Junior Frontend Developer

Summary

A junior frontend developer learns on the job by delivering software components.

At this role level, you will:

work independently, with guidance from more senior developers, to identify user issues and needs
write clean code that follows web standards
build your understanding of accessibility
build your knowledge
develop software which meets user needs

Background

Background Components

Description	Background
Has good communication, content layout and graphic design skills and an imaginative and structured approach to the organisation of information. Pays close attention to detail. Has above-average interpersonal skills and is able to work effectively in teams comprising different disciplines and with clients/users.	Prior Knowledge and Skills

Work Activity Components

Title	Details
Visual design and branding	Consistently applies visual design and branding guidelines.
Content publishing	Uses agreed procedures to publish content.
Web pages and sites	Creates web pages and tests and corrects coding errors using relevant tools and techniques.
Usability and accessibility	Understands and applies principles of usability and accessibility to published information.
User-centred design	Conducts user journey mapping exercises and use them as a tool to support user-centred design decision making.
Design, analysis and iterative development	Supports, as part of a team, overall user experience design including for example: user interface (including colour, language, presentation, input methods, error handling and responses); user documentation; program specifications; and backup, recovery and restart procedures. Supports the evaluation of design options and trade-offs.
Test plans and evaluation of options	Suuports the construction, interpretation and execution of test plans to verify accessibility and usability of completed systems.

Knowledge/Skills

Knowledge/Skills Components

Title	Depth	Details	Type
Creativity		Taking innovative approaches to problem solving and/or devising inventive and creative solutions.	Behavioural Skills
Attention to Detail		Applying specific quality standards to all tasks undertaken to ensure that deliverables are accurate and complete.	Behavioural Skills
Application Development Tools	Aware of	Software tools which automate or assist part of the development process.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Database Software	Aware of	Software that enables the user to capture, create, populate and manipulate data structures and where appropriate unstructured data.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)	Familiar with	Graphical human/computer interfaces that facilitate effective communication between human operator and computer.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Programming Languages	Aware of	A set of codes and syntax (supported by software tools) that enables the unambiguous translation of specified functionality into source code for the creation of computer programs.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Graphic Design	Aware of	The creation of graphical designs that are appealing to the viewer, appropriate to the material and the commissioning organisation and that project the desired ‘presence’.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Systems Ergonomics and Iterative Design	Aware of	Iterative methods and techniques to allocate and optimise the division of functions between the human, machine and organisational elements of IT systems and the functions themselves in terms of ergonomic impact. Systematic and iterative design of the physical and cognitive interfaces to create an effective user experience in a software system, product or service with attention paid to variety of locations and access devices employed by users.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Web Specifics	Aware of	Knowledge of web specific file extensions, Web 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 and other latest standards/ practices. Use of multimedia and Active-X controls. Understanding of the nature of browsers and how to design cross-browser layouts. Effective knowledge of metadata (e.g. tags, XML) and related aspects of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Information Architecture	Aware of	Methods, techniques and technologies for ingesting, securing, processing and using data and information within and beyond an organisation.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Information and Data Visualisation/ Presentation	Aware of	The ability to visualise and present information and data in an appropriate format that helps stakeholders understand the significance of the information and data.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Data Handling	Aware of	The ability to harvest, clean, curate, manage, process and manipulate data in a variety of formats.	Technical Knowledge and Skills
Legislation	Aware of	Relevant national and international legislation.	Other Knowledge and Skills
Time Management Techniques	Familiar with	Methods and techniques for making effective use of own time.	Other Knowledge and Skills

Training Activities

Training Components

Title	Details
Own Organisation’s Systems, Products and Services	Understanding of the organisation’s systems, products and services to enable selling, support and development activities.
Human Factors Techniques	Methods and techniques for understanding human needs and limitations and for designing usable, accessible and ergonomically sound systems. Examples: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) approaches and iterative design methods and accessibility. Recognising ever evolving user expectations for use of a variety of access devices and locations and opportunities for environmental savings e.g. reducing office space, travel, etc.
Usability Evaluation Techniques	Methods and techniques for the assessment of IT product usability, accessibility and health and safety throughout the lifecycle of development projects.
Security Awareness	Tools and techniques to help users and employees understand the role they play in helping to combat information security breaches and for IT and security professionals to prevent and mitigate risk.
Graphic Design and Web Development	Tools and techniques for graphic design, user interface design (UI design), content authoring using standardised code and proprietary software, user experience design (UX design), web development and search engine
User Interface Design	Principles, practices, tools and techniques for user interface design and the creation of graphical user interfaces that make user interaction with systems, software, and applications as simple and efficient as possible.

