Web Solutions Specialist

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Web Solutions Specialist

Job Profile Title

Application Developer B

Job Description Summary

This multifaceted role serves as a developer for the College Houses and Academic Services, combining the responsibilities of a UI/UX Developer, Website Content Writer, Auditor, reviewer, and application tester. The ideal candidate will have expertise in a variety of modern technologies and a passion for creating seamless user experiences, with a strong focus on accessibility frameworks working under limited supervision of the Senior IT Project Leader, take ownership of application deployment when serving as the technical lead.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Development: Assist with the design of wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces with a strong focus on user experience and accessibility using the latest responsive design frameworks. Conduct research to understand user needs and apply design thinking methodologies to solve complex needs. Validate design and functionality with UX testing and analysis. Present designs to stakeholders using infographics/prototyping tools and incorporate feedback.
• Website Content Editor and Moderator: Assist with the moderation and review of web content. Update web content to enhance user experience and engagement. Provide recommendations for improvements and ensure implementation of best practices. Collaborate with developers and designers to ensure content is aligned with the website’s functionality and design. Engage with stakeholders to gather content requirements and feedback. Utilize SEO best practices to optimize web content for search engines. Monitor web analytics to assess content performance and make data-driven improvements. Ensure all web content meets regulatory compliance standards and the organization’s branding and style guidelines.
• Quality Assurance (QA) Testing: Conduct thorough testing of applications to identify bugs and ensure functionality and optimum performance, providing feedback on the results. Develop and execute test plans and cases, ensuring all features are working as intended. Collaborate with developers to resolve issues and improve code quality. Document and track defects using bug tracking software, providing detailed reports to the development team. Participate in user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure the application meets user requirements and expectations. Validate that applications meet accessibility standards and guidelines. Perform regression testing to verify that new code changes do not adversely affect existing functionalities.
• Documentation and Knowledge Base Authoring: Assist in creating comprehensive user manuals and guides that are clear, concise, and easy to comprehend for end-users. Create and maintain test documentation, including test cases, test scripts, and test data. Create and update knowledge base articles. This role requires clear communication of complex information to meet business needs and provide valuable resources to end-users.
• Continual Skillset Enhancement: Stay updated with the latest testing tools, methodologies, and trends in software testing.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Proven experience in application development, UI/UX design, content writing, auditing, and code testing.
• Proficiency in JavaScript, jQuery, jQuery, Bootstrap, HTML, and CSS, NodeJS required.
• Experience with UI/UX design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD required.
• Previous experience utilizing Adobe Creative Suite for design tasks.
• Experience with PLSQL, ColdFusion, PHP, Drupal, Joomla preferred.
• Familiarity with accessibility frameworks and standards.
• Knowledge of version control systems like Git and Selenium or other software testing frameworks
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to work independently on multiple projects with different deadlines across various layers of the organization.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

College Houses and Academic Services

Pay Range

$43,919.00 - $70,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and

the pay range assigned to the job profile.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay