Head of Web Development

Join Hybrid as Head of Web Development Location: Bristol We’re looking for a Head of Web Development to lead our web delivery function across the business. You’ll own the technical direction of our web projects, manage a high-performing distributed development team, and play a key role in shaping how we build and deliver websites for higher education clients worldwide. This is a senior leadership position that blends hands-on technical oversight with team management, client engagement, and strategic input into our product and service offering. About Hybrid Hybrid is a full-service marketing partner for the education sector, backed by unrivalled insight, advanced technology, and AI-driven enrolment strategies. With teams across six countries and over 16 years of experience in higher education, our integrated marketing solutions help education brands grow worldwide; delivering high-impact digital experiences, SEO/GEO strategies, analytics solutions, and a growing suite of AI-powered marketing tools. What you’ll do Lead and manage the web development team across onshore and offshore locations, ensuring quality delivery, capacity planning, and professional development.Own the technical architecture and standards for web projects, with a focus on CMS platforms, including Drupal, Squiz, DXP, and Sitecore.Oversee the full project lifecycle from scoping and estimation through to launch, working closely with project managers, designers, and account teams.Drive best practice in front-end and back-end development, accessibility, performance, and security across all client builds.Contribute to business development activity including RFP responses, technical proposals, and client presentations.Collaborate with the Director of Technology on platform strategy, tooling decisions, and technology roadmap.Support the ongoing development and integration of Hybrid’s Intelligence Hub products within client web estates.Manage hosting and infrastructure relationships (e.g. Pantheon, AWS, Acquia) and ensure robust DevOps practices.Champion continuous improvement in development workflows, CI/CD pipelines, code review processes, and QA standards.Stay current with trends in higher education digital services, CMS technology, and web development practice, feeding insights back into the team and wider business. What we’re looking for Significant experience in web development, with a strong track record of leading development teams in an agency or consultancy environment.Deep expertise in at least one enterprise CMS platform (Drupal strongly preferred), with working knowledge of others.Solid understanding of modern front-end technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript frameworks), back-end development (PHP, Node.js), and API integrations.Experience managing distributed or offshore development teams and navigating the challenges that come with that.Comfortable with client-facing work, translating technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders and hold your own in a pitch.Strong grasp of web accessibility standards (WCAG), performance optimisation, and security best practice.Experience with hosting platforms, cloud infrastructure (AWS), and CI/CD tooling (GitLab, Bitbucket, or similar).Familiarity with analytics tools (GA4, Looker Studio, BigQuery) and how they integrate with web platforms.A pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset; understanding how to balance technical ideals with commercial reality. What’s in it for you? A key senior leadership role within a growing, well-regarded agency in the higher education space.Exposure to a broad range of international clients and interesting technical challenges.The opportunity to shape the technical direction of the agency and influence product development.The backing of EAB, a major player in education technology and advisory services.Competitive salary and benefits package.Hybrid working - three days in the office per week.£25 monthly wellbeing allowance (e.g. gym membership).Free fruit and free breakfast Wednesdays.Early Friday finishes and annual away days. Hybrid is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential - regardless of background, identity, or circumstance. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives, stronger creativity, and better outcomes for our people and our clients. If you’re excited about this role but feel you don’t meet every single requirement, we’d still love to hear from you. Please reach out to our Recruitment Team (recruitment@hybrid.co) to discuss your experience or to enquire about other opportunities across our growing business.