WEBMASTER

The Retrievers is a Minnesota-based volunteer lost dog team dedicated to reuniting families with their lost dogs and ensuring the safety of stray dogs whose ownership is unknown. We manage more than 1,000 cases each year and rely heavily on clear communication, accurate information and a strong digital presence to support our work.

Our website is not simply informational — it is an operational system. It supports case intake, volunteer coordination, fundraising and public reporting. The Volunteer Webmaster plays a critical role in ensuring that this system remains secure, stable and fully functional at all times.

This is a volunteer position.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Volunteer Webmaster is responsible for proactively managing and maintaining The Retrievers’ WordPress website and hosting environment.

While the site is largely static, it includes active forms and operational pages used daily in our field operations. This role goes beyond content updates. It involves infrastructure oversight, hosting stability and proactive technical management.

We are seeking someone who takes ownership of the site’s health and reliability — someone who monitors, anticipates and resolves issues before they impact families or volunteers.

SCOPE OF THE ROLE

This is not primarily a content-editing position. It is an infrastructure stewardship role that includes:

  • WordPress core stability
  • Plugin and theme management
  • Hosting resource monitoring
  • Server-level troubleshooting
  • Security oversight
  • Form reliability

The Webmaster ensures our digital backbone remains dependable.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain and monitor our WordPress website

  • Perform WordPress core, theme and plugin updates
  • Manage PHP version updates as needed
  • Maintain website security best practices
  • Monitor uptime, load speeds and performance
  • Oversee our hosting environment on Cloudways
  • Monitor server resources including memory, storage and CPU utilization
  • Address hosting issues such as memory limits, storage shortages or performance bottlenecks
  • Maintain and test operational forms to ensure proper functionality
  • Maintain backups and disaster recovery protocols
  • Troubleshoot technical issues and plugin conflicts
  • Implement occasional text updates provided by leadership
  • Recommend improvements related to performance, stability and security

WEBSITE & HOSTING ENVIRONMENT

  • WordPress platform
  • Hosted on Cloudways
  • Experience with comparable managed hosting platforms such as Kinsta, WP Engine, Flywheel or SiteGround (cloud plans) is strongly preferred
  • Largely static content with active operational forms built in GravityForms
  • Standard plugin ecosystem requiring routine oversight

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience managing WordPress websites
  • Working knowledge of PHP and WordPress environments
  • Experience with managed WordPress hosting platforms
  • Familiarity with server resource monitoring and troubleshooting
  • Ability to diagnose and resolve plugin conflicts
  • Experience managing backups and recovery processes
  • Strong understanding of website security best practices
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • Clear, proactive communication

Preferred but not required:

  • Experience supporting nonprofit organizations
  • Familiarity with caching, CDN configuration or performance optimization
  • Basic understanding of SEO best practices
  • Experience with GravityForms and GravityPerks

RESPONSE TIME EXPECTATIONS

    Because our website supports active lost dog cases, responsiveness matters.

    • Critical issues such as site outages, form failures or hosting disruptions should be acknowledged as soon as reasonably possible and addressed with urgency
    • Non-critical issues such as content edits or minor adjustments should generally be addressed within a few days
    • The Webmaster should proactively communicate if they will be unavailable for an extended period

    We understand this is a volunteer role. We value reliability and clear communication more than constant availability.

    PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

      • Proactive and self-directed
      • Reliable and responsive
      • Detail-oriented
      • Calm under pressure
      • Solutions-focused
      • Mission-aligned

      WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

        When families are searching for their lost dogs, our website is often their first point of contact. Forms must work. Information must be accurate. The site must remain secure and accessible at all times.

        If hosting resources fail or forms break, families may not be able to request help. That is why this role is essential to our mission.

        A proactive Webmaster ensures our digital infrastructure never becomes a barrier to reunification.

        Apply to Join the Team