Front End Developer Lead

Williams Lea seeks an experienced Lead Front End Developer to join our team! Williams Lea is the leading global provider of tech-enabled business and marketing services helping clients manage and transform processes through resilient, scalable 24/7 operations.

Purpose of the Role

Williams Lea is looking for an experienced Front End Developer. The successful candidate will be working in a dedicated Web Development Team within a fast-moving and growing Technology function. As a Lead Front End Developer, you will work in a team of developers to build a website for a public sector department in the UK. Experience with Agile software development frameworks is a must.

The main skills required for this role are Front End Development technologies including but not limited to JavaScript, jQuery, HTML5 & CSS. A working knowledge of Apache web servers and/or AWS is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Experienced front-end developer able to implement robust and high quality web applications according to specification documents / user stories
• Client-focused, working independently and simultaneously across multiple projects
• Capture and documentation of customer requirements and transformation into software design specifications / user stories
• Writes structured well-documented code to deliver scalable software solutions
• Competent problem solver and quickly identifies and finds ways of overcoming obstacles and barriers
• Good communication, able to write clear and concise documentation for technical and non-technical audiences
• Team player with effective time management
• Strong problem solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to peer review and provide feedback on others work
• Consistently technically abreast of existing, new and emerging technologies to complement solutions

Key Activities

• Develop code as per the specifications and coding standards
• Liaise with senior project stakeholders both verbally and in writing
• Production of detailed technical design documentation & estimates
• Implementing unit tests
• Ensure all code passes unit testing with appropriate code coverage
• Review Pull Requests of other team member’s code
• Provide feedback on process to refine where necessary

Key Technologies

Experience in the following technologies is required:

• Core JavaScript (ES6/ES2015)
• Gulp, Webpack
• CSS up to and including CSS3
• CSS pre-processors (e.g. Sass, Less)
• jQuery
• HTML5, including knowledge of the full range of language features
• Cross-browser compatibility testing and development
• Accessibility and usability (WAI, WCAG, ARIA)
• Unit Testing (BDD/TDD)
• Responsive Design/Implementation

Experience in the following technologies is desirable:

• TypeScript
• Drupal development (configuration, theming and module development)
• Understanding of developing websites in PHP
• MySQL
• Integrating websites with 3rd party APIs (REST/GraphQL)
• Apache server configuration
• Knowledge working with Linux
• Cloud hosting (AWS)
• XSLT and XPath
• Client-side performance analysis and optimization techniques
• Continuous Integration (Jenkins)
• Git Source Control
• Photoshop/Fireworks
• Design and Wireframing

Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to degree level or higher in Computer Science or relevant industry experience
• Experienced front-end developer with a history of implementing robust and high-quality web applications according to specification documents / user stories
• 5+ years working with web technology
• Experience of the software development lifecycle and Agile development methodologies
• Experience of providing client facing support is an advantage

Rewards and Benefits

We believe in supporting our employees in both their professional and personal lives. As part of our commitment to your well-being, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to:

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time roles)
• Salary sacrifice schemes, retail vouchers – including our TechScheme which can be used on a range of gadgets such as Smart TV’s, laptops and computers or household appliances.
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Health Assessments
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Discounted gym memberships
• Referral Scheme

You will also have the opportunity to work for a global employer who is dedicated to offering each and every employee an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding career with future career development prospects!

Equality and Diversity

The Company values the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation and will not discriminate because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (each of these being a “protected characteristic” in discrimination law). It will not discriminate because of any other irrelevant factor and will build a culture that values openness, fairness and transparency.

If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like to make a reasonable adjustment to enable you to make an interview please contact us at careersatWL@williamslea.com (we do not accept applications to this email address).

Please note: Due to the high volume of responses received for this role we will not be able to contact all applicants directly. If you have not heard from us in four weeks please consider your application unsuccessful.