CV

Agile developer with experience in object-oriented design and test-driven development for database-driven, content managed and e-commerce websites in PHP5 (inc. Symfony) and XML/XSLT.

Key Skills

• PHP5, Symfony 1.0-1.4 (including Doctrine), CSS, XML/XSLT
• Content management systems, API integrations and e-commerce solutions
• Multi-lingual/ multi-locale websites
• SQL (MySQL 4/5)
• Subversion, Apache, mod_rewrite
• Mac OS X (10.4+), Windows and some Unix

Experience

Developer, Holler Digital Ltd. (January 2011 - present)

Responsible for developing and styling new websites (using Symfony predominately) for a variety of clients; including writing functional and technical specifications for projects.

Freelance Senior Developer, Albion London Ltd. (December 2010 - January 2011)

Customised an open source asset manager; built a radio station web service for flash banner; and provided maintenance, styling and content entry for a new client site.

Freelance Senior Developer, Skive Group Ltd. (November 2010 - December 2010)

Built a custom CMS solution using Symfony 1.4; created a new site using the custom CMS solution; and provided maintenance and styling for existing client sites.

Developer, Pod1 Ltd. (June 2007 - September 2010)

Responsible for maintaining and developing a selection of e-commerce and content managed websites for a variety of clients primarily in the fashion and holiday industries; including proposing new solutions for existing clients, and writing functional and technical specifications for projects. Development in PHP5 (with MySQL), using both a custom framework solution and an open source framework, Symfony (with database abstraction using both Propel and Doctrine).

Client websites that I have worked on include: Epifony * and Gutenberg * (in-house CMS solutions), Pod1, Barceló Hotels (including booking engine) *, Value Retail * (10 multi-lingual websites), Sani Resort * (multi-lingual), Yahoo Advertising (5 multi-lingual websites), Conran (3 websites), Fred Olsen Cruise Lines *, Kabiri, Global Mechanism *, Kurt Geiger, Aspinal of London, Uniqlo, Links of London (multi-lingual/multi-locale), Red Carnation * (12 websites), Reiss, MurmurART *, Matches Fashion, Picture the Loan *, List Ideas Facebook Application *, Fremantle Media *, Innovia Films, Kenwood, and Infonic.

( * indicates main developer on project)

I was an integral part of both the agency and the development team and assumed the role of key "go-to" person (and the most requested) for anything related to Pod1's in-house CMS solutions. I was also asked to mentor both new starters and existing team members.

Developer, Mind Candy Design Ltd. (March 2006 - June 2007)

Responsible for maintaining and developing many websites used for Perplex City, an online alternate reality game (ARG); and a website used for the BBC Big Weekend ARG.

Developed several versions of perplexcity.com, a large online community site; using first XSLT/XML and JSP (RESTful Perl interface), and then JSP and custom Java tags with Hibernate. Additionally designed and developed a User Administration website for internal use by Customer Support; and a wayback archive in JSP for the sites from Perplex City Season 1.

Designed and developed a Store Locator in PHP and MySQL, which used the Google Maps API, and interfaced with a system which calculated the nearest stores to the entered location. Designed and developed a Puzzle Manager system which used JSP, custom Java tags, Hibernate and MySQL to store, manage, display and manipulate data entered for puzzles.

Additionally developed a Content Management System (CMS) in JSP with MySQL; including custom JSP tags and Freemarker templates to display the data entered into the CMS.

Packrat Tools - Personal Project (packrattools.com)

Developed a collection of tools using PHP5 for Packrat (a virtual social collection-based game on Facebook). These include a MOO Sticker generator (using the MOO API); a market tracker, which uses a cron job that scrapes information from the site (with permission); an information tool, which displays recipes and market information for the cards; and a mockup generator. They have been received well by the Packrat community, and the developers of the game.

Volunteer on Customer Support Team, LiveJournal.com (January 2003 - January 2005)

Volunteered for a database driven website, serving over 2 million users. Gained many levels of privileges and answered over 3000 technical requests to the users' satisfaction. Responsible for mentoring and training other volunteers, and producing training documents

4cities - Personal Project (cities.jocarter.co.uk)

Developed a collection of progress indicator tools using PHP5 and Prototype, for a massively multiplayer web-based online game called Cities. This was the winning entry for a competition for the tool that made the best use of the game's XML feeds. It also integrated an external API, which provided the best prices for in-game items.

Part-time and Temporary work

• Bar Staff, The Chesterfield (Summer 2000 and 2001, Oct 2005 - Feb 2006)
• Medical secretarial work, Key Personnel and DK Associates (Summer 2004)
• Dispensing Assistant, Eye Check Opticians (Summer 2002)
• Bar Staff, Hand and Hart (Oct 2001 - Sept 2002)
• Optical Assistant, Boots Opticians (Summer 2001)
• Optical Assistant, Lancaster and Thorpe Opticians (June 1998 - Sept 2000)

Education

University of Nottingham (2000 - 2005)

MSc in Information Technology: Distinction

BA (Hons) Law with French: II.ii (3rd year at l'Université de Nantes, France)

Ashby Grammar School, Leicestershire (1996 - 2000)

'A' Levels: Mathematics (A) Computer Science (A) French (B) and German (B)

GCSEs: 7 A *s, an A and a B

Training and Courses

MCSA via ICS (London) Career Path (2005 - 2006)

Learn Direct Management Course (2005) - Standard Operation, Kaizen, 5S & Skill Control

University of Nottingham Skillability Workshops (2002) - Communication, Negotiation, Leadership, Team Work, Presentation, Commercial Awareness and Time Management

Skills

• Experienced web developer (PHP5, Symfony 1.0-1.4, Doctrine, Propel, JSP, CSS, XSLT/XML, XHTML and Perl)
• Experienced PHP5 developer - custom Content Management Systems, e-commerce solutions and working with Symfony (integration with Doctrine/ Propel database abstraction layers)
• Past experience developing with JSP/Java, including custom tags and integrating Hibernate data objects
• Experienced database developer and SQL programmer (MySQL 4/5 and SQL Server)
• Experience with source control systems (Subversion)
• Experience with Servers and Apache (inc mod_rewrite)
• Object-orientated and test driven development (particularly in PHP5)
• Writing technical documentation, user interface and experience design using UML
• Past experience with templating languages, inc. Freemarker and Velocity
• Experience with multiple operating systems (OS X, Windows, and some Unix)
• Fast and efficient worker, adept at picking up new skills quickly

Positions of Responsiblity and Volunteer Work

Gowalla Street Team Elite Member (August 2009 - present)

University of Nottingham (January 2004 - September 2005)
- Representative on the Student-Staff Consultative Committee (MSc in IT)
- IT Officer on the Student Union Societies Executive Committee, and a volunteer for university open days

LiveJournal.com Customer Support (January 2003 - January 2005)
- Volunteer supporthelp, trainer and mentor on Technical Support
- Member of the French translation team for technical documentation

Leisure Interests

• Photography, reading, puzzles, computer games and online ARGs
• Swimming (Gold Survival, Life Support 2 First Aid and Merit Lifesaving Award)
• Arts and Crafts: watercolour painting, cross-stitch, tapestry, FIMO modelling
• Music (ABRSM Grade 5 Theory and Flute, and Grade 3 Piano)
• Blood Donor (and on Bone Marrow Donation Registry) (2000 - present)
• Clean UK Driving Licence