Front-End Web Development Specialist At Internews

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Front-End Web Development Specialist, Media Viability Accelerator (MVA) will head up an important function for a cutting-edge, online platform that will set a new standard for the industry — developing, testing, and deploying user interfaces for the MVA. Duties include coding HTML, CSS, and TypeScript using the Angular framework; using charting tools such as Power BI, and liaising with web designers and the data engineer.

Reporting to our Media Business Unit’s Head of Technology, the Front-End Web Development Specialist’s work will focus on two core systems: a website built on ASP.NET Core and Angular (the “Portal”), which manages business layer functions for the MVA such as registration and data entry; Power BI Embedded ANalytics contained within the Portal. The Front-End Web Development Specialist (with input from colleagues and stakeholders) will be responsible for envisioning, planning, innovating, and improving on these important functions of the MVA.

ABOUT THE MVA

Only by staying in business can independent news and information providers keep people safe and able to make informed decisions that affect their lives. With the rise of digital media, social and entertainment platforms, and disinformation, these independent media struggle to survive. To help meet this challenge, Internews has secured a 3-year program from USAID which will be known as the Media Viability Accelerator (“MVA”) Forward. It will be a highly visible initiative (announced at the 2021 and 2023 Summits for Democracy) and could have substantial impact on the media sector worldwide.

MVA Forward is contributing to the development of new online platform supporting media in strengthening their business performance. Built on Azure and using ASP.NET Core, Angular and Bootstrap with embedded Power BI data visualizations, the platform offers a growing array of tailored insights and opportunities that can transform media businesses. By making these opportunities intuitive and easy to act on, independent media at scale will engage to create a thriving new ecosystem that unlocks new paths to long-term financial security.

Brought to Minimum Viable Product in January 2024 after seven months of development, the platform is now ready for phased launch through to public launch by August 2024. Over the coming years, the development team will add features, functionality, and languages so that independent media around the world can use the platform. In collaboration with Microsoft, the integration of AI to create powerful insights and recommendations is a priority. To ensure deep understanding of the MVA’s subject matter, purpose, and datasets, a small and dedicated team will lead further development, supplemented by contractors for any specific deliverables beyond the team’s capacity.

LOGISTICS

Internews has Headquarters offices in Washington, DC and London, UK which support a hybrid workforce with staff working remotely, fully in-office, or partially remote. This is a remote-based role, and candidates based anywhere in the United States or United Kingdom will be considered.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply soon.

This is a limited-term position with an expected end date of September 24, 2026.

OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF BELONGING

We are an organization of dynamic, mission-driven individuals who are passionate about our core values and about supporting positive change in the world. We pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation and flexibility. We believe that diverse teams are strong teams and work to support an ethic of belonging, dignity, and justice for all people. Our current team includes a mix of genders, parents and non-parents, and people of multiple races, nationalities, ages, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are an EEO employer and encourage candidates of all races, genders, ages, orientations, ethnicities, and national origins to apply, and welcome those with alternative backgrounds and experiences.

DAY-TO-DAY TASKS will include:

General

• Commitment to understanding the MVA’s subject matter, purpose, datasets and core technologies to ensure meaningful contribution to the program’s overall objectives.
• Contributing to defining the scope, objectives, plans, and activities of the MVA.
• In all duties, upholding Internews’ Core Values and demonstrating commitment to fostering a culture of Belonging, Dignity, and Justice.

Collaboration

• Collaborating with the MVA Forward program team, which leads the rollout of the platform globally, ensuring partner and stakeholder feedback is reflected in the MVA.
• Working closely with the web designer to translate visual concepts into functional designs.
• Working closely with colleagues in back-end web development and web design to improve application usability and feature integration.
• Working in Scrum and contributing to sprint planning, goal setting, and product design.
• Communicating with, coordinating with, and/or managing the work of external contractors and solutions providers.

Web Development

• Design Implementation: Translate UI/UX designs into functional, responsive, and visually appealing web elements using primarily Angular, Bootstrap, HTML5 and CSS3.
• Web Standards and Accessibility Compliance: Ensure all web pages adhere to web standards, satisfy requirements for Section 508 compliance, maintaining documentation of compliance efforts and considerations as part of the development process.
• Testing: Test the solution across multiple browsers and devices to ensure consistency and accessibility, and fix any issues identified.
• Optimizing Performance: Optimize the code base for maximum accessibility, speed, scalability, efficient operation, and future compatibility — also based on user feedback and testing.
• Version Control: Utilize Git for version control to manage code changes and collaborate with other team members.
• Project Management Tools: Use Azure DevOps and Jira for project management, tracking tasks, and collaborating with team members.

QUALIFICATIONS WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Required

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related discipline, or substantial professional experience.
• At least ten years of relevant professional experience, including a minimum of five years of professional experience in front-end development.
• A proven track record of successful projects that demonstrates mastery of using HTML, CSS, TypeScript, and Angular.
• Experience working with performance metrics and data visualization.
• Consistency in layouts and pixel-perfect attention to detail.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• Proven interpersonal skills, including excellent team-building and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively and in close collaboration with colleagues, across multiple locations and with minimum oversight.
• Experience with agile software development in a team.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, ability to multi-task and prioritize workload.
• Self-reliance, resourcefulness, flexibility, and problem-solving attitude.
• Optimism, a sense of humor, and excitement regarding this work.

Preferred

Note: Candidates who do not have these preferred qualifications, but who are interested and willing to learn, are encouraged to apply.

• Understanding of advanced JavaScript frameworks and libraries.
• Experience with CSS preprocessors like SASS or LESS.
• Experience using Bootstrap.
• Experience of ASP.NET Core development.
• Experience creating reports in Power BI.
• Azure certification, indicating in-depth knowledge of Azure services and best practices.
• Familiarity with user-centered design principles.
• Experience with continuous integration and deployment (“CI/CD”) tools and practices, particularly within Azure DevOps.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Experience working with news media.
• Proficiency in any other spoken language.