WordPress Developer & Website Support Consultant

Job Title: WordPress Developer / Website Support Consultant
Client: Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Work Mode: Remote / Hybrid, with occasional in-person meetings in Atlanta as required
Employment Type: Contract – As-Needed Consulting Engagement
Contract Duration: 1 year, with options to renew annually for 2 additional years
Expected Start: January 2027 or upon contract award and authorization
Industry: Web Development, Digital Services, Website Accessibility
Experience Level: Experienced professional
Openings: Multiple consultants may be selected

Job Summary

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is seeking qualified WordPress developers, website support consultants, and digital platform specialists to provide ongoing development, maintenance, accessibility remediation, troubleshooting, modernization, and design services across multiple WordPress websites and related digital platforms.

The selected consultants will work with existing websites, custom themes and plugins, legacy systems, third-party integrations, cloud-hosted environments, and evolving digital services. Responsibilities may include website enhancements, custom development, performance optimization, security updates, accessibility compliance, responsive design, API integrations, and new website development.

Candidates must demonstrate strong WordPress development skills, experience supporting established digital platforms, and the ability to deliver maintainable, secure, accessible, and user-friendly web solutions. Accessibility compliance aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, with readiness for WCAG 2.2, is a core requirement.

This is an as-needed consulting engagement, not a guaranteed full-time position. Work assignments, hours, and project schedules will depend on ARC's requirements and authorized requests.

Key Responsibilities

WordPress Development and Maintenance

• Develop, customize, maintain, and troubleshoot WordPress websites.
• Build and maintain custom WordPress themes, plugins, templates, and content structures.
• Support Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), custom field architectures, and existing WordPress administrative interfaces.
• Work with Divi, Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg/block editor environments.
• Develop responsive, mobile-first website layouts and user interfaces.
• Implement website enhancements, new features, redesigns, and new website projects.
• Diagnose and resolve technical defects, compatibility issues, and application errors.
• Maintain legacy WordPress implementations while minimizing unnecessary rebuilds.
• Improve code quality, maintainability, documentation, and technical debt.

Website Accessibility and Compliance

• Conduct accessibility audits and identify barriers affecting users with disabilities.
• Remediate accessibility issues in accordance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA and support readiness for WCAG 2.2.
• Perform manual and automated accessibility testing.
• Implement semantic HTML, keyboard navigation, accessible forms, and appropriate ARIA attributes.
• Correct color contrast, focus management, dynamic content, and interactive component issues.
• Improve accessibility across legacy websites, page templates, and custom components.
• Integrate accessibility testing and quality assurance into development and deployment workflows.

Website Performance, Security, and Infrastructure

• Support website hosting coordination and managed hosting environments.
• Optimize page loading speed, caching, CDN configurations, and website performance.
• Apply security patches and assist with WordPress hardening.
• Coordinate backups, recovery procedures, and deployment activities.
• Support staging environments, version control, source code management, and release workflows.
• Troubleshoot hosting, integration, configuration, and website availability issues.
• Assist with technical assessments and recommendations for platform stability and sustainability.

Integrations and Digital Modernization

• Develop and maintain API integrations and third-party service connections.
• Support website modernization, redesign, and digital transformation projects.
• Improve content workflows, automation, and platform administration.
• Evaluate technical architectures and recommend practical improvements.
• Support emerging digital services and appropriate AI-assisted development tools where beneficial.
• Recommend sustainable solutions that improve maintainability, accessibility, operational efficiency, and user experience.

Project Coordination and Client Communication

• Coordinate with ARC staff through Microsoft Teams, email, telephone, and in-person meetings when required.
• Provide task estimates and time quotations before beginning work when requested.
• Document completed tasks, project activities, technical issues, and recommendations.
• Submit itemized invoices or project-specific invoices when requested.
• Provide monthly billing documentation consistent with ARC's invoicing procedures.
• Supply the hardware and software needed to perform assigned work.
• Coordinate with other consultants, internal teams, and third-party providers.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated professional experience in WordPress development and website support.
• Strong knowledge of PHP, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and WordPress architecture.
• Experience with custom themes, plugin development, WordPress configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Practical experience with ACF, custom fields, and page builders such as Divi, Elementor, or Beaver Builder.
• Familiarity with Gutenberg/block editor development.
• Experience building responsive and mobile-friendly websites.
• Knowledge of web accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
• Experience with accessibility testing and remediation techniques.
• Familiarity with website security, performance optimization, hosting environments, and deployment processes.
• Experience with Git or other version control systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot legacy applications and improve existing websites without requiring complete redevelopment.
• Strong analytical, communication, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage assigned tasks independently and meet agreed delivery schedules.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting public-sector, regional planning, government, nonprofit, or public-facing organizational websites.
• Experience maintaining multiple WordPress websites within a complex digital environment.
• Knowledge of cloud hosting, CDN services, caching systems, backup solutions, and recovery procedures.
• Experience with REST APIs and third-party integrations.
• Familiarity with accessibility testing tools such as axe, WAVE, or Lighthouse.
• Experience with automated testing, continuous integration, deployment workflows, and staging environments.
• Experience with website redesigns, CMS modernization, and technical architecture reviews.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Teams and collaborative project management practices.

Work Arrangement and Schedule

• Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
• Work arrangement: Primarily remote work may be possible, subject to ARC's project needs and authorization.
• Meetings: Consultants must be available for remote meetings and occasional in-person meetings at ARC offices in Atlanta.
• Schedule: Assignment-based, with hours determined by approved work requests.
• Travel: Travel expenses will not be reimbursed by ARC.
• Equipment: Consultants must provide their own necessary hardware and software.
• Duration: Initial one-year contract, with options for two additional annual renewals.