Web Developer & SEO Specialist - Deseret News

About the position

Our company is committed to being trusted voices of light and truth reaching hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Hometown Media, a division of Deseret News Publishing Company, is a forward-thinking advertising agency, creating campaigns that connect and delivering creativity that converts. We are committed to delivering innovative, high-impact marketing solutions for our clients. We specialize in working with medium to large companies throughout Utah, and are looking for a skilled UX/UI Designer with strong web development and SEO expertise to lead the charge in building and optimizing websites for our clients. This is a solo role on the web/SEO side of the agency so we are seeking someone confident, self-directed and experienced in both website development and SEO technical and local best practices.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain high performing websites utilizing WordPress.
• Monthly website maintenance ensuring plugins are up to date and sites function optimally.
• Own the entire web development and SEO process - from UX planning to site launch, to ongoing optimization.
• Work with graphic designers on visual elements with customer website goals and brand guidelines.
• Create landing pages when necessary.
• Implement best practices SEO strategies including on-page optimization, local SEO, site speed improvements, mobile responsiveness, etc. with up-to-date industry trends.
• Perform regular technical SEO audits and make recommendations for improvements.
• Write or optimize content for SEO performance.
• Monitor and report monthly on SEO strategies effectiveness using tools like Google Search Console, SEM Rush and Google Analytics.
• Use tools like Clearscope, Surfer SEO or other AI content optimization tools.
• Understand how to use AI (like ChatGPT) to efficiently generate content outlines, meta descriptions, schema markup, and even early stage drafts.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in UX/UI design, web development and SEO.
• Proficient with front-end technologies such as HTML/CSS, JavaScript basics and CMS platforms, especially WordPress.
• Strong understanding of technical SEO, including site architecture, schema markup, Core Web Vitals and crawlability.
• Solid proficiency in local SEO, including Google My Business profile optimization and localized content strategies.
• Working knowledge of tools like Google Search Console, GMB, Google Analytics, Yoast and equivalent.
• Experience writing or optimizing content for web search results.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple products with minimal oversight.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in conversion rate optimization, email/web funnels or basic PHP.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus monthly performance-based bonuses.
• Health insurance.
• Retirement plans.
• Paid time off.
• Professional development, training programs, and career advancement within a growing agency.
• Flexible hybrid schedule with 2 in-office days a week.