WordPress Developer — Ongoing Retainer | Pantheon | PHP | Accessibility | Government Contract

The Wright UX is a UX and web design agency based in St. Augustine, FL. We are seeking an experienced WordPress developer to join us as a subcontractor on a government contract with a public higher education institution in Massachusetts. This is an ongoing monthly retainer engagement with an anticipated start date of August 2026 and potential contract duration of up to three years (one-year initial term with two optional renewals). About the Engagement: We will be providing web development, technical support, accessibility maintenance and remediation, and strategic digital enhancement services for a complex institutional WordPress website. The site operates on Pantheon hosting with a custom theme, reusable content components, Redis caching, Git-based deployment workflows, and multiple third-party integrations. Scope of Work (Monthly): WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates with compatibility testing Security patching, vulnerability review, and malware scanning Uptime monitoring and incident response support PHP development for custom themes, templates, and components Front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) Git-based deployment workflow management in Pantheon environment WCAG 2.2 accessibility remediation — code-level fixes across themes, templates, plugins, and integrations API integration maintenance (event calendar, forms, admissions platforms, email marketing tools) Performance optimization including Core Web Vitals improvements Cross-browser and cross-device responsive testing and corrective maintenance Ongoing troubleshooting and incident resolution Estimated Hours: 20–40 hours per month depending on institutional priorities. Hours will vary month to month. Required Qualifications: Proven experience with Pantheon-hosted WordPress environments (required — please confirm in your proposal) Strong PHP development skills including custom theme and plugin development Git-based version control and deployment workflow experience WCAG 2.2 / Section 508 accessibility knowledge and remediation experience Experience with third-party API integrations in WordPress Security, performance, and maintenance best practices Professional, clear communication — you will be named as a subcontractor in a government proposal and may participate in a client interview Preferred Qualifications: Experience supporting higher education, nonprofit, or government institutional websites Familiarity with Localist or comparable event calendar platforms Experience with Drupal, Modern Campus, or Slate (not required, good to have) Comfortable working within an established project management and reporting workflow What I Need From You: A brief professional bio (3–5 sentences) describing your relevant WordPress and technical experience — this will be included in a government RFP proposal Confirmation of Pantheon experience Your hourly rate for ongoing retainer work Confirmation of availability starting August 2026 Project Timeline: Proposal submission deadline: July 15, 2026 Finalist interviews with the client: Week of July 27, 2026 Anticipated contract award: July 31, 2026 Anticipated start: August 2026 Budget: Hourly — open to discussion based on experience. Market rate for this scope is $65–$95/hr. Please respond with your relevant experience, Pantheon confirmation, hourly rate, and a brief professional bio. Applications without Pantheon confirmation will not be considered.