Marketing Front End Developer

Marketing Front End Developer

Position Overview

As KU Marketing, we tell the world how the University of Kansas inspires Jayhawks to their full potential, fuels discovery and ambition, revels in the tradition-rich Jayhawk spirit, and cares for our students, our state, and the greater good. Our strategic, creative team focuses its expertise on meeting recruitment and brand-development objectives. We find stories of curiosity, resolve, and triumph from the KU community, and we share those with prospective students of many ages and interests. We help define every day what it means to be a Jayhawk—and we know that crimson and blue will look good on you.

The front-end web developer helps design, build, and maintain best-in-class KU websites and other digital properties that serve as an institutional “front door” to nearly all those looking for information on a variety of KU topics. With strong, clear direction from members of KU Marketing, KU IT, and partners (clients), the front-end developer brings to life strategies and plans through digital interfaces, including webpages, marketing emails, social media assets, experiential displays (e.g., digital signage and dynamic exhibits), apps, and more. Webpages, marketing emails and other digital assets produced by the front-end developer typically follow established guidelines and templates. The front-end developer works closely with and is supported by one or more senior marketing developers, strategists, user-experience designers, copywriters, art directors, digital marketing specialists, project managers, and other experts. We expect that the person in this role will work collaboratively, respect the expertise of other team members, contribute ideas for the collective success of the group, and add to the positive working relationships among the team. The ideal front-end developer can both stick to direction and propose creative solutions to development problems, is detail-oriented and accurate in coding and content, and likes to work on projects with purpose.

Job Description

60% Create & maintain high-value webpages to meet strategic marketing objectives

• Working within Sunflower, KU’s instance of Drupal CMS, build webpages that meet the direction and goals of the respective project.

• Interact with other members of KU Marketing (strategists, art directors, copywriters, digital marketing specialists, senior developers, etc.) as well as KU partners to create, modify, optimize, or populate webpages.

• Implement strategies based on contemporary best practices for accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO), mobile and desktop friendliness, effective user-journeys, optimizing time on site, incorporating lead-generation forms, and more.

• Help ensure that KU web properties meet relevant regulations and are easily accessible for all audiences. Follow best practices for security, reliability, accessibility, and KU style and policies.

• Proactively seek out and implement ways to promote KU’s commitment to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging via its web and/or digital properties.

• Participate in planned maintenance of webpages, while suggesting opportunities to improve the process and webpages themselves.

• Use knowledge of Drupal, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and other relevant languages and platforms.

30% Assist with digital marketing strategies

• Help populate, maintain, and enhance rich digital experiences used on campus, e.g., digital signage, storytelling, interactive exhibits.

• Create HTML marketing emails in KU’s CRM and other email platforms.

• Create assets for other digital marketing channels such as social media platforms, digital ads, apps, and external recruiting platforms.

• Assist as needed in implementing and enhancing native functionality within KU’s CRM systems, working with KU • IT and KU Marketing teams and developing such solutions within existing guidelines and styles.

10% Other related duties as requested

• Attend staff and partner meetings.

• Plan, strategize, trouble-shoot, and seek solutions for a wide range of partners and issues.

• Work collegially with staff and partners in a team environment. As needed, prepare and present proposals, project-status reports, and other research or evaluations.

Position Requirements

This position will have a hybrid work arrangement. Incumbent will work remotely and on campus based on a set departmental schedule.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma/GED plus 4 years of professional experience OR an Associate’s Degree in a related field plus *2 years’ relevant experience OR Bachelor’s in design, information technology, computer science or related field. *Completion of a nationally-recognized coding boot camp (such as the KU Full-Stack Web Development Boot Camp) may substitute for one year of the required experience.

• Experience using Drupal or other CMS platforms.

• Experience using CSS, HTML ad JavaScript .

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with website analytics.

• Experience incorporating accessibility best-practices into web projects.

• Experience with contemporary search engine optimization (SEO) tactics.

• Experience with the following: API implementation and maintenance, basic SQL, CRM systems, Google Search Console, Google Ads, SEM Rush or Moz or similar, Google Core Web Vitals, Drupal or other CMS platforms, Slate CRM, relational database concepts and practices, Twig templating language, Sketch or similar wireframing or concepting software, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and advanced analytical methods that include but extend beyond on-page visitor activity and site performance, such as customer journey analysis.

• Excellent time management, organizational and communication skills as demonstrated by application materials.

• Detail-oriented, reliable and self-motivated with a record of being flexible to rapidly changing priorities and projects as demonstrated by application materials.

Additional Candidate Instructions

A complete application includes:

• Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.

Resume.

• Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).

• Completion of the online application.

• Portfolio with URLS of active websites candidate designed and built.

• Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins Monday, May 9, 2022 and continues until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

Dave Gnojek, dgnojek@ku.edu

Advertised Salary Range: $52,000 – $57,000

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm

Application Review Begins: Monday, May 9, 2022

Anticipated Start Date: Monday, June 6, 2022