Web Designer and Front-End Developer - Elon Uni Careers

The Web Designer and Front-End Developer combines technology and design to create inviting, easy-to-use websites for the university. This position is responsible for determining the layout structure and design aesthetic of the university's web pre...

Title: Web Designer and Front-End Developer

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday-Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: University Communications

Department: Online Communications

Position Summary

The Web Designer and Front-End Developer combines technology and design to create inviting, easy-to-use websites for the university. This position is responsible for determining the layout structure and design aesthetic of the university's web presence in keeping with Elon brand standards, developing new user-facing features, building reusable code, and optimizing web pages for maximum efficiency.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Communications, or Computer Information Systems with minimum 3 years of experience with the following relevant work experience: Experience and work in cross-platform web design and development.

Preferred Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Communications, or Computer Information Systems

Job Duties

• Engage with stakeholders across Elon University to ascertain their specific website needs. Leverage advanced design tools such as Sketch, Adobe XD, or Figma to craft compelling website designs and user-centric layouts, effectively communicating the university's message. This role requires a unique blend of content design and front-end development skills, including the creation of static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Emphasis is placed on building reusable code for future use, particularly in developing WordPress templates and themes optimized for various formats, including desktop and mobile devices. The candidate will ensure that all development work adheres to web standards and best practices and is structured for maximum speed and scalability. Additionally, this role involves maintaining a well-organized file system for reusable code, ensuring its integrity with proper and regular backups. Collaborate closely with the University Communications team to conceptualize, implement, and maintain creative and effective websites, focusing on content structure, visual appeal, and an optimal user experience that aligns with Elon University’s brand and communication goals. 
• Specialize in web content design by taking content provided by both University Communications staff and various university departments. Utilize expertise in WordPress, particularly with the Gutenberg editor, to build and manage new websites directly within the content management system. This involves a deep understanding of content strategy and digital storytelling, ensuring that the content is not only accurately represented but also engaging and accessible to the target audience. Work closely with content creators to translate their vision and objectives into compelling digital experiences, optimizing the layout, visual elements, and overall user experience in alignment with Elon University's brand and communication standards. 
• Provide website maintenance and technical support for stakeholders across the university. Maintenance includes modifying existing content to ensure accessibility, accuracy, and conformity to web and brand standards. Technical support includes monitoring the web@elon.edu email address and the University Communications Web Team support forms to offer assistance with web-related issues. 
• Provide web content accessibility testing and remediation against WCAG requirements using various accessibility tools and resources including Dubbot, WAVE, axe DevTools, color contrast testers, etc. 
• Work in partnership with the other web team members to implement new technologies and features to stay current with the latest trends in website design and management. Provide quality assurance testing on new features and functionality added to all university websites. 
• Design and develop email templates using static HTML or an email builder like MailChimp that adhere to Elon brand standards and ensure those templates have maximum compatibility using cross-device testing.