PDAs

PDA Components

Title	Details
Participation in Group Activities	Participating in group activities inside or outside of the working environment that can assist with the development of interpersonal skills.
Job Shadowing and Special Assignments	Undertaking temporary periods or secondments in other roles, inside or outside IT, particularly those that offer a new perspective on own function or exposure to other environments and cultures.
Gaining Knowledge of Employing Organisation	Gaining basic knowledge of the employing organisation, its business, structure, culture, policies, products/services, operations and terminology.
Gaining Knowledge of Surrounding Technical Areas	Gaining knowledge of IT activities in employing organisation external to own function.
Involvement in Professional Body Activities	Attending meetings, seminars and workshops organised by professional body and reading published material, such as journals and web content.
Time Management	Undertaking learning and practice in the planning and organising of own activities.
Team Working	Undertaking learning and practice in the techniques of team and collaborative working. Gaining an understanding of the underlying concepts.
Communications	Undertaking learning and practice in oral and written communications, including report writing and presentation.

Qualifications

Qualification Components

Title	Awarding Body
BCS Foundation Certificate in User Experience UX	BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT
FEDIP Associate Practitioner	FEDIP

Organisation Skills

Framework » Organisation Category » Subcategory	Skill Name and Description	Level
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Accessibility You can create accessible user interfaces that put user needs first. You can test components and pages against accessibility standards.	2 – Working You can understand users have different accessibility needs. You can build user interfaces that meet accessibility standards and fix accessibility issues under the direction of others.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Communicating information You can communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries. You can make complex and technical information and language simple and accessible for non-technical audiences. You can work effectively with others.	2 – Working You can listen to the needs of design and business stakeholders and interpret information. You can take part in discussions within a multidisciplinary team. You can be an advocate for the team externally and can manage differing perspectives. You can shape and share communications relevant to the audience.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Community collaboration (frontend developer) You can contribute to the work of others and can build, motivate and empower teams. You can create the right environment for teams to work in and can create the best team makeup depending on the situation. You can give and receive constructive feedback, enabling the feedback loop. You can recognise and deal with issues.	2 – Working You can contribute to the work of others. You can motivate and empower teams. You can create the right environment for teams to work in, and can identify the best team makeup depending on the situation. You can recognise and deal with issues.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Leadership and guidance (frontend developer) You can interpret a vision to lead on decisions. You create a collaborative environment and maintain a good service. You can understand and resolve technical disputes across varying levels of complexity and risk. You can solve issues and unblock	1 – Awareness You can follow agreed good practice for the team. You can show an awareness of the importance of team dynamics and collaboration. You can understand the importance of feedback.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Modern standards approach (frontend developer) You can apply a modern standards approach throughout development, automation and testing.	2 – Working You can explain the most important principles of a modern standards approach and how they apply to the work you are undertaking. You can apply these principles under guidance.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Programming and build (frontend developer) You can use agreed standards and specifications to design, create, test and document new software, or to make changes to existing software.	2 – Working You can collaborate with others to understand and review software requirements. You can design, code, test, correct and document user interfaces using the right standards and tools under the direction of others.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Prototyping You can apply technical knowledge and experience to create or design workable prototypes, both programs and physical outputs. You can understand parameters, restrictions and synergies.	2 – Working You can understand when to use a specific prototyping technique or method. You can show the value of prototyping to your team.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Strategic thinking You can take an overall perspective on business issues, events and activities, and discuss their wider implications and long-term impact. You can determine patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements. You can effectively focus on outcomes rather than solutions and activities.	1 – Awareness You can explain the strategic context of your work and why it is important. You can support strategic planning in an administrative capacity.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Systems design (frontend developer) You can design system components which meet business needs. You can solve problems and understand technical and business complexity.	1 – Awareness You can assist as part of a team in the design of components of larger systems.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Systems integration (frontend developer) You can integrate and test user interfaces, systems and programme components.	1 – Awareness You can show an awareness of how to build static assets from source code. You can explain how browsers use and present static assets to the end users, and how different versions of an interface can be delivered for different browsers and devices. (
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – User focus (frontend developer) You can understand users and identify who they are and what their needs are, based on evidence. You can translate user stories and propose design approaches or services to meet these needs. You can engage in meaningful interactions and relationships with users. You can show that you put users first and can manage competing priorities.	1 – Awareness You can show an understanding of user experience analysis and its principles. You can explain the purpose of user stories and the focus on user needs.
DDaT » Software Development –	Software Development – Web performance optimisation You can understand how web performance can impact users. You can solve problems to improve performance. You can use different sources of data to monitor and identify performance	1 – Awareness You can understand the basic principles of web performance, and why web performance is important. You can support activities to improve web performance under the guidance of others.

