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. The role is responsible for front-end development of the university website and support of other web applications, including design, development, production, integrations, automation, and maintenance across Omni CMS and other digital channels. These channels include mobile applications, microsites, platform theming and integrations, WordPress themes and plugins, social media, HTML emails, digital signage, and other interactive and online media. The Senior Web Developer helps maintain and improve UND’s web presence by applying best practices for user experience, accessibility, efficiency, and data-informed decision-making. The position develops and supports the UND web framework and CMS services, collaborates with Web and Digital Marketing and other stakeholders, and contributes to architecture, CI/CD practices, documentation, quality assurance, and team mentorship. The role works onsite at the Grand Forks, North Dakota campus and is classified as exempt, 40 hours per week.

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, semantic HTML, user-centered design, usability, and accessibility, including WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508.
Demonstrable experience using PHP in web applications.
Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to develop semantic, accessible, responsive websites and 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 converting approved mockups into functional websites and web applications.
Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check.
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.
Ability to independently execute projects and guide high-level architectural decisions while working autonomously and communicating effectively with the supervisor and team.
Strong oral and written communication, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
Attention to detail and strong 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.

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 common data formats such as JSON, XML, and CSV.
Experience with Git-based source control, 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 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 complete work on time to deliver effective stakeholder solutions.
Consider platform, security, performance, accessibility, integration, and maintainability constraints when designing web applications.
Use JavaScript and libraries to add interactivity to web pages and applications.
Use Git with ticketing and issue-tracking software.
Develop ad hoc projects as requested.
Document code, applications, services, and APIs in the UIT documentation platform.
Support architectural decisions for website functionality and CI/CD pipelines.
Mentor team members through code reviews, pair programming, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Develop and integrate reusable components within the existing UND framework.
Collaborate with Web and Digital Marketing to design visual elements and interactive media that support positive, accessible user experiences.
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, including implementing brand guidelines in third-party services, integrations, and custom applications.
Evaluate production websites using analytics and improve site structure, navigation, and other components based on usability, traffic, and marketing priorities.
Research and apply SEO and search analytics practices to increase traffic to key landing pages.
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 solutions such as digital signage.
Develop and maintain Omni CMS templates, shared template sections, XSLT transformations, snippets, and publishing components.
Work with internal teams and external partners to align planning and design documents with user experience, vision, standards, and guidelines.
Develop and maintain the 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 as CMS features and content are developed.
Research web development languages, technologies, frameworks, methodologies, and best practices; evaluate, recommend, and implement applicable changes.
Conduct small-scale tests to explore improvements to processes, code, and applications, and regularly report findings to the team.
Recommend improvements to processes, tools, and languages, and research emerging technologies and AI as they relate to web development.
Document and update projects in the UIT ticketing system.
Maintain contact with people in key positions relevant to the role’s duties.
Attend relevant conferences, webinars, seminars, departmental meetings, UIT staff meetings, and 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.