Lead Full Stack Developer

The Lead Full Stack Developer (Web / Drupal) is the senior-most technical role responsible for the design, stability, and long-term sustainability of Ithaca College’s web ecosystem. This position serves as the technical steward of the College’s web platform, sharing platform ownership jointly with Marketing and Communications.

This role provides hands-on technical leadership while serving as a trusted technical advisor to Marketing and Communications, IT leadership, and campus partners. The Lead Developer plays a critical role in balancing institutional priorities with platform discipline, data-informed decision-making, and long-term architectural health.

The Lead Developer plays an active role in early design and solution discussions, partnering with Marketing and Communications to translate creative concepts into technically efficient, scalable implementations. This includes identifying opportunities where modest design or structural adjustments can significantly reduce development effort, cost, or long-term maintenance while preserving the intended user experience and strategic goals.

This role blends deep technical expertise with strategic thinking, stakeholder partnership, and roadmap leadership to ensure the College’s digital presence evolves intentionally, responsibly, and in alignment with institutional goals.

Key Responsibilities

Platform Leadership & Development

• Serve as the technical owner and steward of the College’s web platform, with primary responsibility for architectural integrity, sustainability, and long-term maintainability
• Lead the development and maintenance of Drupal-based websites, web applications, and integrations
• Design, build, test, and maintain clean, secure, accessible, and well-documented code
• Establish and enforce platform standards, development patterns, and governance practices that promote consistency and reduce technical debt
• Evaluate and recommend improvements to the web platform based on performance metrics, accessibility requirements, security posture, and institutional needs

Strategy, Governance & Decision Support

• Partner with Marketing and Communications, where Marketing defines digital strategy and content priorities and IT leadership and this role jointly establish platform standards, technical priorities, and architectural direction
• Provide data-informed analysis and recommendations when proposed initiatives introduce significant cost, risk, or long-term maintenance implications
• Support institutional decision-making by explaining technical tradeoffs, constraints, and impacts in clear, accessible language
• Contribute to ongoing evaluation of CMS evolution, including Drupal sustainability and future platform considerations

Accessibility, Security & Compliance

• Support and apply digital accessibility best practices in web development, including awareness of WCAG standards, and partner with institutional accessibility leadership to promote sustainable implementation.
• Partner with IT Security to follow secure development practices and support compliance with applicable security standards.
• Monitor platform performance, reliability, and risk indicators, and proactively recommend improvements to enhance stability and sustainability.

Operations, Support & Incident Response

• Support structured intake, prioritization, and roadmap planning for web initiatives in collaboration with IT leadership and Marketing
• Participate in after-hours incident response for critical web issues impacting institutional operations, including homepage availability, admissions launches, and enrollment campaigns. Such incidents are rare given our Pantheon-hosted platform.
• Ensure appropriate documentation, continuity planning, and knowledge sharing to reduce institutional risk

Collaboration, Vendors & Mentorship

• Manage and coordinate third-party vendors, including defining scopes of work, reviewing deliverables, and ensuring alignment with institutional standards
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to developers, student employees, and external partners as applicable
• Foster strong working relationships across campus through clear communication, partnership, and shared accountability

Institutional Values

• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as core institutional values
• Promote a respectful, collaborative, and inclusive environment when working with faculty, staff, students, and external partners
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Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in web development in Drupal/WordPress or similar.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining custom Drupal modules, themes, and integrations
• Strong full-stack development experience (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP)
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps tools (e.g., CircleCI or equivalent)
• Strong understanding of web performance optimization, security best practices, and accessibility standards
• Proven ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences using data and impact analysis
• Excellent problem-solving, documentation, and systems-thinking skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent professional experience

This position is 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants must apply online and attach a resume, cover letter, and list of three professional references. Questions about online applications should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at (607) 274-8000 or humanresources@ithaca.edu.

Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated.

Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.

Hiring Range

$83,000-$87,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

We pride ourselves on providing our benefit-eligible employees with comprehensive benefits, including:

• Healthcare including vision and dental
• Generous Paid Time Off Policies
• 403B Retirement Savings Plan with Matching Employer Contribution
• EAP
• Flexible Work Plans
• Educational Benefits
• Career-Enhancing Trainings
• For an overview of our benefit offerings, please visit https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits-wellness

In an effort to promote campus safety and the security of College resources, Ithaca College will, consistent with the requirements of the law and prudent practices, conduct criminal background investigations per College policy. This position is subject to a criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon review of the criminal background check.

About Us

At Ithaca College, a comprehensive residential campus community of approximately 5,000 students, we strive to be at the forefront of the higher education landscape. We offer a distinct integrative learning experience that makes students ready for the personal, professional, and global challenges of our age.

We seek candidates who embrace integrative learning and want to be a part of this exciting time in Ithaca College history. We encourage creative collaboration and innovation in our faculty and staff, providing support and resources for them to grow in their fields and lead students to their own innovative ideas and achievements.

We welcome different ways of thinking and look for candidates with unique points of view and life experiences. We are inclusive of individuals with a wide range of cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds, talents, and skills. Our campus is a vibrant and rewarding community where diverse minds can learn, succeed, and excel.

When reviewing candidates, we are looking for indicators of a number of core competencies. Prospective candidates must be adaptable, collaborative, inclusive, respectful, responsive, results driven, and sustainable. They must communicate effectively, demonstrate leadership, exhibit professional integrity and ethics, take initiative, value personal and professional development, and show that they will engage in the college.

Nestled in the heart of New York State’s scenic Finger Lakes region, Ithaca College sits atop South Hill overlooking picturesque Cayuga Lake and is just minutes away from the city center. Combining small town warmth and charm with the vibrancy of a college community, the thriving and culturally diverse city of Ithaca has been rated by Kiplinger’s as one of the top 10 places to live in the United States.

To learn more about Ithaca College, visit us at http://ithaca.edu