Web Designer, University Communications & Marketing

About the position

Responsible for university-wide website design, modification and creation of complex user-centered designs for websites and other multimedia applications, from concept to in-market implementation and maintenance. This involves creating and converting static designs into working browser-based web pages or applications. Reports to Executive Director, Digital Communications.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for working to improve the aesthetics, usability, usefulness, and desirability of complex web / multimedia sites on a university-wide basis in collaboration with peers, cross-divisional partners.
• Translate broad web-based marketing project goals into detailed work plan with tasks, accountabilities, dependencies, milestones and deadlines; monitor and manage project plans to ensure progress.
• Leverage the content management system and other emerging technologies to translate and launch online presences and enhancements based on research, prototypes, wire frames, comps or other high-concept documents to deliver a finished product via CSS and other technologies.
• Responsible for contributing to requirements gathering and articulation of user interface issues, including creation of wireframes and complex web / multimedia and digital prototypes, as necessary.
• Act as a primary content administrator to ensure that all top-tier levels of Kent State University's digital platforms, as well as those of cross-divisional partners, are following sound content strategy for effective audience engagement and optimization.
• Ensure digital platforms are maintained in compliance with visual identity and web accessibility standards as set forth in university policy. Interpret and maximize analytics and trend data to provide usage reports and recommendations for web-solution improvements to clients and leadership.
• Create and provide creative assets for digital marketing campaigns and various platforms, such as calendaring systems and apps, according to brand standards.
• Contribute to research of university web presences and interactive technology via usability testing, focus groups, analysis of visitor and user analytics and industry trends. Help translate this research into recommendations that will improve user experiences and opportunities for brand engagement. Serve as driver of website enhancements in conjunction with appropriate teams.
• Monitor the digital landscape's competitive and complementary products/experiences and bring new ideas to the team.
• Serve as a crisis and advisory communications administrator via web-based applications 24/7 on rotating schedule with peers.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Public Relations or related field including multimedia, computer science, web design, information architecture, etc.
• Two years' experience including web development, project management and web-based writing/editing experience.
• Or six years' experience in web development and implementation and/or maintaining complex web/multimedia sites.

Nice-to-haves

• Drupal
• SalesForce/Marketing Cloud or other email system
• User Experience knowledge