Senior Intern, bizzNEST Web Development

Temporary, Part-time: 20-25 hours per week

Pay Rate: $20.00 per hour, non-exempt

Benefits: Professional Development and Career Coaching, CA Sick Time Off

Organization size: 50+ employees

Reports to: Web Development Lead

Location(s):  In-person at one of the five Digital NEST Centers: Watsonville, Salinas, Gilroy, Modesto, or Stockton. This position is not eligible to work remotely.

Age requirements: Internship positions are reserved for young adults ages 18 - 24 years of age.
*The job offer will be contingent upon the successful completion and passing of a background check.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Digital NEST is a workforce development center that has welcomed hundreds of youth from working-class, farmworker communities to develop the technical and professional skills they need to achieve their dreams. Digital NEST has five centers in the heart of Watsonville, Salinas, Gilroy, Modesto, and Stockton. 

JOB OVERVIEW:

bizzNEST is the digital media agency of Digital NEST. bizzNEST offers a paid, 1-year internship program that provides real world professional training. Through this program, Interns hone and develop their technical and professional skills, gain real professional experience by working with clients, build professional level portfolios and resumes, and become competitively qualified for entry-level, career-focused employment.

bizzNEST is looking for a motivated Senior Intern who can assist with our software development projects, and  is a quick learner and has a passion for this field. The Senior Intern will work closely under the supervision of the Web Development Lead to task supervise a small team of general interns on client projects. They will build and maintain websites using WordPress, PHP, HTML, and CSS, or React and Node.js, including performing routine maintenance for client websites, troubleshooting, and debugging. They will be developing products for external clients and working within the organization as an in-house developer. They will also collaborate across-functional teams for projects, including the Web Design team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Web Development (50%):

• Develop and maintain websites using WordPress, PHP, React, Node.js, and SQL, adhering to coding standards for clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
• Research, design, and propose technical solutions to problems, presenting findings to the Web Development Lead.
• Mentor interns in researching, designing, and implementing technical solutions.
• Research challenges in DigitalNEST communities and develop innovative software solutions, including chatbots, AI tools, web platforms, and task automation systems.
• Conduct comprehensive testing and debugging to ensure optimal website performance across various browsers and devices.
• Ensure code quality and best practices through code reviews, troubleshooting, and implementing improvements.
• Lead technical discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions to foster collaboration and continuous learning. 
• Manage website deployments and project launches under supervisory guidance. 

Team Lead Responsibilities (25%):

Leadership & Project Management:

• Lead and mentor a team of general interns through the web development lifecycle, ensuring task completion, quality, and a collaborative environment.
• Manage project tasks and timelines using project management tools (e.g., GitHub, Asana, Jira), and conduct sprints and standups.
• Monitor project progress, troubleshoot technical issues, and maintain quality standards under the Lead Developer's guidance.
• Coordinate with cross-departmental teams to align development with design and project goals.

Technical Implementation & Problem-Solving:

• Implement website changes based on feedback and collaboratively resolve technical challenges with the supervisor. 
• Facilitate team communication and utilize GitHub for version control and project tracking.

Mentorship & Skill Development:

• Mentor interns in technical skills, including DSA preparation, code reviews, and pair programming. 
• Provide constructive feedback to improve coding practices and maintain code quality. 

Other (25%):

• Track work progress and log hours in project management software (Asana) and customer relationship management software (Salesforce) as needed.
• Participate in relevant certification programs, workshops, and training courses.
• Participate in the Mentorship Program.
• Seek and participate in professional development opportunities and share insights with fellow interns.
• Assist with onboarding new interns.
• Communicate across-teams through email, chat and in-person.
• Attend meetings and participate in critiques.
• Collaborate with staff members from other departments, as necessary.
• Attend and actively participate in client meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: 

• Some experience in web development is required. College seniors or recent graduates majoring in Computer Science, Engineering, or Data Analytics. Self-taught individuals are welcome if they can demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency in web development.

Technical Skills / Experience: 

• Possess the ability to demonstrate experience in building web applications from scratch to completion.
• Proficient in multiple programming languages (e.g., PHP, JavaScript, Python) and database technologies (e.g., SQL).
• Strong skills in responsive web development and proficiency in modern frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.js.
• Ability to analyze problems, research solutions, and design technical implementations.
• Thorough understanding of testing methodologies and debugging techniques to ensure cross-browser and device compatibility.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts, lead discussions, and share knowledge effectively.
• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, GitHub), including task management, sprint planning, and stand-ups.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) for code management and collaboration.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback on code quality and best practices.
• Experience with documenting code and progress using project management (e.g., Github Project Boards, Asana, Jira).

Professional Skills: 

• Demonstrates self-awareness skills to identify and evaluate strengths, biases, and growth areas, and to generate innovative ideas or strategies based on a deep understanding of oneself.
• Takes the initiative to proactively learn, grow, creatively contribute, and take responsibility for one’s contribution to the team.
• Demonstrates strong organizational and time management skills that enhance productivity, efficiency, and goal attainment. Ability to break down projects into manageable tasks, monitor progress, and ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills. Uses empathy and communication to collaborate effectively with individuals of diverse personalities, identities, and experiences to achieve common goals.
• Excellent oral, written, and non-verbal communication skills. Employs active listening, tailors communication to different audiences, and can provide and receive constructive feedback.
• Excellent critical thinking skills. Seeks and synthesizes relevant information with curiosity and diligence. Critically analyzes their work, and assesses their work  from the client’s perspective.
• Independent and creative problem solver. Thinks creatively and critically to identify complex problems, assess options, imagine outcomes, offer new solutions, and make strategic decisions.
• Forward thinking and adaptable to change, challenges, and new responsibilities. Sees change as opportunities. 
• Strong leadership skills. Uses personal strengths and interpersonal skills to motivate and guide others toward a shared vision.
• Consistently demonstrates creativity, curiosity, and innovative strategies to developing products and communicating ideas to clients.

PREFERRED-BUT-NOT-REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with PHP or Node.js for backend development.
• Prior experience in project management or leadership roles.
• Knowledge of Figma fundamentals.
• Knowledge of SEO best practices and web analytics tools for optimizing website performance.
• Familiarity with e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce for online store development.
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles and best practices for web application security.
• Knowledge of Agile or Scrum methodologies for project development and collaboration.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform for deployment and hosting.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Passion for the mission of Digital NEST and belief in upholding organization’s core values.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to issues of culture/ethnicity/race, gender, sexual identity, class/SES and immigration status. 
• Ability to be an ally to people of color, women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning and intersex individuals and their allies (LGBTQIA).
• Ability to meet the minimum amount of hours required.
• Maintain dexterity and coordination, sufficient to perform essential functions.

• Ability to sit for long periods of time performing desk-based computer tasks.

KEY DATES: 

05/01 - Senior Intern Application Deadline

06/09 - 06/20 - Senior Intern Interviews

08/05 - 08/08 - Senior Intern Orientation Days

We understand that no candidate is perfectly qualified for any job. Experience comes in different forms; many skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. Even more important than your resume is a clear demonstration of dedication, impact, and the ability to thrive in a fluid and collaborative environment. We want you to learn new things in this role and encourage you to apply if your experience is close to what we’re looking for. We also know that diversity of background and thought makes for better problem-solving and more creative thinking, so we're dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team. We look forward to hearing from you.

Digital NEST, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Digital NEST is committed to an inclusive experience for all applicants and will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations in the interview process, to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.  

Please refer to our career page for more information on how to apply for reasonable accommodations.