At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of public websites to Drupal, focusing on requirements and solution design.
- Company: Higher education organisation committed to modernising its digital presence.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working arrangements, and opportunity to shape impactful projects.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of a major website transformation and influence the future of digital education.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in Drupal architecture and strong stakeholder engagement 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
Drupal Architect in Derby employer: Harvey Nash
Contact Detail:
Harvey Nash Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Drupal Architect in Derby
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the higher education sector or Drupal community. Attend meetups, webinars, or conferences to make those valuable contacts that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio that highlights your previous work with Drupal and any relevant projects. This will give potential employers a clear view of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding the specific needs of the organisation. Research their current CMS setup and think about how you can help them transition to Drupal smoothly. Tailor your responses to show you’re the perfect fit for their transformation project.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for talented individuals like you. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace Drupal Architect in Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Drupal Architect role. Highlight your experience with Drupal, especially in architectural design and requirements gathering. 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. Share specific examples of your past work that relate to the job description, and don’t forget to show your enthusiasm for the project.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, highlight instances where you've successfully harmonised requirements or designed solutions. We love seeing how you tackle challenges, especially in complex environments like higher education.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining 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 its architecture, common patterns, and how it can be tailored to meet specific needs. Be ready to discuss how you've used Drupal in past projects, especially in terms of requirements gathering and solution design.
✨Understand the Higher Education Sector
Familiarise yourself with the unique challenges and requirements of the higher education sector. Research how different institutions manage their web presence and what specific needs they have. This will help you demonstrate your understanding of the context in which the organisation operates.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement Scenarios
Since this role involves working closely with stakeholders, think about how you would approach requirements discovery workshops. Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders in the past, focusing on your ability to harmonise overlapping requirements and translate them into actionable designs.
✨Showcase Your Design Thinking
Be ready to discuss your approach to creating high-level designs that balance reuse with bespoke needs. Bring examples of previous work where you’ve had to make similar decisions. Highlight your ability to write clear user stories and acceptance criteria, as these are crucial for backlog refinement.