Senior Web Developer

Salary/Position Classification

• $64,800+ dependent on experience annual, Exempt
• 40 hours per week
• This position will work onsite the Grand Forks, ND campus.

Purpose of Position

This position is part of the Web Development team within University Information Technology (UIT) and tasked with delivering content management system and database-driven web applications for UND. This position is responsible for the front-end development of the University of North Dakota's website and supporting other web applications and is expected to perform all aspects related to design, development, production, integrations, automation, and maintenance of websites within the university's content management system (Omni CMS) and other digital channels, including, but not limited to, mobile applications, microsites, platform theming and integration (e.g., calendar and search), WordPress themes, plugins, social media, HTML emails, digital signage, and other interactive and online mediums. It will be responsible for continually improving and ensuring UND's high-quality web presence by adhering to and promoting best practices focusing on user experience, accessibility, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Web Development 
  • Collaborate with team members to review and enhance existing code, develop new features, improve efficiencies, and address the programming needs of the University. 
  • Troubleshoot, maintain, refactor, and improve existing UND web applications and framework components while identifying and implementing appropriate enhancements. 
  • Thoroughly document required functionality, manage projects, and complete tasks to deliver effective solutions to stakeholders on time. 
  • Apply knowledge of platform, security, performance, accessibility, integration, and maintainability constraints when making web application design decisions. 
  • Leverage JavaScript and JavaScript libraries introducing interactivity into web pages and applications. 
  • Effectively use source control (Git) in conjunction with ticket and issue-tracking software. 
  • Develop ad hoc projects as requested. · Create documentation for all code, applications, services, APIs, etc. within the UIT documentation platform. 
  • Support architectural decision-making processes for general website functionality and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. 
  • Provide mentorship to team members through code reviews, pair programming, and knowledge sharing sessions to strengthen technical skills and improve team productivity.
• User Interface and UND Web Framework Development and Design 
  • Develop and integrate reusable components within the existing UND framework. 
  • Collaborate with the Web and Digital Marketing team to design visual elements and interactive media. To create positive user experiences and ensure accessibility of UND websites hosted in Omni CMS. 
  • Monitor, test, and optimize site usability and performance, and ensure cross-browser/cross-platform compatibility. 
  • Using systematic QA standards, analyze web deliverables and projects for quality, accessibility, functionality, purpose/need, etc. 
  • Follow best practices and usability standards, including accessibility guidelines for all design and development. 
  • Follow UND brand guidelines as developed and determined by the Web and Digital Marketing team. 
  • Implement UND brand guidelines in third-party services, integrations, and custom applications. 
  • Evaluate production websites with analytics software to ensure the effectiveness of a site's user interface and architecture. 
  • Research and apply SEO and search engine analytics best practices to maximize traffic to key landing pages. 
  • Make improvements to the structure, navigation, and other site components based on usability, traffic, and marketing focus.
  • Research, evaluate, and recommend improvements to user experience, web standards, emerging technologies, and information architecture in support of UND web services. 
• Content Management System(s) Development and Support 
  • Develop, enhance, and maintain content management services (Omni CMS, WordPress) and custom content management solutions such as digital signage. 
  • Develop and maintain Omni CMS templates, shared template sections (partials), XSLT transformation, snippets, and components used to publish university content. 
  • Work with teams and external partners to ensure high-level planning and design documents align with the user experience, vision, standards, and guidelines. 
  • Develop and maintain a local build environment to develop new and existing UND framework features (Gulp, Node.JS, SCSS, etc.).
  • Provide user guides and support to Web and Digital Marketing team and end-users as new features and content are developed and added to the CMS.
• Research and implement new technologies 
  • Research industry trends in languages, technologies, frameworks, methodologies, and best practices in web development and when applicable, evaluate, recommend, and implement such changes for new and existing projects. 
  • Perform small-scale test projects to explore ideas to improve processes, code, or existing applications. 
  • Report findings to the entire team regularly. 
  • Recommend improvements in process, tools, or languages. 
  • Research emerging technologies and AI as it relates to web development. 
• Other duties 
  • Document and update projects in the UIT ticketing system to track project progress. 
  • Develop and maintain contact with people in key positions pertinent to other duties and responsibilities. 
  • Attend conferences, webinars, and seminars that contribute to the betterment of UIT systems or operations. 
  • Maintain an awareness of current technology trends with the ability to make recommendations where applicable. 
  • Attend departmental and UIT staff meetings. 
  • Serve on campus-wide committees and participate in campus-wide meetings when applicable. 
  • Maintain confidential information in all aspects of position in accordance with applicable compliance requirements (FERPA, HIPPA, PCI Compliance, etc.). 

Required Competencies

• Must possess the ability to independently execute projects and guide high-level architectural decision-making processes with the ability to work autonomously while still communicating well with supervisor and team.
• Requires strong oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Requires attention to detail and excellent customer service skills.
• Strong analytical, technical, time management, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with both technical and non-technical users.
• Ability to think creatively, learn new technologies and languages quickly, and adapt to changes

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree plus four years web development experience OR Associate's degree plus six years web development experience 
• Demonstratable experience developing XSLT templates in Omni CMS or a comparable enterprise CMS.
• Experience with best practices for web design and understanding of semantic HTML code, user-centered design, usability, and accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508).
• Demonstratable experience with PHP used in web applications.
• Proficiency with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to develop semantic, accessible, responsive websites and web applications that work across common browsers and devices.
• Experience developing and maintaining WordPress sites and developing WordPress themes. Related CMS experience will be considered such as Drupal and Joomla.
• Experience turning approved mockups into fully functional websites and web applications.
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting websites in a higher education environment or in a similarly complex multi-user IT environment.
• Experience integrating websites or applications with APIs and common data formats such as JSON, XML, and CSV.
• Experience with Git-based source control systems and ticket tracking and project management tools.
• Experience with web analytics to evaluate site usability and performance.
• Experience working in an environment required to maintain confidentiality, such as HIPAA, FERPA, and PCI Compliance.