WordPress Developer

WordPress Developer / Integration Specialist

• Experience in Higher Education is Mandatory

Remote / Hybrid (Based on Business Needs) - Chicago, IL
Contract Opportunity

Overview

This is not a WordPress Administrator, Content Editor, or basic Website Developer role.

The client is looking for a Senior WordPress Developer with strong experience building and maintaining enterprise-scale WordPress platforms, including custom theme development, component-based architecture, API integrations, accessibility compliance, and performance optimization.

The ideal candidate should be capable of designing scalable WordPress solutions rather than simply maintaining existing websites. Candidates should realistically match 90%+ of the requirements below.

What the Client is Really Looking For

The client needs a developer who can own the complete WordPress development lifecycle—from front-end architecture and custom development to enterprise integrations, accessibility compliance, performance optimization, and multi-site scalability.

This role requires close collaboration with:

• Marketing & Communications
• UI/UX Designers
• IT Teams
• Enterprise Application Teams

Key Focus Areas

Enterprise WordPress Development

• Design and develop custom WordPress themes
• Build reusable WordPress components and templates
• Develop custom plugins
• Support enterprise multi-site WordPress environments
• Maintain scalable and standards-driven WordPress architecture

Front-End Development

Strong hands-on experience with:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JavaScript
• PHP
• Responsive web design
• Component-based development

Ability to convert Figma designs and wireframes into reusable, responsive WordPress components.

WordPress Architecture & Integrations

Experience integrating WordPress with:

• REST APIs
• CRM platforms
• Marketing automation tools
• Enterprise applications
• JSON/XML data formats

Experience using:

• Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
• Custom content models
• API integrations

Accessibility & Web Standards

Strong knowledge of:

• WCAG 2.1 AA / 2.2 AA compliance
• Semantic HTML
• Keyboard navigation
• Screen reader compatibility
• Color contrast standards
• Accessible web development best practices

Performance Optimization

Experience optimizing:

• Core Web Vitals
• Page speed
• Mobile responsiveness
• WordPress caching
• Performance tuning
• Security best practices

DevOps & Code Management

Hands-on experience with:

• GitHub
• Version control
• Code reviews
• Deployment processes
• QA and release management
• SDLC and change management practices

Multi-Site & Hosting

Experience supporting:

• WordPress Multi-site
• Multi-brand implementations
• Hosting platforms such as Pantheon (or equivalent)
• Environment management
• Platform stability and uptime

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of WordPress development experience
• Strong experience with:
• WordPress theme development
• Custom plugin development
• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript
• PHP
• Experience with:
• REST APIs
• JSON/XML
• GitHub
• Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
• Strong understanding of:
• SEO best practices
• Website architecture
• Responsive design
• Accessibility standards
• Experience troubleshooting WordPress performance, plugin conflicts, and security issues
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with WordPress Multi-site environments
• Experience in Higher Education or large enterprise organizations
• Experience with Pantheon or similar managed WordPress hosting platforms
• Familiarity with headless or hybrid WordPress architectures

Ideal Candidate Profile

The strongest candidates will have:

• Enterprise WordPress development experience
• Custom theme and plugin development expertise
• Strong front-end engineering skills
• Experience integrating WordPress with enterprise systems
• Deep understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG)
• Performance optimization and SEO expertise
• Experience supporting large, multi-site WordPress environments

Candidates Who Are Unlikely to Fit

❌ WordPress Content Editors or Site Administrators

❌ Developers focused only on page builders (Elementor, WPBakery, Divi, etc.)

❌ Front-End Developers with little or no WordPress customization experience

❌ Candidates without custom PHP, API integration, or plugin development ex…