Hiring an inexperienced Drupal professional through the IXP Program provides more than goodwill. Your organization gains motivated talent and earns 250 contribution credits (worth about $25,000) per completed engagement.
IXPs bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to your team while requiring minimal previous experience. This creates opportunities to shape talent according to your organization's specific practices and needs. The 160-hour minimum engagement provides enough time to evaluate potential while the structured reporting process ensures clear expectations for both parties.
By participating, your organization demonstrates leadership in the Drupal community while addressing one of our ecosystem's most persistent challenges—bridging the gap between learning Drupal and securing that crucial first professional role.
Why hire an IXP?
Hiring an Inexperienced Drupal Professional through the IXP Program delivers tangible benefits beyond just goodwill. Your organization gains access to motivated talent while earning substantial recognition through 250 contribution credits (valued at approximately $25,000) for each completed engagement.
The program addresses a critical gap in our ecosystem by creating structured pathways for new talent development. Through formalized mentorship (one hour of mentorship required for every ten hours worked), you're investing in both an individual's career and the sustainability of the Drupal talent pipeline that benefits all organizations.
IXPs bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to your team while requiring minimal previous experience. This creates opportunities to shape talent according to your organization's specific practices and needs. The 160-hour minimum engagement provides enough time to evaluate potential while the structured reporting process ensures clear expectations for both parties.
By participating, your organization demonstrates leadership in the Drupal community while addressing one of our ecosystem's most persistent challenges—bridging the gap between learning Drupal and securing that crucial first professional role.
Program requirements
Participating in the IXP Program involves specific commitments designed to ensure quality experiences for both organizations and inexperienced professionals. Your organization must provide a paid position with a minimum of 160 working hours and structured mentorship (at least one hour of mentorship for every ten hours worked).
Job postings must clearly indicate they're for IXP positions and specify that applicants must have less than three months of paid Drupal experience. The position requirements should align with the defined skill set for inexperienced professionals, focusing on fundamental Drupal knowledge rather than advanced expertise. Applicants with more than three months of paid Drupal experience are not eligible for the IXP program.
Throughout the engagement, your organization will submit bi-weekly progress reports through the IXP management site, documenting the mentorship provided and the IXP's development. You'll also ensure the IXP earns at least three contribution credits on Drupal.org and produces a public blog post about their experience.
Each organization may sponsor up to four IXPs per calendar year, with each successful completion earning 250 contribution credits. The IXP initiative team reviews all documentation to verify program requirements have been met before awarding credits.
These requirements create a balanced framework that provides meaningful opportunities for newcomers while offering substantial recognition for participating organizations.
Credits and incentives
Participating in the IXP Program provides your organization with meaningful recognition and tangible benefits. The most significant incentive is the award of 250 contribution credits for each successfully completed IXP engagement. These credits, valued at approximately $25,000, acknowledge your substantial investment in building the Drupal talent pipeline.
The 250 contribution credits for each IXP fellow can help an organization qualify for the Drupal Certified Partner Program, or increase their level to a higher tier.
The Drupal.org credit system formally recognizes your organization's contributions to the project. Credits appear on your organization's profile and contribute to your ranking on the Drupal Marketplace. Higher contribution levels increase your organization's visibility to potential clients seeking Drupal expertise and demonstrate your active involvement in the ecosystem.
These 250 credits can also help your organization qualify for or maintain status in the Drupal Partnership Program. This program recognizes organizations that make significant contributions to the Drupal project through various tiers of partnership (Supporting, Contributing, and Sustaining Partners). Each tier provides increasing benefits including prominent placement on drupal.org, marketing opportunities, and recognition at Drupal events. The substantial credits earned through the IXP Program can significantly impact your organization's partnership tier eligibility.
Beyond credits, participating organizations gain increased visibility through program promotion. Each time you bring on a new IXP, the Drupal Association promotes your organization on social media, highlighting your role in developing new talent. Completed engagements can be featured as case studies on Drupal.org, further amplifying your organization's commitment to community development.
The Drupal Association has added a special "IXP-Experience" taxonomy term for case studies, creating a dedicated showcase for organizations participating in the program. This allows your IXP success stories to be highlighted in a dedicated view on Drupal.org, increasing visibility for your commitment to talent development.
The program also creates a practical solution for addressing talent shortages. By building a pipeline of professionals trained in your specific workflows and practices, you're making a strategic investment in your organization's future talent needs while simultaneously strengthening the broader Drupal community.
Organizations may sponsor up to four IXPs per calendar year, making this a substantial opportunity to both contribute to the community and receive recognition for your investment in Drupal's sustainability.
How to participate
Joining the IXP Program as an organization follows a straightforward process that ensures both structure and flexibility. Here's a summary of the key steps:
Getting started
Register on the IXP management site as a "Company Admin" and complete your organization profile. Once approved, you can add team members who will serve as mentors by inviting them to register as "Company Members."
If you are a hiring organization's employee and are going to be working as a mentor or another role, then register on the IXP management site as a "Company Member" and then ask your organization's main IXP contact to add you to their organization on the IXP management site.
Posting IXP positions
Create a "Job Post" content in your company group on the IXP management site. You can request a free job posting coupon or choose to pay for the listing. When posting on jobs.drupal.org, be sure to select "IXP Developer" as the position type and include all required program information, such as mentorship commitment and minimum paid hours.
Selecting and onboarding an IXP
After selecting a candidate through jobs.drupal.org, ask them to register on the IXP management site as an "IXP User." Create an "IXP Engagement" with all required information about the engagement, including project details and mentor contacts. The system will assign a case number for tracking purposes.
During the engagement
- Provide consistent mentorship throughout the engagement (minimum one hour per ten hours worked).
- Submit bi-weekly progress reports documenting the IXP's development and mentorship provided (via the IXP management site.)
- Ensure the IXP earns at least 3 contribution credits on Drupal.org.
Completing the process
After a minimum of 160 paid hours, create a final report documenting the engagement outcomes. Ensure all requirements are met, including the IXP's blog post and contribution credits. Change the engagement state to "Final Review" for the IXP initiative team to review and approve.
Upon approval, your organization will receive 250 contribution credits, recognition on social media, and the opportunity to create a case study showcasing your participation.
For comprehensive guidance on each step of this process, please review our detailed process documentation.
- Best practices for organizations - Tips for successful mentorship and integration
- Case studies - Successful implementation stories
- FAQ - Common questions from organizations
