Role Summary
The successful candidate will design, develop, test, and maintain technical solutions for the University's systems and applications. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, troubleshooting complex technical challenges, and ensuring robust delivery of scalable and secure software products. The Senior Developer will also lead code reviews, mentor junior developers, and contribute to innovation within the IT department.
Staff and students expect seamless, high-quality digital experiences. With the growing reliance on mobile devices, cloud platforms, and online services, users demand access to information and tools anytime and anywhere. Meeting these expectations directly affects the University's reputation, student satisfaction, and NSS results. The Senior Developer (Web and Digital)’s work supports the University's digital presence, enabling better self-service, collaboration, and efficiency. Through innovation in web and digital delivery, the role helps attract students, modernise operations, and improve staff and student engagement.
Main Duties
- Solution architecture:
- Contributes to the development of systems architectures using appropriate tools and models.
- Produces detailed component specifications and translates them into designs for implementation.
- Provides architectural guidance for web, API, database, SharePoint, and WordPress solutions, ensuring scalability, performance, and compliance with University policies.
- Advises on integration between SharePoint, WordPress, and enterprise systems within Microsoft 365 and Azure environments.
- Systems design:
- Designs system structures that meet business and user needs, considering security, performance, and existing infrastructure.
- Produces detailed design documentation for web, SharePoint, and WordPress implementations.
- Designs SharePoint site collections, lists, libraries, and permissions for both Modern and Classic environments.
- Programming/software development:
- Designs, codes, tests, and documents complex full-stack applications using .NET Core, REST APIs, and modern front-end frameworks.
- Develops SharePoint solutions including SPFx web parts, Power Automate flows, Power Apps, and PowerShell automation.
- Customises and supports WordPress themes, plugins, and integrations, following accessibility and security standards.
- Builds reusable components and ensures consistency across platforms.
- Testing:
- Creates and executes test cases, including automated tests where possible.
- Performs integration, regression, and performance testing across web, API, SharePoint, and WordPress systems.
- Ensures accessibility and compliance with institutional and legal standards.
- Software release and deployment:
- Implements controlled release processes using CI/CD pipelines for web and SharePoint systems.
- Manages deployment and updates of WordPress instances, ensuring version control, plugin management, and rollback readiness.
- Porting/software configuration:
- Configures software, databases, and hosting environments to agreed standards.
- Maintains WordPress hosting environments, user accounts, security certificates, and backups.
- Configures SharePoint environments for both on-premises and Microsoft 365 cloud deployments.
- User experience analysis and design:
- Works with designers and business stakeholders to define intuitive user interfaces and information structures.
- Applies UX and accessibility principles to SharePoint, WordPress, and custom web solutions.
- User experience evaluation:
- Conducts usability and accessibility testing across platforms.
- Evaluates user feedback and analytics to inform design improvements.
- Technical specialism:
- Maintains advanced technical knowledge and provides expert advice in:
- .NET and web API development
- JavaScript, TypeScript, React, and responsive front-end design
- SQL Server and relational database optimisation
- SharePoint (Modern and Classic), SPFx, Power Automate, Power Apps, PowerShell
- WordPress development, hosting, and administration
- Mobile app development (Flutter or equivalent)
- Contensis CMS
- Integration with Azure, Microsoft Graph, and Power Platform
- Source control, CI/CD, and DevOps processes
- Responsible for development, maintenance, and third-line support across:
- Single sign-on and authentication services
- University web applications and APIs
- My.bham and intranet systems
- SharePoint intranet and collaboration sites
- WordPress blogs and hosted websites
- Contensis templates and public web pages
- Power Platform automations
- Mobile and responsive web applications
- Web and digital development methods and tools:
- Promotes use of modern development frameworks, source control, Agile delivery, and continuous integration practices.
- Ensures consistent environments for web, API, SharePoint, and WordPress systems.
- Emerging technology monitoring:
- Keeps abreast of new developments in cloud, Microsoft 365, WordPress, and modern web technologies.
- Assesses opportunities for adoption and advises on future digital direction.
- Technology leadership and innovation:
- Leads by example in delivering robust, maintainable, and efficient solutions.
- Drives innovation in automation, performance improvement, and digital user experience.
- Supplier management and sourcing:
- Supports evaluation and procurement of third-party tools, plugins, or services for WordPress, SharePoint, or web hosting.
- Monitors supplier performance and maintains service standards.
- Risk and sustainability management:
- Identifies technical and information security risks across all web platforms.
- Ensures compliance with accessibility, GDPR, and institutional security standards.
- Project management:
- Leads small to medium-scale development or migration projects.
- Plans and tracks progress, manages risks, and ensures delivery to time and quality.
- Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
- Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience
- Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, other related discipline, or relevant technical qualification and considerable relevant experience. Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of more demanding roles will be required demonstrating the conceptual understanding required.
- Expert understanding of full-stack web and digital development.
- Strong SharePoint development experience across Modern and Classic environments.
- Proven WordPress hosting, configuration, and administration skills.
- Knowledge of .NET, SQL Server, JavaScript frameworks, and Power Platform integration.
- Familiarity with Azure hosting, DevOps pipelines, and version control systems.
- Transferable full-stack skills:
- Front-end: React, TypeScript, HTML5, CSS, accessibility compliance.
- Back-end: .NET Core, RESTful API design, microservices.
- Database: SQL Server, data modelling, stored procedures, query optimisation.
- Integration: Microsoft Graph, Power Automate, REST APIs, and third-party connectors.
- WordPress: plugin configuration, theme management, multisite administration, backups, and updates.
- DevOps: Git, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and deployment management.
- Collaboration: cross-functional teamwork, peer review, mentoring, and stakeholder communication.
- Able to explain technical solutions clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Works collaboratively with designers, analysts, and infrastructure teams.
- Analytical approach to identifying and resolving complex issues across web, SharePoint, and WordPress systems.
- Able to assess technical dependencies and propose balanced, sustainable solutions.
- Plans and prioritises multiple initiatives effectively.
- Ability to provide mentoring and guidance to less experienced developers.
- Extensive experience in full-stack web development.
- Proven track record in SharePoint and WordPress development and administration.
- Experience working with Agile delivery and DevOps workflows.
- Familiarity with cloud hosting and hybrid environments.
- Evidence of literacy and numeracy.
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
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