Web Support Specialist

Location: Boston Metro Area Office (Woburn, MA)

Total Starting Compensation: 
$30k - $40k (base + performance bonus)
Benefits: health care, 401K offered after 4 month trial period

Description of Polar Design:

Polar Design is a mid-sized, global interactive agency employing twenty-five designers, developers, and creative and marketing professionals in its two US and European offices. The diversity of our clients - from sole-proprietors to leading global organizations such as Shell, the BBC, Schneider Electric, Prada, Orange, Prudential, GlaxoSmithKline, and many others -strongly reflects our work quality, skilled staff and service. Joining Polar Design means becoming part of a small yet dynamic team of fellow designers, developers and marketers whose innovation explains why the company has grown steadily since its founding in 1999. 

Description of the Position:
 
This is an entry-level position in web site and hosting support that will introduce your a wide range of web technologies spanning hardware, bandwidth provision, web site development and design.  This is truly a fast-paced, multi-skilled position that involves balancing a wide range of clients, support a wide range of web sites, troubleshooting and solving hosting issues, providing training, and generally applying a range of skills to supporting clients needs. More specific responsibilities are listed below.

Candidates should have at least some co-op and internship experience related to web design and either a major in interactive or web development, or experience developing and support web sites.  If you have a portfolio, please provide a link to it.

This position provides tremendous educational opportunities to prospective candidates, opening doors to further advancement as a web developer or account coordinator within Polar Design or in the industry in general.

Typical Duties: 

  1. HTML/XHTML and CSS coding
  2. Web site graphics cut-up
  3. Light PHP and Javascript coding
  4. Light XML and XSL/XSLT scripting
  5. Hosting administration
  6. Hosting server setup and migration, including Linux/UNIX, MySQL, Apache setup
  7. Database administration
  8. Coordinate between clients, developers and IT specialists in resolving hosting issues
  9. Support client questions about use of installed software, e-mail, assist with e-mail questions
  10. Training hosting and web clients in use of deployed solutions (e.g., Joomla content management)
  11. Review and manage incoming emails and trouble tickets
  12. Differentiate between "error" support versus "billable" support, and communicate with managers or sales team where clients develop new needs
  13. Advise management of ongoing issues and participate in process development or improvement
  14. Administrative duties, including obtaining and filing hosting contracts, service orders
  15. Periodic review of hosting accounts
  16. Monthly reporting of billable support time to managers
Minimum requirements: 
  1. Bachelor Degree from an accredited 4 year university program, with a major focused on web technologies (preferred), or experience supporting web sites 
  2. Proficiency in PHP, HTML, XHTML, CSS and javascript
  3. Experience in Linux server setup
  4. Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
  5. Customer service / communication skills
  6. Understanding of object oriented programming and relational database design principles
  7. Love of learning, and ability to work with minimal supervision or training
  8. Permission to work in the US  
Ideal candidates may also possess: 
  1. Familiarity with Visio or other modeling and flow charting software
  2. Strong writing skills
  3. Experience with project management tools such as Microsoft Project
  4. Experience with Flash-XML interaction, XSL coding
Please respond by submitting to jobs@polardesign.com a cover letter, resume/CV, and samples that may include links to past work, samples in PDF format of print or design document writing work, and anything else that you feel sets you apart.
 
No phone calls, please.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. Applicants selected for this position will be expected to sign a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement.