Drupal UX Consultant

Engagement Type: Consulting and Implementation (Development) If additional hours are required, the consultant must notify the project lead in advance for approval. Objective of the Role The Drupal Consultant will provide technical guidance on what is feasible within Drupal based on wireframes created by the Sandbox team, and then support the implementation and development of approved solutions within the Drupal environment, ensuring alignment with best practices, performance, and scalability. Phase 1: Focuses on feasibility and technical direction Phase 2: Focuses on implementation, development, and validation Phase 1 - Consultancy & Feasibility The consultant will review wireframes, flows, and UX concepts and provide technical feasibility assessments and recommendations. Core Activities 1. Assess current client site architecture and technical capabilities from the Drupal perspective 2. Review UX wireframes and interaction flows 3. Assess feasibility within Drupal (core + contrib + custom development) 4. Identify technical constraints, risks, and dependencies 5. Recommend implementation approaches (e.g., modules vs custom build) 6. Provide rough effort indication (high-level only, not detailed estimates) Tasks May Include 1. UX Feasibility Review - Evaluate whether proposed UI components can be implemented in Drupal - Identify limitations of Drupal theming, content modeling, or layout systems - Assess feasibility of dynamic or interactive elements - Ensure the site meets accessibility criteria across all screen sizes 2. Content Architecture & CMS Fit - Evaluate mapping of wireframes to Drupal content types, fields, and taxonomy - Identify gaps between UX intent and CMS structure - Recommend scalable content modeling approaches 3. Component & Module Strategy - Recommend whether features should be: - Built using Drupal core - Leveraged via contributed modules - Developed as custom components - Highlight risks related to maintainability or performance 4. Interaction & Personalization Feasibility Assess feasibility of: - Conditional content - Personalization - Multi-step flows - Interactive tools 5. Performance & Scalability Considerations Identify UX elements that may impact: - Page performance - Load times - CMS complexity 6. Future Development Viability - Highlight prerequisites or architectural considerations Deliverable (Phase 1) - Feasibility assessment with recommended approaches - Content structure recommendations aligned with UX - Suggested technical approach per feature/component - Feasibility notes + alternative solutions - Risk flags and optimization recommendations Phase 2 – Implementation & Development Following alignment on feasibility and technical approach, the consultant will support end-to-end implementation within Drupal, ensuring solutions are properly built, tested, and ready for client deployment. Core Activities 1. Translate approved UX and technical recommendations into working Drupal components and features 2. Configure and/or develop Drupal functionality 3. Implement content models, views, and templates 4. Ensure code quality, accessibility, and performance standards 5. Support integration, testing, and deployment readiness Tasks May Include 1. Technical Implementation - Develop and configure Drupal features based on Phase 1 recommendations - Build or customize themes, templates, and components - Implement layouts and UI elements aligned with approved wireframes - Configure Drupal modules and dependencies 2. Content Modeling & CMS Configuration - Create and configure content types, fields, and taxonomy structures - Set up editorial workflows and content relationships - Ensure CMS usability aligns with content strategy 3. Custom Development - Develop custom modules or components where required or reuse the current components as needed - Implement interactive features - Ensure maintainable and scalable code practices - code will reviewed by a Drupal developer for deployment 4. QA & Validation - Perform functional testing of implemented features alongside Sandbox team - Validate alignment with UX specifications and acceptance criteria - Conduct cross-browser and responsive testing (desktop, tablet and mobile) - Ensure accessibility compliance (WCAG standards) - Identify and resolve defects or inconsistencies 5. Performance & Optimization - Optimize page load performance and rendering - Ensure efficient data handling and caching strategies - Validate scalability for future growth 6. Deployment Support - Prepare implementation for client-side deployment - Provide documentation or handoff notes for client technical teams - Support troubleshooting during deployment (if required) Deliverables (Phase 2) 1. Fully implemented Drupal components and features aligned with approved UX 2. Configured content structures and CMS setup 3. Tested and validated functionality 4.Documentation for implemented features (as needed) 5. Handoff support for client deployment Final Deliverables (Overall Engagement) The consultant is expected to: 1. Provide clear feasibility assessments for each reviewed concept 2. Translate UX ideas into technical implications within Drupal 3. Identify risks, constraints, and trade-offs 4. Suggest practical alternatives when designs are not feasible 5. Support the team with clarifications during wireframing 6. Implement approved solutions in Drupal (Phase 2) 7. Ensure quality, performance, and scalability of delivered work Communication & Collaboration Working hours: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST (Mon–Fri) Availability via Slack or email for async questions Focus on quick-turn feedback loops during wireframe iteration The consultant should proactively communicate: - Blockers - Feasibility risks - Misalignment between UX and Drupal capabilities - Implementation challenges or trade-offs