Web Experience Manager
University of Illinois

Web Experience Manager

College of Applied Health Sciences
The College of Applied Health Sciences is searching for a Web Experience Manager (WEM) to join the growing marketing and communications team. The web experience manager will be a vital member of this team, collaborating with colleagues across the college to drive the voice and user experience of the AHS website and those of its departments and units, and to successfully convey AHS' rich history, its academic and research excellence, and its continued influence and impact on our campus and beyond.

While the WEM reports directly to the College's Assistant Dean for Marketing and Communications, they will also frequently liaise with IT Partners @ AHS. The WEM leads efforts in website content development and user experience design for the AHS site ecosystem.

The ideal candidate will deliver thoughtful and engaging experiences that enhance the AHS marketing strategy by developing a deep understanding of user needs and how users interact with our digital environments. This essential function takes a holistic approach to maximize ROI and help users achieve their goals by analyzing goals; leveraging user data; adhering to web writing and accessibility best practices; and following user-centric design principles.

This role also defines the strategic direction for college websites, the roles of web pages, and collaborates with the AHS Marcom team to implement marketing strategies accordingly across college websites while maintaining cohesive brand messaging.

The WEM will cultivate collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, and students across the college, while providing timely support, recommending enhancements, and ensuring consistency across multiple college web presences; we look forward to working with a colleague who is ready to create powerful, user-focused web experiences for this respected and storied college.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Web Content Development

Lead and oversee the planning, writing, and editing of web content to be consistent with college branding, marketing initiatives, and usability best practices.
Work with AHS Marcom team and academic departments to create narrative stories and implement communications strategies based on audience analysis, subject areas, and intended outcomes.
Conduct periodic reviews of college websites' content to ensure content is accessible, inclusive, compelling, on-brand, appropriately targeted, and reflects diversity.
Interpret complex requirements and communicate with customers from both technical and non-technical backgrounds.
Source, edit, and optimize photographs for web.
Build websites, navigation structures, layout and add content to web pages, manage redirects in Drupal and Wordpress
Track, complete, and communicate web tickets within project management software.
Provide timely support to web content managers across academic departments and units within college.

User Experience Design
Collaborate with AHS and other stakeholders in the iterative design and testing of the AHS web presence.
Translate complex data and visuals to accessible, user-friendly designs.
Create and iterate wireframes, prototypes, and interface designs for responsive websites.
Conduct user-research activities such as surveys, interviews, and test sessions to identify design elements, site behavior, and screen navigation that will help create well- designed and intuitive user experiences.
Manage all aspects of usability evaluations: scheduling, content inventory, task development, session oversight, and summary analysis of user feedback.
Ensure designs meet accessibility standards per WCOE, campus and, eventually, AHS brand guidelines.

Web Strategy Development
Lead strategic direction related to information architecture and content strategy.
Work collaboratively with marketing, communications, and creative teams to ensure web implementation of brand and marketing campaigns.
Amplify content that informs key audiences about the educational, research, scholarly and public engagement impact of the college across college websites.
Conduct regular competitive analyses of internal and external higher education websites.
Conduct secondary research on target audiences and leverage data to make informed content and design decisions.
Identify and engage stakeholders key to cross-institutional collaboration in design, analytics, and quality assurance work.
Implement SEO and analytics strategies in accordance with AHS and campus marketing strategies and perform and review general website analytics reports.
With Assistant Director of Communications, develop and champion policies governing the AHS web presence, quality standards, reviews, and formalized content procedures in alignment with University of Illinois Writing Style Guide and College of AHS Style Guide.
Develop documentation and training materials to support the marketing team, faculty, staff, and other content editors on editing websites, brand compliance, and accessibility guidelines.
Conduct regular training sessions for departmental staff on the use of WordPress to edit sites.

Collaborate with AHS IT Partners and U of I's Web Center of Expertise
Function as the primary liaison between the campus Web Center of Expertise and AHS on all matters pertaining to the AHS/WCoE collaboration - website content migration, navigation and other testing, information architecture, and more
Collaborate with AHS IT Partners to develop best practices for website infrastructure, including implementing security updates, plugin updates, and related tasks
Work with IT partners on website redirects, custom URLs, and other technical requests coming from faculty and staff
Train staff and supervise student interns to help with website projects as needed
Represent AHS on relevant internal and external committees.

Qualifications

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two (2) years of work experience in IT-related functions such as hardware/software support, programming, network design, network engineering, IT systems integration, or closely related field. College coursework which includes Information Technology (IT), IT Management, Programming, IT systems, or a closely related discipline may be substituted as follows:
  • 30 semester hours equals one (1) year, Associate's Degree
  • (60 semester hours) equals eighteen (18) months
  • 90 semester hours equals two (2) years
  • Bachelor's Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years).
• Demonstrated experience in marketing, communications, or a related professional area.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Information Science, or Interaction Design
• Experience working in a higher education environment. Experience in the usability evaluation process for websites.
• Experience with University of Illinois and AP Style Guides.
• Understanding of human-centered design and visual communication methodologies, principles and best practices
• Proficient in multiple design tools
• Proficiency in Wordpress and Drupal content management systems, plus additional experience with HTML, CSS, and web development tools and techniques.
• Experience with Section 508 compliance and implementation of WCAG guidelines for accessibility.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
Strong analytical problem-solving skills
Knowledge and understanding of current trends and best practices in online & offline marketing and measurement
Understanding of digital marketing and ability to manage and report on marketing campaign tracking, including sources across multiple channels
Ability to manage multiple projects, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
Ability to manipulate photos.
Superb written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to clearly articulate ideas and digest client feedback.
Maintain exceptional brand quality and effectiveness.
Experience working collaboratively with senior leadership, faculty, and staff and cross-campus collaborators

Salary and Appointment Information
This is a full-time Civil Service IT Technical Associate (5031G) position appointed on a twelve (12) month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The salary range for this position is $60,000 to $70,000 with the final salary offer determined through a thorough assessment of these elements.

Work authorization is not available for this position.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx .

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on October 31, 2024. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact AHS HR at ahs-hr@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal , or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu .

Requisition ID: 1026257
Job Category: Technical
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu

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