Thomas Cook Group - Conversion Rate Optimisation Developer

Working within the in-house Optimization team, my role focuses on the building and implementation of A/B and MVT tests on the Thomas Cook websites, supporting different devices & multiple European markets. The optimisation team is also responsible for personalisation on the websites which includes identifying cohorts and targeting them for specific tests & content.

As part of a small team, I also assist with the full cycle of optimising the website, including coming up with test hypothesis using customer feedback & existing analytics data, fleshing out test ideas and prioritising those ideas based on estimated business value. Establishing goals and audience segmentations. Implementing the tests in a variety of third-party optimisation tools using WYSIWYG and HTML/CSS/JavaScript & JQuery. I also help with the analysis of data after a test has run, both in Google/Universal analytics and the data provided by third-party tools.

Day-to-day interactions vary, including, but not limited to, working and communicating with third-party tool suppliers (as part of a managed service) , PMs, development teams, supporting markets in other countries.

Iron Mountain - Front-End Web Developer and Web Content Specialist

Since Summer 2014 I have been working out of the London office as part of the global marketing and sales team, maintaining and improving the European Iron Mountain websites in order to increase sales leads.
As the only European based web specialist, I work with various field marketing managers located in core European countries to localise their websites for their markets. This had a direct impact on lead generation as content is relevant for their customers and updates to the websites could be completed quicker with a dedicated EU online team. Updates are completed using W3C standard CSS and HTML in Dreamweaver and Sitecore.
I manage the administrative aspect of the EU Iron Mountain blog powered by Wordpress and work with US-based colleagues as part of a team on larger technical projects. These projects include improving taxonomies (content structure and URLs) and a large multilingual Sitecore migration project to improve back-end website management.
My role also includes working to tight deadlines with campaigns and press releases requiring reactionary work, as well as updating additional content on websites in multiple languages and working with third party vendors to improve user experience with continuous A/B testing. I also play a part in contributing both creative and technological ideas to marketing campaigns from an early stage, ensuring our online presence plays an important role in the lifetime and usefulness of these campaigns for our users.
Clear communication and concise project planning and utilisation have been skills which I have developed further within this job. Technologies used include Sitecore CMS, Eloqua, Optimizley, Raven tools, GA and HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Contract Roles and Freelance Web-Developer

Working with Controlled Projects Ltd where I am responsible for user interface design and implementing the HTML and CSS for online services to companies such as Gatwick Airport and the Highways Agency. Due to internal IT restrictions for some of our clients, accessibility requirements such as backwards compatibility and browser testing have featured highly as part of these projects.
In 2012 a new responsive design was launched for a major client, but due to loading times on mobile devices, we implemented various code restrictions including significantly reducing the number of javascript code and using CSS methods instead to replicate similar effects. This has resulted in significantly faster load times and a better user experience.
As a result of these technical restrictions, this role has taught me how to work around problems and think outside the box to find suitable solutions to problems. With such high-profile clients, I have learnt the importance of extensive user testing and how to work with a team of freelancers and manage expectations. This role has also exposed me to back-end codes including .asp and xml/xsl as well as database management.

Additional side projects as a freelancer have given me the opportunity to work with the latest web technologies. I believe every new website I work on should be responsive, and I enjoy implementing this either with frameworks (particularly Zurb’s Foundation) or by building them from the ground up. The discovery of CSS pre-processors changed how I develop websites, and wherever possible I will use CSS3 to eliminate the use of unnecessary image files. My CMS of choice is Wordpress and I assist numerous clients with the maintenance of their blogs and offer training and advice where required.

If you are interested in hiring me as a freelancer or have a project you think I might be interested in please contact me. My CV and is available on request.

Self Taught

I’ve been designing on computers since I was 13. Before that I was a good drawer and painter, but as soon as I got my first computer I began creating ‘Cartoon Dolls’ – images of small dolls with clothes drawn on first in Windows Paint and later in Paint Shop Pro. When I was 15 I taught myself the language of the web: HTML, in notepad in order to display my designs on my own website. I still have all my old cartoon doll designs.

University

In 2005 I went to St Mary’s University College to study English and Media Arts. I concentrated on Photoshop and later Web Design in my Media Arts course and gained the first ever 100% in a media module for a Christmas themed flash animation. I graduated with a 2:1 and a part-time job working for Controlled Projects Ltd. as a junior web designer. I have since worked part-time at St Mary’s University College as a learning support assistant; teaching the students the same skills that were taught to me, and I have built numerous websites for smaller businesses.

I have recently completed a short course at City University London. The course covered javascript and manipulation of the DOM. I wanted to expand my knowledge of JQuery and move into using javascript instead.