Empowering Success. Elevating Experiences.
VGM Forbin is VGM Group's technology hub - where software, AI, marketing, and digital platforms come together to solve real business problems and improve customer outcomes. We're looking for an experienced Web Developer II who enjoys building high-quality web applications and collaborating across teams to turn business needs into effective digital solutions.
Why this role matters:
As a Web Developer II, you will contribute to the development, testing, deployment support, and maintenance of web applications and websites, taking ownership of assigned work while seeking guidance on more complex technical decisions. This role works closely with developers, designers, project managers, and stakeholders to translate business needs into functional, scalable, and visually appealing online experiences. The ideal candidate can contribute to projects from planning through launch and ongoing optimization, troubleshoot complex issues, contribute to technical specifications, and support the continuous improvement of development practices. This Tier II role requires demonstrated experience in web development, the ability to manage moderately complex assignments with limited oversight, and a willingness to provide guidance and support to junior developers.
What’s more? At VGM Group, we are 100% employee owned. Click to view more about VGM!
Reporting Accountability: Director of Programming
Working Location: Waterloo, IA; hybrid or remote option
Work Hours Classification: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8-5 with additional hours as needed for project deadlines
What you'll do:
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Develop clean, scalable PHP code: Design, develop, test, and support deployment of robust web applications using PHP and related technologies, ensuring work aligns with industry standards, coding best practices, performance expectations, and business requirements.
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Translate requirements into technical solutions: Partner with project managers, designers, stakeholders, and other developers to clarify requirements, identify technical considerations, and contribute to detailed specifications for development work.
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Troubleshoot, maintain, test, and support releases: Investigate, diagnose, and resolve application issues; perform functional testing, regression testing, browser/device validation, and issue verification; support releases; and help ensure applications remain stable, secure, accessible, and functional.
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Manage moderately complex development assignments: Manage assigned development tasks from planning through deployment, with guidance when needed, while proactively communicating progress, risks, dependencies, and timeline impacts.
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Collaborate across teams and support scoping: Work closely with project, design, Infrastructure, Sales, and other internal teams to clarify requirements, provide technical insight, support client-facing discussions, contribute to development effort estimates, and coordinate deployment, environment, pipeline, or DevOps-related items as needed.
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Apply development, security, accessibility, and quality best practices: Stay current with web development practices and apply established standards for code quality, maintainability, performance, secure development, data protection, accessibility, usability, responsive behavior, and overall solution quality.
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Use AI tools responsibly to support development work: Leverage approved AI-assisted tools, where appropriate, to improve productivity, research solutions, support documentation, and assist with coding tasks while validating outputs, protecting confidential information, and following company security, privacy, and quality standards.
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Contribute throughout the development lifecycle: Participate in discovery, technical design, development, documentation, deployment support, post-launch support, and ongoing optimization, with guidance when needed for more complex discovery or scoping activities.
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Review code and support junior developers: Review peer code for quality, maintainability, security, performance, and adherence to coding standards; provide constructive feedback; share best practices; answer technical questions; and help junior developers resolve development challenges.
Key Qualifications:
Education / Experience:
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Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
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3+ years of experience in web development, software development, PHP development, or a related role.
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Experience contributing to web application development through multiple phases of the development lifecycle.
Technical Skills
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Strong working knowledge of PHP, HTML5, CSS3, Vanilla JavaScript, jQuery, and Bootstrap.
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Experience with modern web development frameworks or libraries such as Laravel, Symfony, Tailwind, React, or Vue.js is not required but considered a plus.
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Strong understanding of MySQL or SQL, including the ability to write and troubleshoot SQL queries.
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Experience integrating third-party APIs.
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Experience using Git within a collaborative development workflow, including Gitflow-based branching, pull request creation and review, merge conflict resolution, and adherence to code review standards.
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Familiarity with deployment workflows, CI/CD concepts, and coordination with infrastructure or DevOps teams.
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Ability to troubleshoot moderately complex application issues, evaluate options, and identify practical, maintainable solutions.
Quality, Security, and Accessibility
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Working knowledge of secure coding practices, application security standards, data protection expectations, and common web security risks such as authentication, authorization, input validation, and vulnerability prevention.
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Working knowledge of web accessibility principles, usability considerations, responsive design expectations, and accessibility standards such as WCAG.
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Experience performing functional testing, regression testing, browser/device validation, and issue verification to support quality releases.
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Ability to use approved AI-assisted development tools responsibly, including validating generated code or recommendations, protecting confidential or client information, and applying human judgment to ensure accuracy, security, maintainability, and alignment with project requirements.
Collaboration and Professional Skills
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Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines without compromising quality.
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Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
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Ability to work both independently and as part of a fast-paced, highly collaborative team.
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Ability to apply the best development practices and provide guidance, support, and technical feedback to junior developers when needed.
Physical Requirements:
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Operation of office equipment and using technology efficiently such as computers, phones, misc. office equipment.
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Visual abilities to include reading, distance vision and peripheral vision.
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Moving throughout the VGM facilities when needed.
Learn more about VGM Group, Inc.:
Headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, VGM is a 100% employee-owned company providing business and professional services to thousands of business customers across North America. Services include group purchasing, commercial insurance, management of healthcare services and networks in post-acute cases, healthcare distribution direct to patient homes, specialty consulting, online education, digital, print, and traditional marketing and more. VGM employs approximately 1,700 people across 40 states and Canada, with more than 1,100 working in Iowa. VGM has been named the Top Workplace in Iowa on multiple occasions and is proud of its role in the communities in which it serves. For more information visit www.vgmgroup.com.
Compensation Overview:
The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.
This job description reflects the general duties of the job but is not a detailed description of all duties which may be inherent to the position. Reasonably related additional duties may be assigned to the individual Associate.
VGM Group, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
