Job title: Back End Web Developer
Salary: PO2 *GBP*38,626 - *GBP*41,511
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Merrion House / Hybrid
As a Backend Web Developer you will work within a multidisciplinary team to support the delivery of online services that enhance customer experience and organisational efficiency. The role is responsible for ensuring the performance, availability and accessibility of the council digital platforms, contributing to the design and implementation of technical solutions, and maintaining the underlying architecture and content management systems. The position requires collaboration with stakeholders across the organisation to deliver secure, scalable and user-focused web services.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our and ambitions.
About you
As a Backend Web Developer, you will bring to the role:
1. Experience developing web solutions in Drupal and PHP
2. Ability to architect enterprise Drupal solutions including data, display, and information architecture
3. Strong knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and server architecture and administration
4. Proven ability to develop responsive websites that meet Public Sector Accessibility Regulations
5. Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage a variety of audiences
About the role
This role offers the opportunity to shape how people interact with council services online. As part of a collaborative and forward-thinking digital team, you help deliver accessible, secure and high-performing platforms that support residents, businesses and visitors across Leeds. Your work will directly contribute to improving the way the council operates and how the city connects with its communities, supporting the ambition to make Leeds a more inclusive, sustainable and digitally confident city.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
6. a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
7. membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
8. flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
9. a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
10. a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying.To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least *GBP*38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose
Working within a multi-disciplinary team and collaboratively across the organisation to inform and enable the delivery of on-line strategies which result in better customer services and ways of working across the organisation. This position plays a key role in ensuring that all our on-line presence is available, performant, user friendly and complies with branding guidelines and accessibility regulations.
Responsibilities
11. Providing guidance on, and applying the appropriate methodology, procedures, tools and techniques to all levels ofinternal staff and external stakeholders.
12. Working withproduct owners and other stakeholdersc requirementsforthe creative development of all associated sites, applications and forms.
13. Initiating and managing change in an engaging way which mitigates the risks, achieves business goals and sustains improvement.
14. Ensuring the effective progress of initiatives and/or projects as agreed in work programmes, budgets and/or timetables.
15. Responsible for designing and implementing new features and functionality.
16. Establishing and guiding the website architecture.
17. Ensuring high-performance and availability.
18. Managing all technical aspects of the CMS.
19. Work closely with front-end developers and customers to ensure an effective, visually appealing, functional and intuitive implementation.
20. Utilising the latest responsivedevelopment anddesign techniques to ensure all output renders on any device and across multiple screen sizes.
21. Continually develop your knowledge and skills.
22. The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements. Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate.
23. Ability to architect enterprise Drupal solutions including data, display, and information architecture
24. CI/CD pipelines.
25. Server architecture and administration.
26. Design engaging, responsive websites that adhere to the Public Sector Accessibility Regulations legal requirements.
27. A clear customer focus through building influential networks, advising and engaging appropriate stakeholders in decision making processes and delivery.
28. To effectively inform requirement specifications and solution developments.
29. Be able to thrive working collaboratively in a team environment but equally able to work remotely without immediate supervision.
30. Able to offer persuasive professional and creative advice to help inform decisions and deliver projects.
31. To be able to make swift decisions and judgements to influence and instigate changes.
32. To be able to manage risks and competing priorities, being able to adapt to changing circumstances.
33. Ability to communicate effectively, clearly and succinctly both in writing and verbally to a variety of audiences.
34. Able to work flexibly from home and occasionally from an office location.
35. Knowledge of PHP, PHP files and theme functions, and knowledge of the Drupal theme layer.
36. Through understanding of the Software Development Lifecycle and exposure to Agile or iterative SDLCs.
37. Strong knowledge of Taskrunners (Grunt/Gulp/Webpack) and Version Control including Gitflow.
38. Up to date with the latest responsive design and development techniques.
39. An excellent understanding of accessibility regulations, how to apply them and verify the compliance status of other products.
40. Demonstratedexperienceofweb design / front end developmentwork and developing multiple layouts for different devicese.g.smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop As part of your application, please provide your (or a link toyour) work portfolio or GitHub.
41. Working on the delivery of multiple development projects to tight deadlines.
42. A proven record in achieving positive outcomes from work that involves internal and external stakeholders.
43. Experience of using a commercial CMS, specifically Drupal.
44. Experience developing web solutions in Drupal and PHP implementations in a LAMP environment.
45. Advanced site-building experience including deep familiarity with Drupal modules such as CTools, Views, and Panels.
46. Experience creating custom Drupal modules.
47. Experience building responsive websites using Drupal CMS, HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
48. Working in a development environment using source control.
49. Writing clean, accessible code following a progressive enhancement approach.
50. CI/CD pipelines.
51. Server architecture and administration.
52. Dealing with matters of a highly sensitive and confidential nature.
53. Producing technical audits of websites.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
54. Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
55. Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
56. Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
57. Carry out all duties having regard to an employee responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
58. Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
59. Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
60. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
61. Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
62. The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
63. Creation of complex CI/CD pipelines including regression testing.
64. Expert level Server architecture and administration.
65. Applying a user centred design approach.
66. Experience with Figma.
67. Experience with React.
68. Applying a user centred design approach.
69. Working with PaaS.
70. Experience using LocalGovDrupal.
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