Senior Web Developer

University of North Dakota•Grand Forks, ND

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is part of the Web Development team within University Information Technology (UIT) and delivers content management system and database-driven web applications for the University of North Dakota (UND). It is responsible for front-end development of the university website and support for other web applications. The role handles design, development, production, integrations, automation, and maintenance of websites within Omni CMS and other digital channels, including mobile applications, microsites, platform theming and integrations, WordPress themes and plugins, social media, HTML emails, digital signage, and other interactive and online media. The position continually improves and supports UND’s web presence by following and promoting best practices in user experience, accessibility, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making. The Senior Web Developer collaborates with team members and the Web and Digital Marketing team to develop and maintain web applications, reusable framework components, CMS services, templates, and digital experiences. The position applies sound judgment regarding platform, security, performance, accessibility, integration, and maintainability; supports architectural and CI/CD decisions; documents work; and provides mentorship and user support. It also researches web development trends and emerging technologies, including AI, and recommends and implements improvements where appropriate.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and four years of web development experience, or an associate degree and six years of web development experience.
Demonstrable experience developing XSLT templates in Omni CMS or a comparable enterprise CMS.
Experience with web design best practices and understanding of semantic HTML, user-centered design, usability, and accessibility, including WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508.
Demonstrable experience using PHP 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 such as Drupal or Joomla will be considered.
Experience turning approved mockups into functional websites and web applications.
Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check.
Ability to independently execute projects and guide high-level architectural decision-making while working autonomously and communicating with a supervisor and team.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
Attention to detail and excellent customer service skills.
Strong analytical, technical, time-management, and prioritization skills.
Ability to communicate and collaborate with technical and non-technical users.
Ability to think creatively, learn new technologies and languages quickly, and adapt to change.
Must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire; the position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Collaborate with team members to review and improve existing code, develop features, increase efficiency, and address university programming needs.
Troubleshoot, maintain, refactor, and enhance UND web applications and framework components.
Document functionality, manage projects, and deliver solutions to stakeholders on time.
Apply platform, security, performance, accessibility, integration, and maintainability considerations to web application design decisions.
Use JavaScript and its libraries to add interactivity to web pages and applications.
Use Git source control with ticket and issue-tracking software.
Develop ad hoc projects and document code, applications, services, and APIs in the UIT documentation platform.
Support architectural decisions for website functionality and continuous integration/continuous deployment pipelines.
Mentor team members through code reviews, pair programming, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Develop and integrate reusable components in the existing UND framework.
Collaborate with the Web and Digital Marketing team on visual elements and interactive media to support positive, accessible user experiences on UND websites hosted in Omni CMS.
Monitor, test, and optimize usability and performance, and ensure cross-browser and cross-platform compatibility.
Apply systematic quality assurance standards to assess web deliverables for quality, accessibility, functionality, and purpose.
Follow usability, accessibility, and UND brand guidelines in design and development, including in third-party services, integrations, and custom applications.
Use analytics to evaluate production website interfaces and architecture; research and apply SEO and search analytics practices to improve traffic to key landing pages.
Improve site structure, navigation, and other components based on usability, traffic, and marketing priorities.
Research, evaluate, and recommend improvements to user experience, web standards, emerging technologies, and information architecture.
Develop, enhance, and maintain Omni CMS, WordPress, and custom content management services, including digital signage.
Develop and maintain Omni CMS templates, shared template sections, XSLT transformations, snippets, and components.
Work with teams and external partners to align planning and design documents with user experience, vision, standards, and guidelines.
Develop and maintain a local build environment for UND framework features using tools such as Gulp, Node.js, and SCSS.
Provide user guides and support to the Web and Digital Marketing team and end-users for CMS features and content.
Research industry trends, technologies, frameworks, methodologies, and web development practices; evaluate, recommend, and implement applicable changes.
Conduct small-scale tests to explore process, code, or application improvements and regularly report findings to the team.
Recommend improvements to processes, tools, or languages, and research emerging technologies and AI related to web development.
Document and update projects in the UIT ticketing system.
Maintain relevant professional contacts and awareness of technology trends; make recommendations where applicable.
Attend conferences, webinars, seminars, departmental and UIT meetings, and applicable campus-wide meetings; serve on campus-wide committees when applicable.
Maintain confidential information in accordance with applicable compliance requirements, including FERPA, HIPAA, and PCI compliance.