundaries and driving change
A passionate interest in ‘Digital Culture’, new innovation and technologies
To demonstrate commitment to the agency and its continued success
To act as an ambassador for the company externally

PHP developer – London – Up to £50k

calvinjnr — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:02:40 +0000

The PHP Developer will be involved in CMS development, site development, micro sites and creating online advertising experiences. They will work with the digital team on a variety of clients. They must have excellent knowledge of Linux, Apache, PHP and MySQL (LAMP) web application development.
The senior developer should also share management and responsibility of the training for the junior and mid-weight developers working beneath them, offering guidance and resource when required.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities
• Strong knowledge of PHP 5, in particular object-oriented PHP development and MVC design patterns.
• A good knowledge of XSL, XML, HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
• Strong knowledge of database design and management, in particular MySQL.
• Understanding of Apache configuration.
• Good experience with the GNU/Linux environment and tool chains.
• Experience of using open source development platforms and libraries
• Strong experience of third party API’s such as Facebook, Youtube etc.
• Ability to communicate ideas verbally and visually in a coherent and impassioned manner.
• Dynamic: Continually exhibits an ability to create inspirational and cohesive solutions for the clients business. Adds value to the bigger picture by providing fresh and inspiring new perspectives whilst producing work that is on brief and fit for purpose.
• Works with the team to deliver top level creative work and strives to maintain and constantly improve creative standards within the business, whilst seeking support and advice from Creative Team and Head of Interactive Technologies where appropriate.
• Contributes to effective interrogation of the brief and ensures own understanding of its implications.
• Must be comfortable contributing to conceptual discussion, led by Digital Team.

PHP developer – London

calvinjnr — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:01:05 +0000

LAMP developer – London

calvinjnr — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:08:47 +0000

We are looking for an expert LAMP developer and *nix systems administrator to lead back-end development working on a wide range of projects for top international brands.

You will have a passion for technology, the sort of person who’s always experimenting with new technologies, programming languages, methodologies and is well informed in modern development techniques. These technologies will be put to use in award winning creative campaigns and so a personality capable of completing the creative loop, sharing new capabilities and technologies with the team to drive future creative concepts, is necessary.

You will need to be capable of receiving a project brief with technical documentation and then working to hit deadlines, which are often tight in a fast-paced creative industry, with little senior oversight.

Duties & Responsibilities:
• Server and hosting management and organisation
• Managing project back-end development from start to finish
• Interpretation of functional and technical specifications
• Oversight and mentoring of junior developers
• Integration with front-end development including flash via web service setup

Pre-Requisites:
• Strong ability to manage time and deliverables against deadlines
• Experience of a variety of open source CMS (Joomla, Expression Engine, Drupal, WordPress, eZ Publish, etc) and Frameworks (Symfony, Zend, CodeIgniter, Cake, etc)
• Able to develop upon a bespoke MVC framework
• Solid SVN administration skills including setting up new installations and repositories
• Good knowledge of web security fundamentals

‘Nice-to-have’s:
• Experience of alternative technology stacks – .NET, Ruby, Node.JS
• Front-end development: HTML, CSS, JS, Flash
• Good appreciation of SEO and accessibility
• Experience of Facebook application development
• Android and iOS native app development

Senior Interactive Developer – London

calvinjnr — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:06:33 +0000

Role summary:
As Senior Interactive Web Developer you will have an excellent understanding of both modern browser and email client rendering engines and the quirks and work-around techniques used to achieve consistent quality across legacy clients. In some instances the Senior Interactive Web Developer will act as the technical client lead on particular clients. You should revel in the challenges presented by coding Object Oriented JavaScript, and take pride in clean easily maintainable code.

Required Knowledge and skills:
• Senior AJAX developer with up to date and excellent skills, and sound experience in JavaScript, (X)HTML, CSS, and other related interface technologies
• Mastery of the AJAX paradigm and DHTML techniques
• Mastery of common JavaScript DHTML/AJAX libraries such as JQuery, Mootools, prototype
• Mastery of CSS2 layout techniques and how to implement and troubleshoot these across different browsers including IE6
• Object oriented design principles
• Accessibility and Usability issues relating to site development
• XML, and related technologies (e.g. XSL & XML Schema)
• (Automated) Quality Assurance
• Troubleshooting and Problem Resolution
• Excellent communication skills, ideally gained in a fast-moving media environment

Useful extra knowledge and skills:
• C#, ASP, .Net Visual Basic, JSP and Java exposure
• Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS)
• Microsoft Visual Studio
• Some Flash and Action Script exposure
• Linux and/or Windows operating systems
• Test Driven Development
• Configuration Management and Code Control, using Source Safe, SVN, CVS or similar tools
Key responsibilities:
• Being responsible for technical delivery of the project
• Taking part in creative discussions and steering those discussions in the most technically appropriate direction, recommending the best technical approach
• Ensuring that knowledge gained is always shared outwards to the teams and the company as a whole
• Ensuring the project is delivered to high standards of quality in all aspects including, but not limited to code, documentation, configuration management, source code control and best practice

Challenges of the role
• Coping with multiple, sometimes overlapping work streams
• Clearly communicating scope and risks to both the project management functions and the creative functions
• Strength of character, the ability to push back on unreasonable demands but at the same time being able to slot in that little bit of extra help where needed