Digital Creative Developer, Cardiff

Who are we?

We are New Directions, a group of companies that provide UK wide services (including recruitment, training, care provision and other support services) within education, social care, domiciliary care and the pharmaceutical sector, from a network of offices across the UK.

Voted Best Employer – Cardiff Life Awards 2024

Job Purpose

The purpose of the Digital Creative Developer role is to meld experienced front-end development skills with a robust understanding of digital imaging, including photography and graphic design.

This role is crucial in designing and implementing visually captivating websites and marketing materials that align with our groups brand identity. The successful candidate will play a key role in both the technical execution and creative expression of our digital projects, working collaboratively with the technical team and external marketing teams to ensure that all digital content consistently reflects the New Directions brand. This position will directly contribute to enhancing our brand’s digital presence by making it more engaging, visually appealing, and aligned with our strategic marketing goals.

Main Duties

• Website Development and Maintenance: Design, develop, and maintain engaging and visually appealing websites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other relevant web technologies. Ensure ongoing website functionality and perform regular updates.

• WordPress Customization: Customize WordPress themes and plugins to meet specific project requirements. Develop new features and functionalities within the WordPress environment to enhance user interaction and site performance.

• Digital Imaging and Graphic Design: Create and manipulate digital images and graphics for web and print use. Work closely with marketing to design and produce visual materials such as banners, ads, and promotional content that align with branding guidelines.

• Cross-Device Compatibility: Ensure all digital creations are optimized for performance and compatibility across various devices and browsers, providing a seamless user experience.

• Collaboration with Marketing: Support digital marketing campaigns. Contribute creative ideas and graphic content for email campaigns, social media, and other digital marketing efforts.

• User Experience Enhancement: Focus on enhancing the user experience by implementing the latest web design trends and technologies.

• Technical Problem Solving: Address and resolve technical issues related to front-end website functionalities. Work collaboratively with backend developers to integrate server-side code as needed.

Other duties

• Travel to satellite offices on request.

• From time to time, you may be required to work outside of standard working hours to represent New Directions Group of companies.

• Provide cover for team members occasionally.

• Any other tasks deemed necessary by the Web Development Manager.

• Responsible for compliance with all relevant legislation, processes, policies and procedures.

• Responsible for taking reasonable care of your own health and safety and ensuring that you take reasonable care not to put other people (including fellow employees and members of the public) at risk by what you do or do not do in the course of your job.

• Responsible for safeguarding assets within your control and possession, including but not limited to hardware, software, systems or information, and to report any suspected breach in security without delay, to the relevant personnel as required.

• Responsible for the non-disclosure of any confidential information and/or trade secrets of the company to third party and/or the misuse of any confidential information and/or trade secrets of the company for your own purpose/benefit.

• Responsible for establishing, maintaining and developing excellent working relationships with colleagues within your department and the wider company.

• Responsible for delivering exceptional levels of customer service; both to internal and external customers.

• Responsible for communicating with people in a respectful, courteous and professional manner at all times.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Web Development or a related field.

• Certification in Web Design and Development Technologies.

• Certification or Formal Training in Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent graphic design software.

• Ability to travel when required (current driver’s licence)

Knowledge, skills and experience

• WordPress Functionality: Comprehensive knowledge of WordPress, including theme and plugin development.

• Experience in software development using PHP, JavaScript, or a similar framework.

• Web Development Technologies: In-depth knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other relevant web development languages.

• Digital Imaging Techniques: Strong understanding of digital photography, graphic design and photo editing techniques.

• Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing: Skills in ensuring that websites operate effectively across different browsers.

• Responsive Design Principles: Knowledge of designing and developing responsive websites that work across various devices and screen sizes.

• User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Design: Familiarity with UX/UI principles to enhance website usability and aesthetic appeal.

• SEO Best Practices: Understanding of search engine optimization techniques and their implementation in web projects.

Personal Qualities

• A passion for digital possibilities and the ability to make practical use of them

• Able to communicate clearly and accurately with people at all levels

• Highly analytical, using data to inform decision making

• Self-motivated, passionate and consistently delivers high-quality work

• Demonstrates initiative, is solutions driven and able to solve problems

• Highly organised and reliable

• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy

• Able to manage conflicting demands and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines

• Enthusiastic and positive approach to learning new skills and meeting new challenges

• Able to quickly learn and apply new knowledge and skills

• Creative and ideas driven

• Collaborative and builds positive relationships with all stakeholders

• Able to remain positive and enthusiastic, even when working under pressure

• Able to work independently and as part of a team

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Resilient

• Flexible attitude

• Committed to Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

• Able to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and data security

What we offer

Fantastic employee benefits including:

• A flexible working environment, with the opportunity for hybrid working
• Health Cashback scheme
• Life Assurance of 4 x salary
• Pension Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• A generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (rising to 27 days holiday after two years’ service)
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave through salary sacrifice
• A day off for your birthday
• A Giving Back day – to offer your services to the local community
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme (subject to qualifying eligibility criteria)
• Cycle to Work Salary Sacrifice Scheme (subject to qualifying eligibility criteria)
• Opportunity to join our 3% interest Christmas savings scheme
• Employee referral scheme; you can earn between £250 and £500 for each successful referral into the business
• Regular social, health and well-being events
• Free on-site parking
• On-site Gym