[US-Based] Position Overview

Web Dev Project Manager: UX-CRO-Storyteller is responsible for all aspects of website (and occasional software) development projects, and is accountable to the client to deliver superior results. Working primarily in WordPress, expertise with popular themes (such as DIVI) is essential, but expertise with other CMSs, such as Joomla, and platforms, such as Shopify, is preferred.

In addition to managing the project and project resources, this position is fully responsible for the development of the website strategy and architecture, wireframes and design concepts, content mapping, content conversion outlines, and copywriting, all to maximize user experience and conversion capability of developed websites.

It is essential that this individual have a curious and investigative mind, can quickly understand business models for assigned projects, and can write persuasive sales-driving content in multiple styles. This position is for an experienced, mature, fully integrated marketer. If you have balanced strengths in skills associated with the organized and logical left brain, as well as the creative right brain, you would find this a perfect position.

To do well in this role, you will require:

•  Strong experience managing all aspects of website development projects, including making plans and executing against those plans, as well as managing a small team of (remote) project resources.
• Strong experience in advanced web design and development that encompasses user experience and conversion optimization best practice knowledge; CRO certification is preferred.
• Expertise with capabilities and functions of WordPress popular themes, particularly DIVI.
• Strong, credible, tactfully assertive and persuasive client management skills.
• Exceptional sales copywriting skills in multiple styles and tones that would be applied to website pages, blog articles, sales emails and more.
• Marketing knowledge, and specifically digital marketing knowledge, to ensure your projects meet the performance requirements of subsequent ongoing digital marketing efforts.

At full capacity, you would manage numerous on-going projects in all stages of development. For the right person and under the right circumstances is possible to start this position at 50% or 75% time.

Only self-starters that are very disciplined and organized need apply. This is a fast-paced position and the ability to multi-task and self-manage is of crucial importance. For those hardy souls, there is some degree of flexibility in hours, dependent primarily on the needs of your assigned clients. After one year of service, up to five percent of your time may be used to assist the non-profit organizations of your choice. You are required to continually grow your knowledge and skills, and have enough interest in the disciplines of sales copywriting, project management, website development, conversion optimization, and user experience design to learn on your own time. All DirectiveGroup contractors/employees help grow our company through writing articles for internal/external blogs, making content updates to our corporate website, writing proposals, speaking at events, networking and referring new clients, etc. You are expected to have a computer with the latest version of MS Windows OS and Office including Microsoft Outlook and sufficient internet capacity for a VoIP phone.

Outcomes: First Six Months

• Successfully demonstrates of all phases of website development including requirements gathering, development of a website strategy and site architecture; oversight of resources to complete tasks around custom or modified template design, coding & programming; development and execution of on-point, effective and persuasive copywriting and content development; testing, go live and ongoing maintenance.
• Follows project management best practices to deliver all in-scope requirements within given timeframe and within given hours, for self and all managed resources, within four months of start.
• Executes user experience optimization and conversion optimization programs that achieve goals within four months of start (including gaining CRO mini-degree if necessary).
• Develops compelling sales/marketing content that delivers results, particularly website page content that includes on-page ‘conversion story’ and site-level content flow that uses best practices for high conversion.
• Collaborates with assigned marketing resources on development and execution of content-based organic marketing and advertising programs within six months of start.
• Executes processes efficiently and effectively to deliver ongoing client web-based tasks.

Skills Required To Achieve Success

Project Management Skills

• Runs multiple assigned client projects simultaneously with minimal oversight.
• Leads client and DirectiveGroup team through all stages of the development cycle.
• Delegates to and co-manages effectively with internal/external team members.
• Understands conceptually the technical elements and can expertly manage technical resources.
• Can create and execute against a strong project plan with goals, milestones and priorities.
• Projects are completed on-time, with proper use of resources, and on budget.

