Website Development Lead
Job introduction
Would you like to be the lead Drupal developer for a large and sophisticated public sector website? Would you like to play a key role in a corporate programme of digital transformation initiatives? Would you enjoy being part of a busy, committed, and award-winning team of talented professionals who deliver important services to residents and business in the city of Brighton and Hove, a team skilled in exploiting platforms and tools that are Gartner Magic Quadrant leaders?
If you are an experienced full-stack Drupal developer, have experience of providing technical support and service management for large information rich websites, enjoy mentoring others, and enjoy the technical challenges that come with delivering continuous improvements for public good, this role may be for you.
The role is integral to the delivery of the Council’s web presence and an ambitious programme of digital transformation initiatives. These support our strategy of providing an improved ‘One Council’ customer experience, more efficient internal processes, and a single view of the customer that allows council teams to deliver services more effectively.
For an informal discussion, please contact Phil Newberry - Digital Strategy Manager on 01273 293665.
About the role
We provide in-house development services across a range of industry-leading platforms including Mendix low-code application development, Boomi integration platform development and, of course, the Drupal CMS.
This is a newly created role that sits within the Digital and Data teams in IT & Digital at Brighton and Hove City Council and would lead on the technical delivery of our website and the numerous planned improvements. We are currently in the second phase of these, requiring significant experience of development on a Drupal platform, management of core and contributed modules, platform supplier liaison, team mentoring and upskilling, and collaboration across Agile development and Content Design teams.
In this role you will be contributing to a multi-year programme of organisational modernisation and business change. As part of Orbis, a shared services partnership between Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, and Surrey County Council, you will have exposure and opportunities beyond the immediate Council, should you wish.
Orbis IT & Digital plays a key role in the modernisation of public services and supports the delivery of continuous improvements to quality and efficiency. We are ambitious and forward looking with skills in a range of enterprise technologies and digital delivery practices.
About the role
You will have concern and responsibility for developing according to industry recognised standards and practices, includes Government Digital Service (GDS) design principles, Accessibility standards, security best practice, Agile development and our own design and policies around information architecture and privacy. This role will also be the technical representative for the council as part of the LocalGov Drupal initiative, for which Brighton and Hove City Council was a founder member.
You will provide technical solution design, technical leadership, and service support for the main council website and other smaller council-hosted websites.
You will be expected to act as a subject matter expert on Drupal Open-Source CMS, related web technologies, and web development standards, tools, and languages. This role will lead and promote the use of high standards of web development.
Acting as webmaster you will be responsible for the core maintenance, monitoring, performance, and security of the website ecosystem, working closely with platform supplier and our DevsOps team, as required.
You will work with the Website Project Manager, Product Strategy Manager, DevOps, the Drupal development team, and the Content Design Team to implement digital solutions in line with our digital strategy, architectural principles and industry standards around security, Accessibility, and privacy.
About you
You will have:
- Excellent knowledge of Drupal 7, 8 and 9, PHP, JavaScript, jQuery, HTML, and CSS
- Knowledge of standard development methodologies, e.g., Agile/Scrum
- Strong understanding of web standards, protocols, Accessibility, development workflow (SDLC) and tools
- Knowledge of interoperability standards, e.g., JSON, XML, XPath, RESTful
- Substantial experience developing, releasing, monitoring, and supporting large information-based Drupal websites
- Significant experience of developing websites and digital products from inception to completion as part of an Agile and user-focussed team
- Significant experience of leading and mentoring technical staff
- Experience of version control systems (e.g., Git or Subversion)
You will have experience of working collaboratively and supportively with technical and non-technical teams, delivering advice and guidance with confidence, taking direction and task assignment from line and project managers, and managing and reporting against your workload effectively.
The job description and person specification linked below provides further details.
About the working options
We completely endorse a flexible workplace, with our staff working full time, part-time, and compressed hours, to fit around care commitments and work life balance needs. The teams are currently working largely remotely. Applicants may work flexibly but may need attend the office where service demands require it. Should working from home not be possible, safe office accommodation is available.
IT and Digital teams are a diverse and truly international group. You will find us a very open and welcoming group of colleagues who encourage a respectful, supportive, and collaborative work ethic. We have found ways to keep connected and keep up some social contact with work colleagues through remote daily morning meetings and informal lunchtime virtual gatherings.
If this role interests you, we want to hear from you.
Please read our Apply for a job at the council (brighton-hove.gov.uk) pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.
As part of your application, you will need to upload your CV and answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as they will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (CV guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and Shortlisting questions guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.
Interviews: Will be conducted remotely – date to be confirmed.
Additional information
Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.
Work Permits: We may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Please see Gov.uk for more information on the Skilled Worker Visa.
Part office / part home – hybrid - We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work life balance and team collaboration. These would be part of your individual working arrangements alongside any personal preference agreed with your manager in advance of joining.
For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)
Company information
Please note that this post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Criminal Records Check.
Encouraging a diverse workforce
Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.
Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).