Lead Developer - Site & Performance

Are Media; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Birthday leave

Volunteer leave

Parental leave

Learning & development

Wellbeing program

Discounts & benefits

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Are Media in Sydney is seeking a Lead Developer who combines deep WordPress expertise with hands‑on engineering and strong people leadership to drive performance and scalability of our digital platforms.

Reporting to the Head of Engineering & Technology Operations, you’ll guide a team of developers, set technical direction, and partner across Content, AdTech and Data to deliver scalable digital solutions for our prominent brands.

Qualifications

• Proven technical and people leadership, mentoring developers and delivering high-quality digital products.
• Collaborative, solutions-focused, with strong knowledge of databases, security and modern practices; paywalls or memberships knowledge valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of WordPress developers, building technical capability and engineering standards.
• Own the technical direction and development of Are Media's WordPress platform, improving architecture, security, caching, and performance.
• Drive platform optimisation and innovation, enhancing Core Web Vitals and AdTech capabilities.
• Partner with Content, Audience, AdTech, Data and Technology teams to deliver scalable digital solutions.

Job description

Our portfolio includes some of Australia’s most iconic and trusted brands, including The Australian Women’s Weekly, ELLE, marie claire, New Idea, Australian House & Garden, Bounty Parents, Better Homes & Gardens and more!

We are Australia’s leading omnichannel content company for women! Every day we inform, inspire and connect with 9 in 10 Australian women through magazine media, digital, video, social, e-commerce, vodcasts, events and experiences.

What we can offer you

We welcome the opportunity to explore flexible work options where appropriate, depending on the needs of the business.

Additional paid leave, including a day off to celebrate your birthday, four days of volunteer leave each year, and inclusive leave provisions supporting reproductive, hormonal and wellbeing needs, as well as First Nations cultural and ceremonial commitments.

Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks, plus a parenting gift pack, meal vouchers and return-to-work support.

Opportunities to grow and develop, with access to tailored learning pathways, mentoring, Lunch & Learns, our Digital Learning Academy and professional development support.

A comprehensive wellbeing program including EAP, Mental Health First Aiders, and a personalised online wellbeing portal with assessments, resources and lifestyle plans.

Exclusive benefits and discounts, including Fitness Passport memberships, discounted health insurance, beauty services, technology and a range of lifestyle offers through our benefits partner Flare.

A genuinely inclusive culture, supported through our BELONG @ Are program, where everyone is welcomed, valued and empowered to be their authentic selves.

The Role

Shape the future of the WordPress platform powering some of Australia's most recognised media brands!

At Are Media, we're looking for a Lead Developer who combines deep WordPress expertise with hands‑on engineering and strong people leadership to drive the performance, scalability and evolution of our digital platforms.

Reporting to the Head of Engineering & Technology Operations, you'll lead a team of developers, setting technical direction and driving engineering excellence across our WordPress ecosystem. You'll play a key role in our digital growth strategy, modernising our platforms, improving site performance and advertising experiences, and helping shape the future of our technology.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of WordPress developers, building technical capability and establishing strong engineering, code review and delivery standards.
• Own the technical direction and development of Are Media's WordPress platform, improving architecture, security, caching, database health, performance and scalability.
• Drive platform optimisation and innovation, improving Core Web Vitals, resolving complex site performance and AdTech challenges, and leading the technical assessment of WordPress VIP.
• Partner with Content, Audience, AdTech, Data and Technology teams to deliver scalable digital solutions spanning paywalls, personalisation, video, advertising and improved user experiences.

About you

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Proven technical and people leadership, with experience mentoring developers, setting engineering standards and leading the delivery of high-quality digital products in Agile environments.
• A collaborative and solutions-focused approach, with strong knowledge of databases, application security and modern development practices, and the ability to translate complex technical challenges into practical solutions. Experience with paywalls, memberships or personalisation platforms will be highly regarded.

Are Media is a proud member of Media Diversity Australia, a not-for-profit organisation working towards a media landscape that looks and sounds like Australia. We are committed to fostering diverse, respectful,collaborative & inclusive workplace. We know & value the success this brings for everyone, and we welcome & encourage applications from diverse backgrounds.