Website Development Skills | User Experience Skills | Conversion Optimization Skills

• Has a deep understanding of information hierarchies, user interface design and can develop websites that are logical, intuitive and effective.
• Expert-level understanding of WordPress, with use of both themes and with custom development.
• Must have experience with multiple CMSs, eCommerce, mobile responsive websites and mobile apps.
• Understands eye-tracking theory, can develop general wireframe layouts based on templates or ‘inspiration’ sites, and can direct graphic designers through the design process.
• Understands theory to effectively structure and layout marketing landing pages for maximum conversion optimization, and has the ability to develop and conduct user experiments.
• Can develop conversion optimization test plans and execute for improved performance.
• Has basic understanding of various markup languages (HTML5, etc) and programming languages (PHP, etc) used in web design, has familiarity technical aspects such as page load speed optimization, servers and web hosting, and internet security issues.

Persuasive Sales Copywriting | Content Development |Search Engine Optimization

• Experienced in persuasive, direct marketing copywriting for an array of business market segments.
• Can quickly grasp a company’s business model, products and services, and can quickly become knowledgeable about key areas of emphasis to organize an on-target and comprehensive content plan.
• Is able to develop copy for multiple digital channels, including not just website pages, but also nurture and sales emails, blog copy, social media marketing and more.
• Consistently demonstrates a good understanding of search engine optimization theory, including being well-versed in trends and most effective current methods, as it applies to website development.
• Understands technical aspects of a website and impact on search engine performance and possesses a good understanding of the Google Analytics program.

Client & Leadership Skills

• Is able to communicate with each client at his or her level of knowledge, and sufficient such that it is clearly understood what we are doing and why.
• Can lead client phone meetings in an organized and efficient manner, appearing both knowledgeable and credible in the interactions.
• Understands how to manage client expectations and client task completion through the life of the project to deliver on-time results that exceed client expectations.
• Is able to sell upgrades and program improvements, either independently or in concert with a sales executive (for larger recommendations).
• Manages well through conflict and is able to tell the client what s/he needs to know and not just what s/he wants to hear.
• Understands the importance of ‘value perception’ to achieve client loyalty and can effectively help our clients understand the value of what we do for them.
• Takes ownership, has strong initiative and is self-directed, and can deal effectively with ambiguity, change and complexity.

Marketing Skills

• Understanding of theory and application of marketing fundamentals.
• Good understanding of online consumer behavior, emerging trends and has well thought out ideas about how they can be applied in a marketing context.
• Keeps current knowledge on online marketing effectiveness research.
• Regularly generates ideas and initiatives to expand capabilities at DirectiveGroup.

 Qualifications

• Must have digital marketing agency experience.
• Strong preference for project management and CRO certifications.
• 6+ years website development project management experience, 4+ with WordPress.
• 2+ years’ experience in website strategy, development of information architecture, and layout of web pages that have both a conversion and SEO focus.
• 2+ years persuasive copywriting and content development.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of various business models.
• Strong ability to discuss websites development practices, search engine optimization, conversion optimization and user experience credibly and persuasively with executives, owners and CEOs.
• Must have virtual work experience.
• Preference for experience with a variety of software development projects.
• Understands of wide range of technical components (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, HTTP, etc).

Personal Characteristics

• Strong organization skills in the context of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Sufficient analytical and logical skills.
• Is curious and a fearless learner with an investigative mind who loves acquiring new knowledge.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills and excellent meeting facilitation skills.
• Is collaborative and works well in a team environment.
• Demonstrates superior leadership skills, confidence and a high level of maturity.
• Strong attention to detail, but understands how to effectively apply the Pareto Principle.
• Ability to occasionally work non-business hours to accommodate meetings with off-shore partners and/or non-business hours GoLive needs.

DirectiveGroup is a digital marketing agency that creates a unique and powerful online presence for each of our clients so as to deliver extraordinarily high results. We focus on B2B, primarily manufacturing, SaaS, and eCommerce marketing, specializing in developing or revitalizing high-converting websites, paid digital/social advertising, digital growth strategies, search engine optimization, content, and social media marketing, email marketing and sales enablement. We also provide fractional executive level (CMO) leadership and strategic marketing guidance.