The Back End Web Developer of the Gustavus Adolphus College Marketing & Communications team is responsible for the architecture, development and long-term health of the systems that power the college's external-facing digital presence. Reporting to the Senior Director of Marketing, this role focuses on Drupal back end development, systems integration and the technical infrastructure that enables the marketing, enrollment and communications functions of the institution to operate effectively. This role will work closely with the Gustavus internal IT department (Gustavus Technology Services) which manages institutional infrastructure, hosting environments, network security and enterprise systems. The Back End Web Developer works in close, regular coordination with GTS on server environments, security protocols, platform updates and technical standards, and is expected to serve as a collaborative bridge between the MarCom team's development needs and GTS's institutional IT responsibilities. Experience in or genuine affinity for higher education environments is essential; this role sits at the intersection of technical depth and institutional context. This is a hybrid position with a flexible mix of on-campus and remote work. On-campus presence is expected for key team meetings, collaborative sprints and launch moments; remote flexibility supports focused development work. Employment Status: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Exempt (Salaried), Benefits Eligible Salary Range: $55,000-70,000 annually How to apply: Continue here or visit https://gustavus.edu/jobs/ to complete the online application and submit a resume. A cover letter is optional. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES: Drupal Back End Development
Architect, develop and maintain custom Drupal modules, content types, fields, views, and back end configurations that support the college's marketing and communications workflows. Lead Drupal version upgrades in partnership with hosting partners, migrations and major platform initiatives, ensuring minimal disruption to marketing operations and content editor experience. Oversee Drupal site architecture decisions including module selection, creation and database structure; with a focus on scalability, maintainability and editorial usability. Manage Drupal security updates, performance optimization, and caching strategies (Varnish, Redis, or similar) in close coordination with Gustavus Technology Services. Maintain development environments, staging workflows and deployment pipelines using Composer, Drush, Git/Bitbucket, and CI/CD tooling. Provide code review and technical guidance for front end development work as it intersects with back end architecture. Manage external web hosting and development partners.
Systems Integration & Marketing Technology
Develop and maintain integrations between Drupal and the college's marketing technology stack, including the enrollment CRM (Slate) and third-party APIs. Support implementation and maintenance of marketing automation workflows and data pipelines that connect web behavior to enrollment and advancement systems. Ensure data integrity and security across integrated platforms, with attention to compliance requirements and relevant privacy regulations. Partner with Gustavus Technology Services (GTS) on infrastructure decisions, server environments, hosting configuration and security protocols; act as the primary technical liaison between the MarCom development team and GTS on web platform and integration matters. Coordinate with Gustavus Technology Services (GTS) on institutional data governance, privacy compliance and access management as they apply to marketing technology systems and integrations.
Performance, Reliability & Technical Oversight
Conduct regular back end audits of the college's digital properties, identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks, security vulnerabilities and technical debt. Working to maintain fast, reliable experiences for all users across device types and connection speeds. Manage database optimization (MySQL or PostgreSQL) and ensure efficient query performance within Drupal environments. Document system architecture, integration logic and development standards to support team continuity and institutional knowledge.
Collaboration & Team Support
Work closely with the Chief Marketing Officer to execute the team's digital technology roadmap and contribute to the evaluation of new platforms and tools. Partner with the Front End Web Developer on full-stack initiatives, providing back end architecture that supports front end flexibility and performance. Maintain a strong, productive working relationship with Gustavus Technology Services; communicating clearly about shared platform responsibilities, escalating infrastructure or security needs appropriately and representing MarCom's development requirements in cross-functional technical discussions. Train and support team members on Drupal best practices, development workflows and tooling. Communicate technical constraints, recommendations and progress clearly to non-technical colleagues across marketing, enrollment and academic departments.