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Product Developer

Deadline to apply: July 14, 2022


Reports to: Director of Strategic Communications.


The Stimson Center, a global foreign policy think tank, seeks a full-time Product Developer to join a tight-knit and productive team. The Product Developer will lead the Communications team's technical projects, helping bring the Stimson Center's leading research and data tools to a global audience. The ideal candidate will be level-headed in a fast-paced workplace, take initiative and work independently, and have an interest in foreign affairs.


This new position is the first developer Stimson has hired. It is a unique opportunity for a talented person to make an impact at a growing organization, set the direction for how we use and develop digital products and tools, own the full stack, and collaborate with a wide range of subject matter experts to bring their ideas to life.



Team & Organization Culture:


  • The Communications team is small, close-knit, and fast-paced. We expect our colleagues to move quickly, solve problems, pay attention to details, support each other, and keep many balls in the air at once.

  • We wear many different hats, and they are all important. Communications is simultaneously an advisor, enabler, service provider, and collaborator with colleagues across a wide range of subject matter expertise and communications experience.

  • Management is mentorship-driven. We aim to create an environment that enables professional development, intentional skill-building, and finding opportunities for growth.

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are among the Stimson Center's core values. They inform both the work that we do and how we do it. More on our DE&I efforts.


Responsibilities:


  • Lead the Communications Team's technical projects. Set the overall direction of how we use and develop digital tools and products.

  • Develop, improve, and administer WordPress websites. Collaborate with communications and policy teams to build and execute a roadmap for stimson.org as well as other project-specific sites. Create custom sites from scratch using code (not just plugins). Advice on vendor selection and oversight as needed.

  • Develop innovative digital products. Collaborate with policy teams on projects with significant technical dimensions, such as interactive, data-driven, and/or media-rich experiences. Take projects from concept to launch, advising, planning, and building the sites, pages, and tools that support research program goals.

  • Data Management. Oversee our email subscriber lists and other data and ensure compliance with relevant policies.

  • Reporting, Analytics, and Online Advertising. Create tools and systems to ensure timely data and analysis that supports internal decision making and funder reporting. Maintain advertising using our Google AdWords Grant.

  • Internal Tools. Develop, improve, and administer the internal tools that enable policy and communications staff to track and support work across the organization.

  • Technical documentation and manuals. Write clear and complete documentation for technical projects and accessible guidance for using and managing them.

  • Other responsibilities: Respond to ongoing policy staff inquiries and requests, post web content, back up other team members as needed, supervise interns, etc.



Qualifications & Qualities

  • Bachelor's degree in relevant field or other relevant experience. Five years of professional experience.
  • Excellent creative skills and strong intellectual curiosity; eagerness to learn new skills, tools, and approaches and creatively apply technology to solve problems.
  • Experience in custom WordPress site development and administration and an expert understanding of how to use content types, taxonomies, and other aspects of WordPress to create custom solutions.
  • Fluency in modern web development technologies, such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP.
  • Familiarity with best practices in UI/UX design, including accessibility. Experience with prototyping tools such as Adobe XD or Figma.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and collaboratively with nontechnical colleagues, take feedback gracefully, and iterate and improve on work.
  • Strong writing and communication skills.
  • Excitement for challenging problems, eagerness to follow a project through to the end, and attention to detail.
  • Sound judgement, maturity, and discretion.
  • Interest in foreign policy, international security, or any of Stimson's programmatic work is a plus.
  • Some of the tools and technologies we use:
  1. WordPress. Including Toolset and Elementor.
  2. Zapier and Make.com
  3. Mailchimp and Salesforce
  4. Google Adwords, Tag Manager, Analytics, and Data Studio
  5. Adobe Creative Suite
  6. ArcGIS


To Apply:


Submit resume, cover letter, and project portfolio. A project portfolio should provide brief project descriptions, including a description of your role, and live links to the work. A reference contact for the project would be helpful as well.


Stimson is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates, supports, and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable laws.