Chris Johnson
Hey, CCJ!
I stand on the sweet spot where great code, design & strategy intersect. I’m currently a development team leader and advocate for stellar higher education websites at Carnegie Higher Ed. I work remotely and am based near Philadelphia, PA.
Creative vision, technical execution
I'm a versatile web expert with 9+ years experience of delivering innovative solutions across the many phases of large web development projects. My front-end skills and keen eye for design allows me to bridge the gap between creative vision and technical execution.
A Focus on Higher Education
My career has mostly been in the realm of higher education marcomm, with a focus on developing conversion/enrollment-based websites for prospective students. I am familiar with the unique complexities of higher ed web projects, including enterprise-level CMS implementations, the nuances of team dynamics, Slate, iModules, enterprise-level event calendaring, faculty directory considerations, news and blog importance, and more.
What I Do
Front-end Development
Implementing designs with clean and efficient code using HTML, CSS, JS, with a focus on accessibility, cross-browser testing, and SEO optimization.
Content Management Systems
Higher ed platforms (e.g., Modern Campus, Terminalfour, and Cascade) and commercial platforms (e.g., Wordpress, Drupal, Sitecore, AES, Craft, and HubSpot).
Team Leadership
Providing direction, feedback, skill development, and innovation opportunities to employee direct reports.
Development Administration
Crafting thorough code documentation and README files, while managing repos, AWS buckets, and deployment pipelines.
Back-end Development
Interfacing with back-end developers to handoff front-end code deliverables for CMS builds, including developer documentation, specifications, and QA.
UX Design and Review
Improving website design and development based on UX testing and best practices, including creating on-the-fly Figma mockups for developers.
From Project to Process
In an agency setting, I bring client websites to life through planning, communication, execution, and client education. I focus on emphasizing the importance of web processes rather than one-and-done web projects.
Enrollment-Focused Development
My experience working in-house has centered on developing marquee website experiences that drive meaningful connections between the school and its audience, keeping institutional marketing and enrollment efforts at the forefront .
Documentation & Organization
My technical writing degree is invaluable in web development, particularly in creating concise and well-organized documentation — a boon for any development team that's often an afterthough. Much like code in front-end development, I focus on syntax, beautiful formatting, and brevity. I take pride in crafting developer- and client-facing deliverables like specification documents and CMS build notes.
March 2024 - Present
Asst. Director, Front-End Development
Carnegie Higher Ed
- Lead front-end development efforts totaling approximately $1mil of development work per year.
- Ensure projects align with internal revenue goals and client expectations. Oversee project budgets, scopes, QA testing, and final delivery.
- Manage front-end developers, providing direction, feedback, and skill development/innovation opportunities. Plan team resourcing and workloads to optimize productivity and delivery timelines.
- Implement and oversee developer subcontracting agreements totaling approximately $100k annually.
- Coordinate handoffs to CMS vendors, including Modern Campus, Terminalfour, and Hannon Hill. Serve as a primary client contact for technical guidance and issue resolution.
July 2023 - March 2024
Web Implementations Manager
- Led the creation of functional specifications for front-end development, including design templates, motion guidelines, and technical requirements. Coordinated closely with design and technical teams to ensure project specifications matched design intentions.
- Acted as a liaison between internal teams and clients, assisting in CMS training, content migration, and technical support. Played a key role in responding to support requests and contributing to new feature development.
- Coordinated handoffs between front-end and back-end teams, ensuring seamless integration and understanding of project specifications.
- Conducted comprehensive QA testing across design concepts, HTML, and CMS implementations to ensure high standards of functionality and user experience.
March 2022 - July 2023
Product Manager
Carnegie Higher Ed
- Managed internal and client expectations for website features and functionalities, including intaking design concepts to ensure scope, UX best practices, CMS compatibility, and development feasibility.
- Developed functional specifications and design documentation, while facilitating collaboration and liaising with strategists, designers, developers, and commercial CMS vendors, including Wordpress and Drupal.
- Captured and communicated non-functional specifications to designers and developers, including browser, device, language, accessibility, and UX considerations.
2019 - March 2022
Senior Front-End Web Developer
Drexel University
- Developed and designed all marquee, high-profile websites for the University, including three award-winning annual reports, a new Provost website, and a brand campaign microsite.
- Managed two Web Support Specialists to provide web development support to administrative and academic units.
- Migrated over 500 program pages to a new Sitecore environment. Collaborated with project and product managers to ensure functionality and accessibility.
2019 - 2021
UX Designer & Developer
Pennsylvania Department of Education
- Conceived and designed site features for the Pennsylvania Education Resource Center Website.
- Developed HTML/CSS/JS/Typescript to reflect pixel-perfect designs and frameworks. Improved user experience by implementing transitions and custom micro-interactions.
- Managed relationships and budgets with ADA-accessibility vendors and hosting platforms.
2016 - 2019
Front-End Web Developer
Drexel University
- Wrote HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create visually intriguing, responsive, interactive, and WCAG 2.0 Level AA-compliant websites, including the University’s 125th Anniversary website and a new Athletics website.
- Worked with the University’s 17 colleges to maintain existing web presences and to design and build new digital infrastructures within Sitecore CMS.
- Enforced, modified, and created University editorial style guides, branding guidelines, and web standards.
2016
Technical Writing, BA
University of Delaware
3.75 GPA, Cum Laude
Internship Experiences
- Technical Communications Intern
University of Delaware, IT Communication Group (2014–2016) - Social Media Content Manager
University of Delaware, Office of Communication and Marketing (2014) - Graphic and Web Design Intern
University of Delaware, Residence Life & Housing (2013)
2014
Abroad Experience
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
University of Otago, New Zealand