Defining the Roles within Developer Relations

About Phil Leggetter

About Phil @leggetter

• Software Engineer ➡ DevRel (2010)
• Developer Evangelist @ Pusher
• Developer Evangelist @ BladeRunnerJS
• Head of DevRel @ Pusher
• Snr. Director Platform & Developer Experience @ Nexmo/Vonage
• Developer Experience & Relations @ tru.ID

Why Role Definitions Matter

• Clarity for the individual in the role
• Guidance for those interacting with someone in a role
• Identify an entry point into DevRel for others
• DevRel has matured. There is now specialization.
• Roles within a team represent the implementation of a strategy

A Note on Strategy

📝 A Note on Strategy

• Don’t Start with the Roles

  Start with the Strategy

• We’re looking for a “Developer Relations… Person” — Any company that doesn’t yet have a strategy

What are the Roles within Developer Relations?

Role "Popularity": Google Search

| Role | Hits on Google | | :——————————————-| :————————- | | Developer Relations | 612,000 | | Developer Advocate | 736,000 | | [Developer] Community Manager | 410,000 | | Developer Educator | 241,000 | | Developer Evangelist | 168,000 | | Developer Relations Engineer | 26,000 | | Developer Experience Engineer | 18,900 |

Role "Popularity": DevRel Weekly

| Role | DevRel Weekly | :——————————————-| :————————- | Developer Relations | 100
| Developer Advocate | 159
| [Developer] Community Manager | 19
| Developer Educator | 3
| Developer Evangelist | 31
| Developer Relations Engineer | 21
| Developer Experience Engineer | 3

Role "Popularity": LinkedIn

| Role | LinkedIn Job Titles | | :——————————————-|————————————-| | Developer Relations | 2,600 | Developer Advocate | 1,600 | [Developer] Community Manager | 1,000 | Developer Educator | 1,700 | Developer Evangelist | 576 | Developer Relations Engineer | 234 | Developer Experience Engineer | 363

Role "Popularity": LinkedIn

| Role | LinkedIn Job Titles | | :——————————————-|————————————-| | Developer Relations | 2,600 | Developer Advocate | 1,600 | [Developer] Community Manager | 1,000 | Developer Educator | 1,700 | Developer Evangelist | 576 | Developer Relations Engineer | 234 | Developer Experience Engineer | 363

What are the Roles within Developer Relations?

• Developer Advocate
• [Developer] Community Manager
• Developer Educator
• Developer Evangelist
• Developer Relations Engineer
• Developer Experience Engineer

Any Obvious Role Omissions?

• Partner Engineer?, Technical Writer?, Manager, Director, VP, CDRO, …
• And I’ll update the slide deck 😊

Help Me Define the Roles

Thanks, Flyless!