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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of public websites to Drupal, focusing on requirements and solution design.
- Company: Join a higher education organisation committed to innovative web solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse stakeholders and contribute to impactful projects.
- Why this job: Shape the future of digital education with your architectural expertise in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in Business Analysis/Solution Design with strong Drupal skills.
Learn more about the general tasks related to this opportunity below, as well as required skills.
Outside IR35 £525.00 Until end of July initially
Website Transformation Higher Education Organisation
Drupal Architect to support the discovery phase of a large-scale public website transformation within a higher education organisation. The programme is moving multiple public-facing websites from a legacy CMS to Drupal and requires senior architectural input to gather, rationalise and harmonise requirements across distinct product groups.
This role works under the Head of Web and alongside an existing Solutions Architect and internal Business Analyst. The focus is squarely on requirements, solution design and reuse strategy, not build or delivery.
Programme Context
The organisation currently operates multiple legacy CMS sites serving different audiences and product areas, including international and UK-focused content and assessment-related material. These will be migrated to separate Drupal instances per product group, aligned through a shared design and reuse approach. Most capability is expected to be common across sites, with some product-specific bespoke requirements. The immediate aim is to step away from legacy platforms and establish a clear, reusable Drupal blueprint that can be taken to market through a formal RFP for delivery partners.
The Assignment
The initial discovery phase is already underway. This contract strengthens the architecture and design capability by adding a business-facing Drupal technical architect who can:
- Work with stakeholders to understand what they need
- Assess how Drupal can fulfil those needs
- Harmonise overlapping requirements across product groups
- Shape high-level designs that balance reuse with necessary variation
The outputs from this engagement will form the baseline set of requirements and designs used across all product groups ahead of vendor procurement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and support requirements discovery workshops with business and product stakeholders
- Consolidate, de-duplicate and harmonise requirements across multiple product groups
- Work alongside the Drupal Solutions Architect to define high-level solution options
- Translate agreed approaches into High-Level Technical Designs (HLDs), covering:
- Content models
- Component and pattern choices
- Reuse versus bespoke decisions
- Integration considerations where relevant
In Scope / Out of Scope
In scope
- Requirements elicitation, consolidation and harmonisation
- High-level solution outlining
- High-Level Technical Design (HLD) creation
- Reuse and consistency assessment
- Discovery-phase knowledge transfer
Out of scope
- Detailed or low-level technical architecture
- Platform governance
- Build or implementation delivery
- BAU support or infrastructure operations
- Vendor selection or supplier management
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
- Extensive experience (circa 10+ years) in hybrid Business Analysis / Solution Design roles
- Strong, hands-on Drupal expertise, including:
- Content modelling
- Site building
- Clear understanding of what Drupal can and cannot deliver without custom development
- Demonstrable experience producing High-Level Technical Designs
- Familiarity with modern Drupal concepts such as Recipes, Install Profiles, Distributions, SDC and Storybook
- Confident facilitating workshops and challenging stakeholders to align on shared solutions
- Comfortable operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
Desirable
- Drupal certification (Acquia or equivalent) or community contributions
- Previous experience supporting a Solutions Architect within a platform or multi-site model
- Familiarity with Figma, design tokens or design-system processes
- Working knowledge of WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards
- Experience with Jira, Confluence or requirements traceability tooling
Drupal Architect in Colchester employer: Harvey Nash
Contact Detail:
Harvey Nash Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Drupal Architect in Colchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the higher education sector or Drupal community. Attend meetups, webinars, or even local events to get your name out there and learn about potential opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a portfolio showcasing your previous Drupal projects and architectural designs. This will give potential employers a clear idea of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of Drupal and its capabilities. Be ready to discuss how you've harmonised requirements in past roles and how you approach solution design.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We make it easy for you to find roles that match your skills and experience. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Drupal Architect in Colchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Drupal Architect role. Highlight your extensive experience in hybrid Business Analysis and Solution Design, and don’t forget to showcase your hands-on Drupal expertise. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Talk about your experience with requirements elicitation and high-level technical designs, and how you can contribute to our website transformation project.
Showcase Your Workshop Skills: Since this role involves leading discovery workshops, make sure to mention any relevant experience you have in facilitating discussions and aligning stakeholders. We love candidates who can bring people together to find shared solutions!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get to know you better. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harvey Nash
✨Know Your Drupal Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Drupal knowledge before the interview. Understand the latest features, concepts like Recipes and Install Profiles, and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past projects. This will show that you're not just familiar with Drupal, but that you can leverage its capabilities effectively.
✨Prepare for Requirements Discovery
Since this role involves leading requirements discovery workshops, think about how you would approach this task. Prepare examples of how you've facilitated similar workshops in the past, and be ready to discuss techniques for harmonising overlapping requirements across different stakeholders.
✨Showcase Your Technical Design Skills
Be prepared to talk about your experience in producing High-Level Technical Designs (HLDs). Bring examples of previous designs you've created, and explain how they addressed both reuse and bespoke needs. This will demonstrate your ability to balance technical requirements with business goals.
✨Familiarise Yourself with the Organisation's Context
Research the higher education organisation and their current CMS challenges. Understanding their specific needs and how your skills can help them transition from legacy systems to Drupal will give you an edge. Tailor your responses to show how you can contribute to their website transformation project.