Role Description
We’re looking for a Senior Headless Developer to build high-quality, design-led websites and digital products using our modern headless stack, with a strong focus on performance, scalability and frontend polish.
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Build and maintain websites and applications using a headless architecture, primarily with Next.js and Payload CMS.
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Translate Figma designs into high-fidelity, polished UI implementations, with strong attention to spacing, typography, states and responsiveness.
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Work with structured content models and APIs to deliver flexible, scalable frontends.
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Collaborate closely with designers, digital producers and developers throughout the full project lifecycle.
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Contribute to scoping, estimates and technical planning, helping turn briefs and designs into clear build plans.
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Communicate progress, blockers and trade-offs clearly and proactively.
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Identify risks and edge cases early — including UI, UX, performance and architectural concerns — and raise them before they impact delivery.
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Implement and optimise server-side rendering, static generation and client-side interactions as appropriate.
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Optimise applications for performance and Core Web Vitals, alongside accessibility and usability.
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Actively measure and improve performance, including page load, rendering, interaction and layout stability.
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Integrate with third-party services such as ecommerce platforms, APIs and external data sources.
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Test and QA your own work, including visual, accessibility and performance QA.
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Document your work clearly and consistently, including architecture, data flows, content models and deployment notes.
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Assist with troubleshooting server, hosting and environment-related issues, including deployments, caching, CDN behaviour and runtime errors.
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Participate constructively in reviews and feedback cycles, giving and receiving feedback with clarity and respect.
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Contribute positively to the team by sharing knowledge, supporting others and improving internal frameworks and standards.
Qualifications
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4–5+ years professional experience building modern web applications or headless websites.
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Strong experience with Next.js (App Router), including modern rendering strategies, data fetching, caching and routing.
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Experience working with headless CMS platforms, particularly Payload or similar.
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Solid backend fundamentals, including APIs, authentication, databases and server-side logic.
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Strong frontend development skills with a polish-first mindset:
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Modern JavaScript / TypeScript
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Component-based UI development
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Tailwind CSS
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Motion / animation libraries
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Demonstrated ability to deliver pixel-considered, production-ready UI.
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Strong understanding of web performance fundamentals, including Core Web Vitals (LCP, INP, CLS).
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Solid understanding of web accessibility standards (WCAG).
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Experience deploying and operating applications on modern platforms (e.g. Vercel).
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Familiarity with modern databases (e.g. Postgres-based platforms like Neon).
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Experience working with Git-based workflows.
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Comfortable collaborating with designers using Figma.
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Strong understanding of modern web security best practices.
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Excellent communication and documentation skills.
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Strong attention to detail and ownership mindset.
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Ability to manage your workload effectively using project management tools (we use Productive).
Requirements
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Bonus points if you also have strong WordPress experience.
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Nice to have:
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Strong WordPress experience.
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Experience with Shopify, including headless ecommerce builds.
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Experience with Cloudflare (CDN, caching, edge behaviour, security).
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Specific experience with Payload and Next.js.
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Familiarity with multi-environment setups and release workflows.
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Experience working on larger-scale or long-lived digital platforms.
Work Arrangement & Expectations
This is a remote role that will be set up as an independent contractor engagement. To ensure alignment and transparency, successful candidates will be expected to:
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Disclose any existing ongoing roles or client work.
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Reflect this engagement on their LinkedIn profile (clearly marked as “Independent Contractor”).