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- Tasks: Lead the transformation of public websites to Drupal, focusing on requirements and solution design.
- Company: A leading higher education organisation committed to digital innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative role with a focus on high-level designs and stakeholder engagement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of web architecture in a dynamic educational environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in Business Analysis/Solution Design with strong Drupal expertise.
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.
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.
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 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
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 Exeter employer: Harvey Nash
Contact Detail:
Harvey Nash Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Drupal Architect in Exeter
✨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 have loads of opportunities that might just be the perfect fit for 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 Exeter
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 Relevant Projects: Include examples of past projects that demonstrate your ability to work in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. We love seeing how you've facilitated workshops or harmonised requirements across product groups, so make sure to highlight those experiences!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
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, best practices, and how to leverage them for content modelling and site building. Being able to discuss specific examples of how you've used Drupal in past projects will really impress the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Requirements Elicitation
Since this role involves leading requirements discovery workshops, think about how you would approach these sessions. Prepare some strategies for facilitating discussions and aligning stakeholders on shared solutions. Having a few scenarios in mind where you've successfully navigated complex stakeholder environments will showcase your experience.
✨Showcase Your Technical Design Skills
Be ready to talk about your experience with High-Level Technical Designs (HLDs). Bring examples of HLDs you've created in the past, and be prepared to explain your thought process behind content models and component choices. This will demonstrate your ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
✨Familiarise Yourself with the Organisation's Needs
Research the higher education organisation and its current challenges with legacy CMS platforms. Understanding their specific context will allow you to tailor your responses and show how your skills can directly address their needs. This will also help you ask insightful questions during the interview.