Consultant (Drupal Website Maintenance)

📋 Description

• • Are you a seasoned Drupal architect with a passion for ensuring website stability, security, and performance? WorldFish, a leading global research and conservation organization, is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Drupal Consultant to undertake a critical one-time project: the comprehensive upgrade and validation of our main website. This is a unique opportunity to leverage your deep expertise in Drupal to make a significant impact on a platform that supports vital research and conservation efforts worldwide.
• • Our current WorldFish website is a complex and robust platform, developed and maintained by a third-party vendor. It is built on the Drupal content management system, featuring a custom theme and incorporating bespoke code to meet our specific functional requirements. The website is hosted on a Virtual Private Server (VPS), which requires careful management and consideration during the upgrade process. Your primary objective will be to meticulously plan and execute a seamless upgrade of the Drupal core and any relevant modules to the latest stable versions, ensuring all custom functionalities, integrations, and the custom theme remain fully operational and performant post-upgrade.
• • This role demands a proactive and analytical approach. You will be responsible for thoroughly assessing the current state of the website, identifying potential risks and dependencies associated with the upgrade, and developing a detailed upgrade strategy. This includes evaluating the compatibility of custom modules and themes with newer Drupal versions, planning for necessary code refactoring or adjustments, and establishing a robust testing framework to validate the upgrade's success. Your expertise will be crucial in navigating the intricacies of a custom Drupal build and ensuring a smooth transition without compromising the site's integrity or user experience.
• • Key responsibilities will encompass a deep dive into the existing Drupal codebase, theme files, and module configurations. You will need to perform thorough code reviews to identify any deprecated functions, security vulnerabilities, or performance bottlenecks that may arise from the upgrade. Developing comprehensive documentation for the upgrade process, including rollback procedures, will be paramount to ensure business continuity and provide a clear roadmap for future maintenance. Furthermore, you will be tasked with validating the website's functionality across various browsers and devices, ensuring that all content, forms, user roles, and interactive elements function as expected after the upgrade. This validation phase is critical to confirm that the website meets WorldFish's high standards for usability and accessibility.
• • Beyond the technical execution, you will act as a trusted advisor to the WorldFish team, providing expert insights and recommendations on best practices for Drupal maintenance, security hardening, and performance optimization. While this is a one-time project, your work will lay the groundwork for future, more streamlined maintenance activities. You will collaborate closely with our internal stakeholders and potentially the existing third-party vendor to gather necessary information, coordinate efforts, and ensure alignment with WorldFish's strategic goals. The ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences will be essential for the success of this engagement.
• • This role is ideal for an independent, results-oriented Drupal professional who thrives in a remote work environment. You should possess a strong understanding of the Drupal ecosystem, including its architecture, module development, theming, and database management. Experience with server administration, particularly in managing VPS environments, and a keen eye for detail in testing and quality assurance are highly valued. If you are adept at troubleshooting complex issues, possess excellent problem-solving skills, and are committed to delivering high-quality outcomes, we encourage you to apply and contribute to WorldFish's mission through the enhancement of its digital presence.
• • Your contribution will directly impact WorldFish's ability to effectively communicate its research findings, engage with its global audience, and advance its conservation objectives. This project is a critical step in ensuring our online platform remains a reliable, secure, and high-performing asset for years to come. We are looking for someone who can not only execute the technical tasks but also provide strategic guidance that will benefit WorldFish in the long term.