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 a chance to shape impactful projects.
- Other info: Opportunity to work in a dynamic environment with potential for long-term collaboration.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of a major website transformation and influence the future of digital education.
- Qualifications: Experience in Drupal architecture and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
Outside IR35
£525.00 until end of July initially
Website Transformation in a Higher Education Organisation
A Drupal Architect is needed 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 Edinburgh employer: Harvey Nash
Contact Detail:
Harvey Nash Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Drupal Architect in Edinburgh
✨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
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio that highlights your previous work with Drupal architecture. Include case studies or examples of how you've successfully transformed websites, as this will make you stand out to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of Drupal and its architectural principles. Be ready to discuss how you would approach the discovery phase and harmonise requirements across product groups, as this is key for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We have a streamlined application process that makes it easy for you to showcase your skills and experience directly to us. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Drupal Architect in Edinburgh
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, emphasise your ability to harmonise overlapping requirements and shape high-level designs. We’re looking for someone who can think critically and creatively about solutions, so share relevant experiences that demonstrate this.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the updates directly from us. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harvey Nash
✨Know Your Drupal Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Drupal architecture and its capabilities. Brush up on the latest features and best practices, especially around content models and component choices. Being able to discuss how you can leverage Drupal for the organisation's needs will show your expertise.
✨Understand the Business Context
Familiarise yourself with the higher education sector and the specific challenges it faces regarding website transformation. Be prepared to discuss how you can harmonise requirements across different product groups and how your architectural decisions can support their goals.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
Since this role involves working closely with stakeholders, think about how you would lead requirements discovery workshops. Have examples ready of how you've successfully gathered and consolidated requirements in the past, and be ready to demonstrate your communication skills.
✨Showcase Your Design Thinking
Be ready to talk about your approach to creating high-level designs that balance reuse with bespoke needs. Prepare to discuss previous projects where you’ve shaped solutions that met diverse requirements while maintaining a clear architectural vision.