WordPress Directory Developer — Long-Term Opportunity

Company: TDM Media LLC
Initial Project: Roof Response Network
Platform: DirectoryOS
Work Arrangement: Remote
Initial Compensation: $8–$15 USD/hour, depending on experience and demonstrated technical ability
Initial Hours: Approximately 15–25 hours per week, with opportunity to increase
Long-Term Opportunity: Salaried (eventually) / Full-Time Position

About the Opportunity

TDM Media LLC is building a portfolio of niche, data-driven directory websites designed to help consumers find and connect with local service providers.

Our first project is Roof Response Network, a nationwide roofing contractor directory.

However, we are not looking for someone simply to build one WordPress website.

We are developing a reusable platform called DirectoryOS that will eventually power multiple directory businesses across different industries.

We are looking for a WordPress developer who would like to grow with us long term.

The position will begin on an hourly basis, including a paid test project. As the platform launches, revenue grows, and we establish a successful working relationship, our goal is to transition the right person into a stable salaried/full-time position.

For us, quality matters more than simply finding the lowest hourly rate. We are looking for someone who can build things correctly, work efficiently, communicate well, and become a trusted long-term member of our team.

What You'll Be Building

Our initial project will use WordPress and Directorist to create a scalable directory platform.

You will help us build and configure:

WordPress
Directorist
Bricks Builder
Structured contractor listings
Custom listing fields
Categories and taxonomies
City/state/location structures
Search and filtering
Contractor profile pages
Directory search-results pages
Maps and location functionality
CSV/data imports
SEO-friendly directory architecture
Lead-capture forms
Mobile-responsive layouts
Performance and security configuration

We will also be working with structured business data collected and enriched through tools such as Apify, APIs, and other data sources.

You do not need to be an Apify expert, but you should be comfortable working with structured data, CSV files, custom fields, imports, APIs, and WordPress databases.

The Type of Developer We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who understands WordPress as a development platform—not simply someone who installs themes and page builders.

You should be comfortable thinking through a workflow such as:

Data Source → Structured Data → WordPress Fields → Directory Listings → Search/Filters → User Experience

Strong candidates will have experience with several of the following:

WordPress development
Directorist or similar directory plugins
Bricks Builder
Custom post types and custom fields
WordPress taxonomies
WP All Import or similar import tools
Large CSV imports
APIs and JSON
PHP
JavaScript
HTML/CSS
Git/GitHub
WordPress performance optimization
Technical SEO/schema
Cloudflare
Cloudways or similar managed WordPress hosting

Experience with Apify, web scraping, automation, or large directory websites is a major plus.

You do not need to already know every tool in our technology stack. Strong technical fundamentals, problem-solving ability, willingness to learn, and demonstrated ability to build reliable systems are more important to us than checking every box.

Our Development Philosophy

We want to build a platform that is maintainable and reusable.

Our general approach is:

Configure before customizing.
Customize before custom coding.

We don't want unnecessary custom code when WordPress or an established plugin already provides a reliable solution.

At the same time, you should be capable of writing clean custom code when it is genuinely necessary.

Everything we build should be designed with future directories in mind.

We care about building things correctly the first time rather than choosing shortcuts that create technical problems later.

First Project

Your first project will be a paid assignment involving part of the DirectoryOS / Roof Response Network platform.

Candidates who successfully complete the paid assignment may be selected to continue with the full project.

The first development sprint will focus on establishing the WordPress environment, configuring the core directory platform, creating the initial listing structure, and producing a working prototype using sample contractor data.

Detailed specifications and relevant training resources will be provided to the selected developer.

Training & Documentation

We have invested in specialized training covering the directory-building methods and tools we intend to use.

The selected developer will receive access to the relevant portions of this training along with our own DirectoryOS documentation.

You will not be expected to figure out the entire project from scratch.

We have documented the product vision, technology stack, architecture, development backlog, and initial sprint.

We want our developer spending time building, not guessing what we want.

Communication & Working Hours

TDM Media LLC is based in the United States and operates on U.S. Eastern Time (ET).

Most development work can be completed asynchronously, and we do not expect you to work an entire U.S. overnight schedule.

However, regular communication and some overlap with U.S. Eastern Time will be important.

The company owner currently works another business role from approximately 9:00 AM–5:30 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday, so we would prefer a developer who can provide some availability after those hours.

Ideally, you should be able to provide:

-1–2 hours of overlap between approximately 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on agreed weekdays when needed
-Reasonable weekend availability for occasional project meetings, demonstrations, planning sessions, or troubleshooting
-Regular written progress updates that can be reviewed asynchronously
-Timely responses to questions or issues that could block development

You will not necessarily be expected to attend a meeting every day. We want development time spent building rather than sitting in unnecessary meetings.

Our goal is to establish a predictable communication schedule that works well for both sides.

You should be comfortable:

-Providing regular progress updates
-Asking questions when requirements are unclear
-Explaining technical decisions in plain English
-Documenting important configuration and custom development
-Demonstrating completed work
-Receiving feedback and making revisions
-Working from written requirements and acceptance criteria
-Proactively identifying blockers rather than waiting until a deadline

We value reliability and transparency more than pretending to know everything.

If you encounter a problem, tell us. We would rather solve it together early than discover it weeks later.

Long-Term Potential

This is not intended to be a one-time website project.

Our goal is to build multiple directory businesses using the DirectoryOS platform.

As those businesses grow, there should be ongoing work involving:

-New directory launches
-New features
-Data integrations
-SEO/AEO improvements
-Automation
-Performance improvements
-Maintenance
-Testing
-Platform improvements

We would love to find someone who eventually knows DirectoryOS extremely well and becomes a key long-term member of TDM Media LLC.

The position will initially be hourly at approximately 15–25 hours per week while we complete the first project and establish a successful working relationship.

Hours can increase as development needs grow.

As the company generates revenue and the relationship proves successful, our intention is to transition the right person into a stable salaried/full-time role with TDM Media LLC.

We are looking for someone interested in the opportunity to grow with the company rather than simply complete a single website project.

Confidentiality & Ownership

Because you will be working with proprietary business processes, software configurations, data structures, development methods, and other intellectual property, the selected developer will be required to sign a Confidentiality/Nondisclosure and Intellectual Property Agreement before receiving access to proprietary materials and production systems.

All work product created for TDM Media LLC as part of the engagement will be owned by TDM Media LLC according to the terms of that agreement.

How to Apply

Please answer all of the following questions in your application.

1. How many years have you worked with WordPress?

2. Have you built a directory, marketplace, classified, real-estate, job-board, or other database-driven WordPress website?
Please provide examples and explain specifically what you built.

3. Have you used Directorist? If yes, describe your experience. If not, which similar directory plugins have you used?

4. Have you worked with Bricks Builder? If yes, describe your experience.

5. Tell us about the largest CSV or dataset you have imported into WordPress. What tools did you use, and how did you handle duplicates or errors?

6. What experience do you have working with APIs, JSON, custom fields, custom post types, or WordPress taxonomies?

7. Have you used Apify or other web-scraping/data-collection tools? If yes, please explain.

8. How comfortable are you with Git and GitHub?

9. When would you choose custom PHP/JavaScript instead of using an existing WordPress plugin?

10. If you were given 50,000 business records containing business name, address, phone number, website, categories, latitude/longitude, and service areas, briefly explain how you would approach importing those records into a WordPress directory.

11. What city/country and time zone are you currently located in?

12. What are your normal working hours in your local time?

13. Are you able to provide 1–2 hours of working/meeting overlap between approximately 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on agreed weekdays wh