Framework » Organisation
Category » Subcategory

Skill Name and Description

Level

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Accessibility

You can create accessible user interfaces that put user needs first. You can test components and pages against accessibility standards.

2 – Working

You can understand users have different accessibility needs. You can build user interfaces that meet accessibility standards and fix accessibility issues under the direction of others.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Communicating information

You can communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries. You can make complex and technical information and language simple and accessible for non-technical audiences. You can work effectively with others.

2 – Working

You can listen to the needs of design and business stakeholders and interpret information. You can take part in discussions within a multidisciplinary team. You can be an advocate for the team externally and can manage differing perspectives. You can shape and share communications relevant to the audience.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Community collaboration (frontend developer)

You can contribute to the work of others and can build, motivate and empower teams. You can create the right environment for teams to work in and can create the best team makeup depending on the situation. You can give and receive constructive feedback, enabling the feedback loop. You can recognise and deal with issues.

2 – Working

You can contribute to the work of others. You can motivate and empower teams. You can create the right environment for teams to work in, and can identify the best team makeup depending on the situation. You can recognise and deal with issues.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Leadership and guidance (frontend developer)

You can interpret a vision to lead on decisions. You create a collaborative environment and maintain a good service. You can understand and resolve technical disputes across varying levels of complexity and risk. You can solve issues and unblock

1 – Awareness

You can follow agreed good practice for the team. You can show an awareness of the importance of team dynamics and collaboration. You can understand the importance of feedback.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Modern standards approach (frontend developer)

You can apply a modern standards approach throughout development, automation and testing.

2 – Working

You can explain the most important principles of a modern standards approach and how they apply to the work you are undertaking. You can apply these principles under guidance.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Programming and build (frontend developer)

You can use agreed standards and specifications to design, create, test and document new software, or to make changes to existing software.

2 – Working

You can collaborate with others to understand and review software requirements. You can design, code, test, correct and document user interfaces using the right standards and tools under the direction of others.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Prototyping

You can apply technical knowledge and experience to create or design workable prototypes, both programs and physical outputs. You can understand parameters, restrictions and synergies.

2 – Working

You can understand when to use a specific prototyping technique or method. You can show the value of prototyping to your team.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Strategic thinking

You can take an overall perspective on business issues, events and activities, and discuss their wider implications and long-term impact. You can determine patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements. You can effectively focus on outcomes rather than solutions and activities.

1 – Awareness

You can explain the strategic context of your work and why it is important. You can support strategic planning in an administrative capacity.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Systems design (frontend developer)

You can design system components which meet business needs. You can solve problems and understand technical and business complexity.

1 – Awareness

You can assist as part of a team in the design of components of larger systems.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Systems integration (frontend developer)

You can integrate and test user interfaces, systems and programme components.

1 – Awareness

You can show an awareness of how to build static assets from source code. You can explain how browsers use and present static assets to the end users, and how different versions of an interface can be delivered for different browsers and devices. (

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – User focus (frontend developer)

You can understand users and identify who they are and what their needs are, based on evidence. You can translate user stories and propose design approaches or services to meet these needs. You can engage in meaningful interactions and relationships with users. You can show that you put users first and can manage competing priorities.

1 – Awareness

You can show an understanding of user experience analysis and its principles. You can explain the purpose of user stories and the focus on user needs.

DDaT » Software Development –

Software Development – Web performance optimisation

You can understand how web performance can impact users. You can solve problems to improve performance. You can use different sources of data to monitor and identify performance

1 – Awareness

You can understand the basic principles of web performance, and why web performance is important. You can support activities to improve web performance under the guidance of others.

This job role profile was created in collaboration with BCS, using Role Model Plus. BCS is the professional body that has the responsibility of updating this job family.

Summary

Background

Background Components

Work Activity Components

Knowledge/Skills

Knowledge/Skills Components

Training Activities

Training Components

PDAs

PDA Components

Qualifications

Qualification Components

Organisation Skills

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