Technical Lead for High-Traffic WP Multisite (Maintenance & Optimization)

About the Role

I am looking for a senior-level WordPress Developer to act as the “Technical Lead” for a hobby enthusiast site and a small network of hosted sites. This is a recurring monthly retainer role (minimum monthly guaranteed payout, plus up to approx. 20 hours/month based on work load; some months it may be much more) for a proactive partner, not just a task-doer.

I need someone who can manage the server environment as competently as they manage the WordPress dashboard. You will be the “eyes and ears” of the platform, catching errors (413s, DNS issues, issues with Elementor designed pages, etc) before I or our writers do.

Key Responsibilities

Proactive Maintenance: Weekly “pre-flight” checks of all sites (Multisite & Single installs) to update plugins, check logs, and verify uptime.
Server Management: Diagnose and fix server-level issues (cPanel, PHP config, memory limits, custom .htaccess rules) without relying solely on hosting support. (The website is hosted on a co-managed VPS).
Performance: Actively optimize Core Web Vitals and backend speed. This includes database optimization and managing self-hosted font loading strategies.
Troubleshooting: Lead the resolution on critical bugs (e.g., Elementor conflicts, ACF field issues, Gutenberg save errors).

Technical Requirements

Expert: WordPress Multisite, Elementor (Deep understanding of widgets/hooks and some third party plugin knowledge), and PHP 8.x.
Advanced Configuration: Heavy experience with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) and maximizing Yoast SEO Pro settings.
Server Side: cPanel administration, DNS management, and the ability to write/manage custom .htaccess files.
Soft Skills: You must be able to explain why something broke, not just that you fixed it.

Budget & Terms

Rate: $50 – $75 USD / hour, depending on expertise level.
Commitment: Long-term retainer preferred.
Location: Remote (Americas Time Zones Preferred).

How to Apply

Please include the following in your application:

Your experience with high-traffic WordPress / Elementor sites
One example of a complex server or ACF issue you diagnosed and fixed.
Your preferred tool for monitoring site uptime/health.