Lead Front End Web Developer
Salary: £46,142 - £49,282
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Merrion House / Hybrid
The Lead Front End Web Developer is responsible for guiding a team of developers in delivering robust and scalable digital services across Leeds City Council. Operating within Integrated Digital Services, the role supports the Head of Web & Transactions and collaborates with product owners and stakeholders to ensure the development of accessible, high‑performing, and user‑focused online platforms. The position involves architectural oversight, technical leadership, and hands‑on development, with a strong emphasis on compliance, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
About You
* Expert knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
* Proven ability to lead and manage a team of developers, including performance review and motivation.
* Demonstrated success delivering multiple development projects to tight deadlines in a collaborative environment.
* Strong design and UX skillset to help deliver functional user interfaces and web designs.
* Experience building responsive websites that meet Public Sector Accessibility Regulations.
About The Role
As Lead Front End Web Developer, you will ensure that all our online presence is user friendly and complies with branding guidelines and accessibility regulations. You’ll be joining a team that values collaboration and continuous improvement, with the chance to influence technical direction and mentor others. Your work will directly contribute to making council services more efficient, inclusive and responsive to the needs of the city.
What We Offer You
* A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
* Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
* Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
* A clear career pathway and continuous professional development opportunities.
* A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
Job Description
Job Purpose: Working within a multi‑disciplinary team and collaboratively across the organisation to inform and enable the delivery of online strategies which result in better customer services and ways of working across the organisation. This position plays a key role in ensuring that all of our online presence is user friendly and complies with branding guidelines and accessibility regulations.
Responsibilities
* Line Management and leadership of a team of Front End Developers.
* Work with Product Owners to refine and prioritise the front‑end product backlog, ensuring technical considerations and user experience are appropriately balanced.
* Define and maintain front‑end architectural standards, coding guidelines, and best‑practice patterns across all applications.
* Work with product owners and other stakeholders to meet the creative development requirements of all associated sites, applications, and forms.
* Lead technical change initiatives, ensuring solutions are robust, scalable, secure, and aligned with organisational goals.
* Ensure effective delivery of front‑end workstreams, managing risks, dependencies, and priorities within agile delivery teams.
* Ensure all front‑end output is responsive, performant, and optimised for multiple devices and assistive technologies.
* Create high‑profile online material that is up to date with the latest technical design standards for online campaigns.
* Lead technical accessibility reviews (WCAG 2.2AA), using manual and automated tools, and work collaboratively with accessibility leads to provide actionable remediation guidance.
* Stay current with modern front‑end technologies, frameworks, tooling, and accessibility standards.
* Carry out duties in accordance with Council Values.
* Any other reasonable duties commensurate with the grade.
Essential Requirements
Skills Required
* Produce prototype wireframes to present to stakeholders.
* Design engaging, responsive websites that adhere to the Public Sector Accessibility Regulations legal requirements.
* Build a clear customer focus by influencing decision making and engaging appropriate stakeholders.
* Inform requirement specifications and solution developments effectively.
* Work collaboratively in a team environment and remotely without immediate supervision.
* Offer persuasive professional and creative advice to inform decisions and deliver projects.
* Make swift decisions and judgements to influence and instigate change.
* Manage risks and competing priorities, adapting to changing circumstances.
* Communicate effectively, clearly and succinctly both in writing and verbally to a variety of audiences.
* Work flexibly from home and occasionally from an office location.
Knowledge Required
* Expert knowledge of HTML, CSS/SCSS, JavaScript/TypeScript, PHP, and version control.
* Stay current with the latest responsive design and development techniques.
* Excellent understanding of accessibility regulations, how to apply them, and verify the compliance status of other products.
Experience Required
* Considerable experience in web design and front‑end development, creating multiple layouts for different devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop). Please provide a work portfolio or GitHub link.
* Deliver multiple development projects to tight deadlines.
* A proven record of achieving positive outcomes involving internal and external stakeholders.
* Experience with a commercial CMS, specifically Drupal and WordPress.
* Extensive experience with React.
* Work in a development environment using source control.
* Write clean, accessible code following a progressive enhancement approach.
* Deal with highly sensitive and confidential matters.
* Produce technical audits of websites.
Behavioural & Other Characteristics Required
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and deliver the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth, and Zero Carbon.
* Understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
* Follow health and safety policies.
* Actively participate in training and development activities.
* Adapt to change to assist other services as required.
* Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
* Comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
* Support equality for all and work in an anti‑discriminatory manner.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and abuse.
* Work within the flexibility protocol granted to council staff.
Managerial Standards Required
* Prioritise own work effectively and direct activities of others in line with business and IDS priorities.
* Manage and motivate a team and review performance of individuals.
* Instil confidence and autonomy within the team, fostering a freedom‑to‑act culture.
* Use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Sponsor / Manager, aiming to improve deliverables and compliance to policies.
* Manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and changing time‑scales.
Desirable Requirements
Skills Required
* CI/CD pipelines.
* Server architecture and administration.
Knowledge Required
* Understanding of software development projects delivered via AGILE methodology.
Experience Required
* Apply a user‑centred design approach.
* Experience with Figma.
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