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The University of North Dakota is currently not hiring remote employees in the following states: AR, CA, CO, HI, MD, ME, OR, PA, WA, and any country outside of the United States

Lead Web Developer

  • 494961
  • Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
  • University IT
  • Information Technology
  • Remote or Hybrid
  • Full-time Staff
  • Closing on: Jul 16 2024

Salary/Position Classification

  • $82,000+ Annual, Exempt
  • 40 hours per week
  • 100% Remote Work Availability: Yes
  • Hybrid Work Availability: Yes

Purpose of Position

This position is part of the UIT Development Team tasked with developing web applications for UND. This employee will lead a team responsible for the front-end development of the University of North Dakota's website and supporting other web applications.

This position is expected to perform all aspects related to the design, development, production, integrations, automation, and maintenance of websites within the university's content management system 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. They will be responsible for continually improving and ensuring UND's high-quality web presence by adhering to and promoting best practices, focusing on security, 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 and maintain existing applications and identify areas for improvement and refactoring.
  • Develop and integrate reusable components within the existing UND framework.
  • Understand the common constraints of web application architecture and how they influence design choices.
  • Leverage JavaScript and JavaScript libraries, frameworks, and applications to introduce interactivity into applications and build pipelines (jQuery, Node.js, Gulp, etc.).
  • Effectively use source control (Git) in conjunction with ticket and issue-tracking software.
  • Developed and maintained client and web-based applications and addressed website programming needs—dynamic content, form logic, data collection, reporting, payment handling, and more. 

Team Supervision and Project Management

  • Supervise, train, and mentor developer full-time and student employees.
  • Ensure all team-assigned support tickets are completed in a timely manner.
  • Work with supported departments and leadership to determine user requirements.
  • Research technical possibilities and options to meet the department's needs, ensuring that the proper product is used to meet the conditions most effectively and stably.
  • Manage project needs and monitor and assign resource allocations to tasks.
  • Provide technical leadership to the team’s employees.
  • Interpret user requirements and translate them into application/database architectures.
  • Ensure and oversee consistent testing, evaluation, and troubleshooting of all products in all stages of completion.
  • Enforce proper application lifecycle procedures including, but not limited to, project requests, functional and technical specifications, interface mockups, database diagrams and data dictionaries, and any other necessary documentation. 

User Interface and UND Web Framework Development and Design

  • Collaborate with the Web and Digital Marketing team to design visual elements and interactive media. To create positive user experiences, ensure accessibility of UND websites hosted in a content management system.
  • Monitor, test, and optimize 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 in all design and development.
  • Follow UND brand guidelines as developed and determined by UND Marketing.
  • Use knowledge of search engine analytics to maximize traffic to key landing pages.
  • Make improvements to the structure, navigation, and other site components based on usability, traffic, and marketing focus.
  • Develop, implement, and recommend new web strategies, features, functions, standards, policies, and procedures to enhance website operations.
  • Develop reusable visual elements such as templates, web graphics, icons, illustrations, animations, and multimedia for web developers, content developers, and content management systems.
  • Participate in and promote research and innovation in interactive design, user experience, interaction, emerging media, and information architecture.
  • Contribute to style guides and create ad-hoc design projects as requested.
  • Create UI/UX development documentation.
  • Act as user experience and accessibility proponent.
  • Research and apply SEO and analytics best practices. 

Content Management System(s) Development and Support 

  • Develop, enhance, and maintain content management services and custom content management solutions.
  • Build and maintain systems to support the delivery of digital 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 Marketing 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. 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 processes, tools, or languages.

Required Competencies

• Requires strong verbal 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.
• Ability to use mockup concepts and transform them into fully functional websites and applications.

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of directly related work experience OR Associate's degree plus 5 years of directly related experience OR 8 years of equivalent work experience.
  • 5 years of experience in web design and development.
  • Experience with best practices for web design and understanding of semantic HTML code, user-centered design, usability, and accessibility (WCAG 2.1 and 508).
  • Experience and proficiency with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • Experience with content management system (CMS) platforms such as Omni CMS, WordPress, or Drupal.
  • A well-crafted online portfolio is required.
  • 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 working in an environment required to maintain confidentiality, such as HIPAA, FERPA, and PCI Compliance.
  • Experience working in a complex multi-user IT environment.
  • Experience working in Higher Education.
  • Experience developing using HTML5, CSS3, ColdFusion, Java, PHP, XML, JavaScript, and Ajax.
  • Expertise in translating messages into visual solutions for the right medium.
  • Experience utilizing source control systems (i.e., SVN, Git) and ticket tracking/project management software.
  • Experience in developing responsive websites and the ability to produce clean and functional cross-browser, cross-platform, and/or cross-device code.
  • Experience with Web analytics tools, including Google Analytics.
  • Experience using the principles and elements of design (Balance, Unity, Emphasis, Visual Hierarchy, Scale, Shape, Color, Texture, etc.).
  • Experience with a variety of data formats and API Protocols such as JSON, XML, CSV, and REST/SOAP.
  • Experience with XSL is desirable as this is a core language used by UND's primary CMS.
  • 2 years’ experience supervising full-time staff.

Please note, all employment postings close at 11:55pm CST.

Position Benefits

Benefits include single or family health care coverage (UND pays the full premium), life insurance, employee assistance program, retirement plans with generous employer contributions, annual & sick leave in addition to 10 paid holidays.

Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.

UND also offers an employee tuition waiver and a variety of professional development opportunities.

Find out more about UND's great benefits and perks here!

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Additional Information

Find out why Grand Forks is Cooler.

All information listed in this position announcement will be used by Human Resources, the Hiring Department, and EO/Title IX for screening, interviewing and selection purposes.

Need help?

Please email the Human Resources Department at UND.humanresources@UND.edu or contact us by phone at 701.777.4226. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation to participate in any portion of the University's employment process, including completion of the online application process, please contact our office in advance of your participation or visit. 

Veteran’s Preference

Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 or a copy of NGB 22 from National Guard or Reserve (with a unit located in ND) or certification from the applicant's unit command that the individual is expected to be discharged or released from active duty in the uniformed services under other than dishonorable conditions not later than one hundred twenty days after the date of the submission of the certification. If claiming disabled veteran status, proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 and a current letter of disability dated within the past year.

Confidentiality of Application Materials

Pursuant to NDCC 44-04-18.27, applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are confidential, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified the top three or more finalists who will be invited to campus.

EEO Statement

The University of North Dakota is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or other protected characteristic. Women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants are invited to provide information regarding their gender, race and/or ethnicity, veteran’s status and disability status as part of the application process. This information will remain confidential and separate from your application.

Clery Statement

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the University of North Dakota publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report includes the university’s policies, procedures, and programs concerning safety and security, as well as three years of crime statistics for our campus. As a prospective employee, you are entitled to a copy of this report. The report and statistical data can be found online at UND.edu. You may also request a paper copy of the report from the UND Police Department located at 3851 Campus Road, Grand Forks, ND, 58202.