Senior Back-End Web Developer

Senior Back-end Web Developer

Permanent, 37 hours per week 

All Year Round 

£50,000 to £65,000 FTE (dependent on experience)

Hybrid Role – home working with minimum 2 set office days (across Halifax & Leeds)

The role 

An exciting opportunity has arisen working in our web development team. We are looking for a self-motivated, dynamic, passionate and driven individual to further develop our website, which supports our operation and helps us provide world class education for everyone, everywhere. 

You will be instrumental in continued development of our website so that we can help many more teachers, pupils and parents, and radically improve teaching for learners across the globe. 

Combining React/NextJS with a bespoke API created over the past two years, an exciting and ambitious development roadmap lies ahead, which will enable White Rose Education to reach more teachers and learners in new ways. We are looking for web developers to support the business as it continues to grow, while upholding best practices and architectural principles. 

Working as a Senior Back-end Web Developer, your role will be based at our Leeds office. However, this is a hybrid role with a minimum of 2 days per week on-site.

The primary purpose of your role will be to work closely with the development team and White Rose Education (WRE) stakeholders to discover, design, develop, deliver and document changes and new features to support WRE’s public-facing website and web-based business system. You will lead the back-end development process, ensuring best practice and the standardised adoption of emerging tools and techniques, in collaboration with the Head of Development (web).

You will be responsible for leading the ongoing development of White Rose Education’s API to support its public-facing website and business system web front-end. 

Could it be you? 

You will need to be a great team player, as excellent teamwork is at the heart of everything we do. You’ll be a positive thinker, willing to flex, adapt and go the extra mile. A natural ability to develop and maintain excellent professional working relationships, solve complex problems and manage multiple priorities with tact and discretion is essential. This role will be very rewarding, and you will relish the excitement of helping to transform lives. 

This role would suit an experienced individual with strong technical skills in Symfony (PHP) and MySQL. The ideal candidate will have solid experience in supporting and maintaining complex web applications and business systems and be able to demonstrate proficiency in collaborating with stakeholders and development teams to plan and implement software changes and new features.

Applications: Submit your CV and cover note detailing your relevant experience and why you feel the role is right for you

Closing date: Friday 8th May 2026

Planned commencement date: ASAP

Requirements

Role title: Senior Back-end Web Developer

Reports to: Head of Development (web)

Location: Hybrid role with set office days in Leeds (LS11) / Halifax (HX2)

The purpose of the role:

• Work closely with the development team and White Rose Education (WRE) stakeholders to discover, design, develop, deliver, and document changes and new features to support WRE’s public-facing website and web-based business system.
• Lead the back-end development process, ensuring best practice and the standardised adoption of emerging tools and techniques, alongside the Backend Development Lead.
• Mentor and line manage juniors on the Backend team
• Make team-based decisions under the guidance of the Head of Development in the absence of the Backend Team Lead

Key accountabilities:

• Lead the ongoing development of White Rose Education’s API to support its public-facing website and business system web front-end.
• Work alongside the Head of Development (web) to:

• Develop new API endpoints to support new website/business functionality.

• Support the day-to-day operation/growth of the company’s website and business system, including ad-hoc data cleansing and reporting.

• Refactor existing API endpoints to ensure smooth and performant API operation.

• Proactively propose and lead on improvements to reduce technical debt.

• Maintain a high-quality software architecture during the development process and influence the adoption of best practices across the back-end web development team.

• Contribute positively to daily stand-ups and other team meetings.

• Participate in code reviews, providing feedback and guidance to less experienced developers.

Core technologies:

• Symfony (PHP) web application framework
• Symfony API Platform
• MySQL
• Local development using Docker
• Deployment via Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Skipper as a visual design tool and code/schema generator (120+ entities)
• Integration with third party CRM, payment and analytics providers
• Jira, Bitbucket, Slack

Other duties:

All staff must abide by company policies and procedures, copies of which can be found on our HR platform or requested from the HR Manager. 

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task may not be identified. Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified within this job description. 

This job description is current at the date shown. It will be reviewed at least annually, and in consultation with you, it may be changed by the Managing Director to reflect or anticipate changes in the role or business need. 

Key relationships of the role:

Head of Development (web), White Rose Education stakeholders 

Direct reports:

Back-end Web Developers

Person Specification – Core Competencies

Qualification and experience

Essential:

• Strong technical skills in Symfony (PHP) and MySQL
• Solid experience in supporting and maintaining complex web applications and business systems
• Proficiency in collaborating with stakeholders and development teams to plan and implement software changes and new features

Desirable:

• Experience of Symfony API Platform or developing API solutions
• Experience with Docker
• Experience of deployment to AWS
• Experience with visual modelling tools (eg Skipper)
• Experience with HubSpot integration
• Experience of further study

Knowledge and understanding

Essential:

• Secure development environment practices
• Effective review and evaluation procedures
• A passion for technology and a desire to stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies

Desirable:

• Working with external stakeholders
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Personal Qualities and Skills

Essential:

• Set high standards and provide a role model
• Enjoyment and commitment to personal development
• Adaptability to changing circumstances/new ideas
• Reliability and integrity
• Ability to prioritise, plan and organise
• Determination to succeed and the highest possible expectations of self and others

Desirable:

• Vision, imagination and creativity

Communication Skills

Essential:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively convey technical information to non-technical stakeholders
• Liaise effectively with other organisations and agencies

Desirable:

• Develop, maintain and use an effective network of contacts

Leadership and Management Skills

Essential:

• Work effectively as both a leader and a member of a team
• Initiate, lead and manage change.
• Prioritise, plan and organise
• Set high standards and provide a role model for staff
• Deal sensitively with people and resolve conflicts
• Seek advice and support when necessary
• Liaise effectively with other organisations and agencies

Desirable:

• Motivate all those involved in the delivery team