WordPress Developer for HeavyDutyJournal.com

I'm looking to hire a WordPress developer to help build & setup HeavyDutyJournal.com — a contributor-driven content platform focused on the trucking, truck repair, fleet maintenance, and diesel tech industries.

The goal is to create a scalable, content-first website that allows diesel techs, shop owners, and industry professionals to register, submit articles across various categories, and build authority within their field. All content will be admin moderated before publishing.

I’ve already installed only (not setup & optimized) some foundational plugins on the site, including:

- Active Blocksy PRO | Agency version theme — ready for full customization and optimization
- Active WP User Frontend Pro | Business version — ready to power contributor registration and front-end post submissions
- Essential plugins such as Rank Math SEO, wpDiscuz, and Kadence Blocks
- Populated at least one optimized blog post per contributor category — providing structure, SEO examples, and inspiration for new contributors

I plan to handle all future content population, contributor onboarding, and editorial management after the core build is complete.

***Core Functionality Requirements:

- Front-end user registration and article submission
- Contributor dashboard with post status visibility (draft, pending, published, rejected)
- Structured author pages (bio, profile image, links, article list)
- Custom homepage (manual “Editor’s Picks,” trending posts, and category spotlights)
- Email notifications for new registrations, submissions, approvals, and rejections
- Fully responsive design with clean mobile UX
- SEO-optimized architecture using Rank Math



Next Steps:

If you're available, I’d love to hear:

- Your availability over the next 1–4 weeks
- A quote (either fixed rate or estimated hours)
- Any relevant portfolio examples (especially contributor-based or publishing platforms)
- Any questions or feedback you may have

Thanks so much for your time. I’m excited to collaborate and bring this project to life.