Web Site Designer/Developer, University of Arizona Libraries

Web Site Designer/Developer (Potential to be Hired at Senior or Principal Level)

The University of Arizona, University Libraries, User Experience (Dept. 1709)

Classification: Appointed Professional; Full-Time; Permanent Duration

Main Campus, Tucson, Arizona 

The University of Arizona Libraries is looking for two creative, enthusiastic, and dedicated individuals who are passionate about user-centered design and interested in being part of a dynamic, collaborative environment at a large academic library.

Our talented staff is energized by building and contributing to excellent user experiences. With these positions we aim to improve the discoverability, accessibility and usability of our digital products and services while maintaining a strong focus on user-centered design.

As an academic library we are responsible for supporting multiple audiences (undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff, community users, and donors) while providing a broad range of collections and services. We need to reflect the enormous value that our complex organization provides through an intuitive and engaging web presence.

As a part of the library’s web team, you’ll have opportunities to do different types of design work on a range of projects, and to work with departments across the organization. You will be especially involved in supporting Marketing Communications and Special Collections by designing websites that promote library events, services, and resources.

Working closely with other designers, developers, and user experience and communications professionals, you’ll create useful, usable, and accessible web products that help our users achieve their academic and personal goals.

You’ll have support for your work and operate in a respectful environment where we value risk-taking, learning, and open communication. We share responsibility for our successes and failures, we see opportunities in challenges, and we value diverse viewpoints and the learning that comes from challenging our assumptions.

We have a great team committed to using the best tools and approaches to support our work. We build web sites mobile-first, using HTML5, CSS3, and the front-end build tools that work best for us. We make design decisions and test our assumptions with the help of in-house user research and content strategy experts. We take deliberate steps to back each other up in our work and we share in successes and learn from failures together.

In addition to an agile workflow approach that is continuously being improved, we use the communication and development tools that work best for us. Currently we use Redmine for issue tracking, Git for version control and Gulp and Sass for front-end development. We deploy new code often and iteratively so that our work provides value to users sooner, and we have automated tools that help us do so with confidence. Don’t worry – we don’t expect you to know all the tools we use coming in, but we hope you’d be excited to learn! We’re always working on improving our workflow process and tools we use to get our work done and we expect you to contribute to that endeavor.

The University of Arizona has been recognized on Forbes 2015 list of America’s Best Employers in the United States and has been awarded the 2015 Work-Life Seal of Distinction by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress! For more information about working at the University of Arizona, see http://whyua.arizona.edu/.

Accepting a new position is a big life step. We want potential candidates and their families to be able to make informed decisions. Candidates who are considering relocation to the Tucson or Phoenix area, and have been offered an on-site interview, are encouraged to use the free services offered by Above & Beyond Relocation Services (ABRS)(aboveandbeyondrelo.com/package.asp). Ask your department contact to be introduced to ABRS prior to your visit.

Salary/Benefits:  The Posted Rate of Pay varies based on the level of position:

  • Web Site Designer/Developer: $16.78 – $22.04 Per Hour ($34,902 – $45,843 annually)
  • Web Site Designer/Developer, Senior: $47,059 – $62,830 annually
  • Web Site Designer/Developer, Principal: $55,213 – $72,980 annually

All position levels include full UA benefits that include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; state retirement plan; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Designs innovative, useful, usable, and engaging library websites and tools:
  • Leads and coordinates design work for websites, digital exhibits and custom web applications.
  • Empowers the web team to meet user and organizational goals by building design into every site and tool we make.
  • Understands and applies the principles of user-centered design.
  • Applies principles of usability and accessibility to all design and development.
  • Makes thoughtful design decisions based on user research, organizational goals, and stakeholder feedback.
  • Provides visual design support for new and legacy websites.
  • Supports library websites, web content, and digital marketing efforts:
  • Works closely with the user experience librarian and content strategist to produce designs that put our content in the spotlight.
  • Applies consistent branding and messaging to help the library communicate clearly and effectively across channels.
  • Collaborates with stakeholders and other library units:
  • Serves on the website steering group and contributes to planning for future phases of web design and development.
  • Communicates regularly with key stakeholders in other library departments including Marketing Communications, Access and Information Services, Research and Learning, Special Collections, and the Office of Digital Innovation and Stewardship.
  • Facilitates conversations, presents concepts thoughtfully, and translates technical jargon into plain language for stakeholders.
  • Solves problems and constantly improves processes and practices:
  • Continually learns about new tools and techniques in web design, front-end development, digital marketing, and user experience design.
  • Contributes to improving the processes and tools we use to do our work.
  • Isolates, identifies, articulates and resolves problems.
  • Performs testing and debugging.
  • Assists with maintenance of and improvements to the Libraries’ web products.
  • Educates others about design work and helps to establish and document best practices.

Arizona Board of Regents Minimum Qualifications:

  • To be considered at the level of Web Site Designer/Developer:
    • Three years of progressively responsible web site design and/or development experience; OR, an Associate’s degree in a related field AND two years of web site design and/or development experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education.
  • To be considered at the level of Web Site Designer/Developer, Senior:
    • Five years of progressively responsible web site design and/or development experience; OR, Associate’s degree in a related field AND four years of web site design and/or development experience; OR, Bachelor’s degree in a related field AND two years of web site design and/or development experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education.
  • To be considered at the level of Web Site Designer/Developer, Principal:
    • Six years of progressively responsible web site design and/or development experience; OR, Associate’s degree in a related field AND five years web site design and/or development experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education.

Additional Minimum Qualifications:

  • Strong communication skills, including active listening and the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse faculty, staff and students.
  • Evidence of excellent web design skills.
  • Demonstrated evidence of experience designing responsive websites.
  • Enthusiasm in learning about design and frontend development.

 Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proficiency in writing semantic, standards-compliant, and accessible HTML.
  • Demonstrated experience with version control systems (currently we use Git).
  • Proficiency in writing CSS and JavaScript to progressively enhance content.
  • Skill in selecting and using front-end development tools (currently we use Sass and Gulp).
  • Experience designing for content management systems (currently we use Drupal and Omeka).

Opened: 01/28/2016. First Review of applications begins on 02/17/2016. Closes:  Open Until Filled.  Applying by the first review date ensures your application materials are reviewed.

To Apply: Quicklink to the posting for Job # S21016 on The University of Arizona’s job board and application system at: http://uacareers.com/postings/8245. Complete an application, attach your resume and prepare a letter of interest that describes how your experience and qualifications are fitting for this position. Please submit examples from your design portfolio or provide URL for accessing examples online. Application materials mailed/emailed to the department will not be accepted. The UA conducts pre-employment screenings for all positions, including work history, academic, criminal and driver’s license checks.  For questions regarding The UA Careers application system contact: 520-621-3662; TDD 621-8299 (M-F 8-5).  For questions about the Libraries or status of the posting, contact Glenda Hendrickson, Library HR, 520-621-6429 or ghendric@email.arizona.eduThe University of Arizona is an Equal Employment Opportunity – Affirmative Action Employer-M/W/D/V.

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