Project Based | Front-End Web Developer

Project-Based Front-End Web Developer

Remote – Philippines | Independent Contractor | Project Budget: AUD $2,000, subject to discussion

At Smart Suites, we have built more than just vacation stays—we create seamless and memorable guest experiences.

We manage more than 100 short-term rental accommodations across Rocklea, Sunnybank, Acacia Ridge, Kuraby, and other locations in Queensland, Australia. Everything we do is guided by our values of Customer Obsession, Ownership, Curiosity, Humility, Efficiency, and Teamwork—COCHET.

We are now ready to transform our online presence, and we are looking for an experienced Project-Based Front-End Web Developer to help bring that vision to life.

The Mission

Our current website is hosted on Lodgify's proprietary platform. We are moving to WordPress to create a faster, more flexible, user-friendly, and scalable website that better represents the Smart Suites brand.

This is more than a basic website transfer.

You will help reshape how guests discover our properties, explore their accommodation options, and complete their bookings online. You will be responsible for rebuilding the website in WordPress, integrating the Mews booking widget, preserving our SEO performance, configuring website forms and email delivery, and supporting the website through testing, deployment, and handover.

The finished website must be visually polished, mobile-responsive, secure, search-engine optimized, and easy for our internal team to manage.

What You'll Be Responsible For

Website Migration and WordPress Development

• Lead the migration of the Smart Suites website from Lodgify to WordPress.
• Rebuild existing pages, content, navigation, and functionality.
• Customize WordPress using Elementor or another approved page-building solution.
• Create reusable templates and components that can support future properties, landing pages, and marketing campaigns.
• Minimize downtime during migration and launch.

Front-End Development

• Develop and enhance pages using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other appropriate front-end technologies.
• Translate approved designs and content into functional, visually consistent web pages.
• Ensure the website is fully responsive across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
• Ensure compatibility with Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
• Resolve layout, functionality, and performance issues identified during testing.

Mews Booking Integration

• Integrate and configure the Mews booking widget or booking engine.
• Ensure a smooth guest journey from property discovery to booking completion.
• Test the booking experience across devices and browsers.
• Troubleshoot integration errors, script conflicts, tracking problems, and display issues.
• Coordinate with Smart Suites and Mews support when required.

Forms, Email, and SMTP Setup

• Build and configure contact, enquiry, newsletter sign-up, and lead-capture forms.
• Set up SMTP or another reliable email delivery service.
• Configure automated confirmations, internal notifications, and spam protection.
• Test all forms and email workflows before launch.
• Ensure form submissions are handled securely.

SEO Migration

• Audit the current website's URLs, titles, metadata, headings, images, and indexable pages.
• Preserve existing URLs wherever practical.
• Implement 301 redirects for pages with changed URLs.
• Transfer page titles, meta descriptions, headings, image alt text, and other SEO elements.
• Generate and submit an updated XML sitemap.
• Review robots.txt and website indexing settings.
• Configure Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Tag Manager, or existing tracking tools where applicable.
• Identify and resolve broken links, redirect errors, missing pages, and post-launch indexing issues.

Performance, Security, and Accessibility

• Optimize images, scripts, stylesheets, caching, and page-loading performance.
• Apply appropriate WordPress security and performance practices.
• Improve mobile usability and Core Web Vitals.
• Apply basic accessibility practices, including proper headings, image alt text, readable contrast, form labels, and keyboard-friendly navigation.
• Avoid unnecessary plugins and scripts that could affect speed, security, or maintainability.

Hosting, DNS, and Deployment

• Assist with or manage deployment to the approved hosting environment.
• Configure the domain, DNS records, SSL certificate, and CDN services such as Cloudflare.
• Support the transition from Lodgify to the new live WordPress website.
• Conduct post-launch checks for booking functionality, forms, links, redirects, analytics, responsiveness, and security.

Testing and Handover

• Conduct functional, responsive, cross-browser, performance, and user acceptance testing.
• Maintain a record of issues identified and fixes completed.
• Provide documentation covering page editing, website administration, plugins, forms, backups, and basic troubleshooting.
• Provide a complete list of plugins, integrations, licences, credentials, and third-party services used.
• Conduct a handover session with the Smart Suites team.
• Provide an agreed post-launch support period for migration-related defects.

What Success Looks Like

By the end of the project, Smart Suites will have:

• A fully functional WordPress website.
• A responsive experience across desktop, tablet, and mobile.
• A properly integrated and tested Mews booking widget.
• Working enquiry and sign-up forms with reliable SMTP email delivery.
• Preserved SEO value through correct redirects, metadata, and sitemap configuration.
• A secure and optimized hosting environment.
• Verified analytics and tracking.
• Clear website administration and technical documentation.
• No critical broken links, booking errors, or major display issues.
• A website that has been formally tested, handed over, and approved by Smart Suites.

What We're Looking For

Required Experience

• At least 2–4 years of professional web development experience.
• Strong experience building and maintaining WordPress websites.
• Proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and responsive front-end development.
• Experience using Elementor or a similar WordPress page builder.
• Demonstrated experience migrating websites between platforms or content management systems.
• Knowledge of technical and on-page SEO migration.
• Experience integrating APIs, embedded scripts, booking widgets, payment tools, or other third-party services.
• Experience setting up website forms, SMTP services, and email notifications.
• Familiarity with hosting, DNS records, SSL certificates, and CDN services.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across WordPress themes, plugins, scripts, and browsers.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work independently against agreed milestones.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Previous work on hospitality, hotel, serviced apartment, vacation rental, travel, or accommodation websites.
• Familiarity with Mews, Lodgify, or similar property management and booking platforms.
• Experience with Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Tag Manager, and conversion tracking.
• Understanding of Core Web Vitals and website accessibility practices.
• Experience working with Australian businesses or offshore teams.

Nice to Have

• Experience configuring web servers and hosting environments.
• Knowledge of server security, backups, recovery, caching, and monitoring.
• Experience creating staging environments and managing controlled production deployments.
• Familiarity with Cloudflare performance and security settings.
• Basic PHP or custom WordPress theme development experience.

Project Details

Job Type: Independent Contractor – Project-Based
Location: Remote – Philippines
Project Budget: AUD $2,000, subject to discussion
Working Hours: Flexible. Smart Suites operates between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM Philippine time, and availability will be required for agreed meetings, testing, coordination, and deployment activities.
Reports To: Project Lead / Management Team

How to Apply

Please submit the following:

• Your updated résumé or professional profile.
• A portfolio of relevant WordPress and front-end development projects.
• At least two examples of website migrations or third-party integrations.
• A brief explanation of how you would approach migrating a website from Lodgify to WordPress.
• Your estimated project timeline and availability.
• Your proposed project rate.
• Details of any expected plugin, hosting, software, or licence costs.
• Your recommended post-launch warranty or support period.

Portfolio required: Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.

Your portfolio should clearly demonstrate your ability to create websites that are visually polished, technically reliable, mobile-responsive, and optimized for performance.

If you enjoy combining strong front-end development with practical problem-solving and want to help transform the online booking experience of a growing Australian hospitality business, we would like to hear from you.

Originally posted on Himalayas