WordPress Performance & Technical SEO Specialist Needed for Existing Website

I’m looking for an experienced WordPress developer to carry out a defined set of performance and technical SEO improvements on an established UK service-business website. The website’s content, design, pricing, and principal service pages have already been updated. I am not looking for a website redesign, content writing, backlink package, directory submissions, or an ongoing monthly SEO retainer. The project will begin with a paid technical diagnosis. No significant changes should be made during that first milestone. If the diagnosis and recommendations are satisfactory, I intend to continue with the same developer for implementation and testing. PROJECT SCOPE 1. Website speed and caching The main pages have recently taken approximately 4–7 seconds for the server to begin responding. The selected developer will need to: * investigate the high server response time/TTFB; * determine whether the main cause is hosting, WordPress, the theme, plugins, database activity, server configuration or another source; * investigate why logged-out visitors appear to receive PHP session cookies and no-store/no-cache headers; * remove unnecessary PHP sessions for anonymous visitors where safe; * configure appropriate full-page caching for logged-out visitors; * review CDN, server and browser caching; * optimise scripts, styles, fonts, images and database activity where genuinely useful; * test four principal pages before and after implementation; * ensure contact forms, menus, accordions, galleries and enquiry functions continue working correctly. I do not want somebody to install several optimisation plugins without first diagnosing the underlying problem. 2. Indexing and sitemap clean-up The selected developer will also need to: * set tag archive pages to noindex; * remove tag archives from the XML sitemap; * set the “Uncategorized” category to noindex; * identify confirmation, thank-you, calendar and other utility pages that should not appear in search results; * review a small number of obsolete pages and recommend whether each should be retained, noindexed, or redirected; * implement 301 redirects only after I approve the list; * retain current portfolio pages that remain relevant; * check canonical URLs; * check robots.txt and the XML sitemap for errors; * confirm that important pages remain indexable. Pages should not be mass-deleted. 3. Organisation structured data Please review and improve the website’s Organization or LocalBusiness structured data so that it consistently includes, where appropriate: * the correct business name and canonical website; * the correct logo; * the founder; * correct contact information; * London as the business base; * UK-wide and international service areas; * correct LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook profiles. An incorrect LinkedIn URL currently contained in the structured data must be replaced. No residential address should be published. The completed structured data must be validated, with any remaining warnings or errors explained. 4. General technical checks Please also: * check for broken internal links caused by old or redirected pages; * confirm that page titles and meta descriptions entered in WordPress are appearing correctly in the live HTML; * confirm that Article/BlogPosting schema remains enabled on blog articles; * check that featured images and social-sharing images work correctly; * identify any critical WordPress, PHP, plugin, or theme issues affecting performance or crawling; * avoid altering the written content or design without approval. SAFE WORKING PROCESS Before making changes, the developer must: * create or verify a complete backup; * use a staging site where practical; * record the principal findings before implementation; * explain if the existing hosting package contributes to the problem; * avoid adding unnecessary plugins; * test the website on desktop and mobile following implementation. DELIVERABLES Milestone 1: Paid technical diagnosis and written action plan This should include: * the identified causes of the slow response; * evidence supporting the findings; * the recommended changes; * any risks or dependencies; * whether the hosting package is contributing to the problem; * a confirmed fixed-price quote for implementation. Milestone 2: Implementation, testing and final report This should include: * a list of every change made; * before-and-after performance results for four principal pages; * a list of pages noindexed, removed from the sitemap, or redirected; * confirmation that forms and important functionality have been tested; * structured-data validation results; * remaining recommendations separated into essential and optional work. APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS Please provide: 1. Links to two comparable WordPress performance or technical SEO contracts visible in your Upwork work history. 2. For each example, briefly state the original problem, the work you personally completed, and the measurable result. 3. Any genuine before-and-after performance reports or screenshots you are permitted to share. 4. Confirmation that you are available for a short Upwork video interview with screen sharing. 5. Your fixed price for the initial technical diagnosis and written action plan. 6. Your estimated price range for the subsequent implementation. 7. Confirmation of whether you personally will complete the work or pass it to another person. Generic SEO packages, bulk backlinks, directory submissions, and guaranteed ranking claims are not required.