Senior Web Developer, Digital Communications

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

9d•$90,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Web Developer serves as the front-end technical lead for digital communications experiences and web development initiatives within the University of Chicago Advancement Communications team. The position combines hands-on production work with creative collaboration, team leadership, and digital marketing technology expertise. It analyzes, designs, develops, debugs, and modifies HTML and other code for web content, applications, and email communications, and guides the development and implementation of websites, web pages, enterprise email platforms, and user interfaces. The role partners with Communications leadership and colleagues to translate creative, content, marketing, and business goals into effective digital experiences. The role leads programs and provides expertise for software support and development, including complex problem-solving in the administration, maintenance, integration, and troubleshooting of production code and application ecosystems. It serves as the primary technical resource and technology liaison for Communications digital platforms and works with Advancement Technology on integrations, infrastructure, hosting, analytics, and platform administration. The position also sets development, documentation, accessibility, testing, and quality-assurance practices; manages project delivery; and provides technical leadership, mentorship, training, and advice to colleagues and stakeholders. The position has a hybrid work schedule with weekly in-office presence in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court. The standard office environment may require travel to campus or other locations for University business, and evening and weekend work as needed. The role is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Requirements

College or university degree in a related field.
Five to seven years of work experience in a related job discipline.
At least five years of professional experience developing CMS-based websites or web applications, web programming, or similar professional experience.
At least one year of experience consulting on complex website or web application development projects.
Experience managing technical projects, including scope, timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communications.
Experience partnering with staff and stakeholders to understand business goals and translate them into digital marketing and communications solutions.
Experience providing technical leadership, mentorship, or guidance to developers or other technical staff.
Demonstrated skill in, or ability to quickly learn, the University's internal workings and technology tools available to the Office of Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Salesforce donor relationship management system.
Proficiency in a Microsoft Windows environment.
Proficiency in standards-compliant, semantic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Basic knowledge of programming languages such as Python, PHP, or Ruby.
Basic understanding of back-end development, databases, and API integration sufficient to communicate with technology partners and work within CMS and platform environments.
Knowledge of Drupal, WordPress, CMS content publishing, custom theming, front-end development, and publishing workflows.
Knowledge of Marketo, email marketing automation, and HTML email development.
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively and explain complex ideas clearly and simply.
Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and tact and act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Ability to work collegially and collaboratively, take initiative, prioritize multiple projects, and independently follow through with attention to detail.
Strong understanding of web accessibility and usability, including cross-platform and browser compatibility issues.
Strategic thinking, strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, and analytical skills to conceptualize and organize successful courses of action.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in computer science or a related field.
Professional experience in a nonprofit or higher education environment.
Familiarity with front-end frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, or Vue.
Proficiency with design tools such as Adobe Photoshop or Figma.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain CMS-based websites and digital experiences, including Drupal, WordPress, content publishing workflows, front-end performance, and future platform implementations, coordinating with Advancement Technology on hosting, infrastructure, and platform administration.
Provide senior-level technical leadership, mentorship, coaching, and guidance to developers within Advancement Digital Communications.
Serve as the Communications team's primary technical resource and lead for digital communications platforms, websites, and web applications, translating approved requirements into front-end and CMS-based solutions.
Develop and maintain HTML email templates and other email marketing assets with the email marketing team, ensuring compatibility, accessibility, responsiveness, and adherence to brand and communications standards.
Develop responsive, accessible, user-centered digital experiences across desktop, mobile, email, and other supported platforms, following accessibility, usability, SEO, responsive design, and cross-browser standards.
Manage project scope, timelines, deliverables, risks, stakeholder communications, quality assurance, and quality control for Communications web and email development work.
Advocate for selected projects by proposing alternative solutions, further exploration, and appropriate staff and user training.
Serve as a technical resource across Communications projects, determine appropriate approaches, and build team capacity through knowledge sharing, training, code reviews, and technical demonstrations.
Partner with designers, content strategists, marketers, writers, email specialists, social media professionals, and other team members to translate requirements into technical approaches, wireframes, prototypes, front-end solutions, and implementation plans.
Manage the design and coding of automated systems supporting communications workflows.
Act as a primary technology liaison between Communications and Advancement Technology, communicating technical requirements, coordinating integrations and infrastructure dependencies, and representing digital communications needs in enterprise technology decisions.
Advise Communications management and staff on web and digital systems.
Partner with Advancement Technology to implement and maintain analytics, tagging, conversion tracking, and performance measurement capabilities, and translate reporting into actionable insights.
Establish development standards, coding and documentation practices, testing processes, accessibility standards, and quality-assurance procedures for Communications development work.
Keep current with relevant advances in web and digital communications technology and pursue professional development, including conferences, webinars, and seminars as appropriate.
Partner with Communications leadership and stakeholders to identify digital opportunities, recommend technology solutions, align work with organizational goals, and contribute to planning, development, testing, and deployment from concept through launch.
Consult with Advancement Technology to communicate needs, evaluate technology options, and recommend approaches that support Communications goals, timelines, and audience needs.
Design systems, features, and tools; solve complex problems; identify technical improvements and performance optimizations; and review and test code against standards.
Act as a technical consultant and resource for faculty research, teaching, and/or administrative projects.
Perform other related work as needed.