Description
Changents (www.changents.com) is a storytelling and social networking platform that connects the “rock stars” of social and environmental change – Change Agents – with a global network of "backers" who want to help them. Changents provides a rich set of tools for Change Agents to tell their exciting, ongoing stories; broadcast those stories around the Internet; and build virtual teams to support a Change Agent's mission.
Changents seeks a Lead Technologist with outstanding managerial and hands-on coding skills to set and execute the technology vision for both the Changents Web site and portable extensions of the Changents experience across the Internet. We are looking for a Web 2.0 expert to create development strategies; execute production plans; write high-quality code; and manage other developers inside and outside the company. This person will have a strategic “seat at the table” in guiding the evolution of the Changents platform on an ongoing basis.
Changents is built in Drupal so our Lead Technologist must be highly proficient in Drupal coding standards and best practices. A personal commitment to using technology to do good in the world is a big plus.
Responsibilities
1) Strategy & Planning: Develop the 2009 technology roadmap for developing and/or integrating new features and functionality; optimizing existing site structure and features; and implementing portable extensions of Changents.
2) Development & Integration: Execute all technology development and integration projects through hands-on management, coding, testing, deployment and documentation. Supervise other developers as needed.
3) Opportunity Assessment: Seek out and evaluate opportunities to integrate new and emerging technologies including new Drupal modules. Identify opportunities to contribute modules and other open source development back to the Drupal community.
4) Site Maintenance: Provide day-to-day technical maintenance and bug fixes for site.
5) Other Technical Duties: Provide basic server administration and optimization for outsourced Web hosting. Manage vendor relationships with outsourced technology service providers including hosting, storage and others.
Skills and Interests
We are seeking a motivated self-starter who enjoys a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment and is able to work solo or as a team leader. Our ideal candidate possesses a keen understanding of using technology to tell stories; deliver content (blogs, short video, podcasts, photo galleries, SMS, etc.); build and retain communities of interest; encourage community communication and collaboration; conduct business transactions via advertising, e-commerce, affiliate relationships, etc. The candidate must be an active user of social networking utilities (particularly Facebook, Twitter, Flickr) and be familiar with related APIs. Most importantly, the candidate should be a highly creative, independent thinker; possess an extraordinary work ethic; be able to commit to deliverables and deadlines; and have a great a sense of humor.
Professional skills should include:
• Expertise in Drupal core and key contributed modules including CCK and Views.
• Proficiency in all levels of the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP).
• Ability to engineer new Drupal modules using the Drupal API.
• Knowledge of Drupal best practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of video delivery platforms and Web 2.0 APIs (specifically system integration using XML and REST)
• Strict adherence to MVC as a personal code of honor (you are deeply offended by sub-standard coding).
• Knowledge of cross-browser issues and compatibility.
• Experience with Javascript (AJAX, jQuery); Flex; DHTML; XHTML; CSS.
• Experience with ad serving, web analytics and other support technologies.
• Experience with basic server administration.
• Experience with CMS-driven, social networking/community sites.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Bachelors degree a plus.
Location, Hours and Compensation
The Lead Technologist role is a full-time, contract position for an initial period starting in January 2009 and continuing through the rest of the year. The Technologist must be an individual who can work independently with guidance from management. The work schedule will be mutually agreed upon between the parties and the Technologist must be able to provide his or her own work space and essential equipment, i.e. a computer, Internet access, telephone, desk, etc. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and based on an annual rate (paid in monthly installments). Plus, Changents will pay one or more discretionary, performance-based bonuses. All pre-approved expenses will be reimbursed.
Boston, Massachusetts or Portland, Oregon area preferred but outstanding talent from anywhere in North America will be considered.
Individuals only please. No development shops or collaboratives.
