Web Designer

Carleton College is a small, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota. Founded in 1866, Carleton is best known for its academic excellence and its warm, welcoming campus community.

Purpose of this Position

• The Web Designer/Developer will work as part of Science Education Resource Center’s (SERC) web team on the design and implementation of SERC-hosted websites.
• They will work with the Technical Director on design and front-end web development tasks as well as supporting collaborating projects as they use Serckit: SERC’s web platform. Serckit underpins dozens of cutting edge science education projects that reach millions of visitors each year.

• This position will play a key role in ensuring these projects continue to reach their audiences effectively through exceptional websites.

• The Web Designer/Developer will be self-directed under the leadership of the Technical Director, and will work collaboratively with the webteam. Overall priorities and assignments are developed by the SERC Technical Director.

Essential Job Functions

Responsibilities

• Envision and implement user-focused web site and web application designs within Serckit.
• Work in coordination with SERC’s webteam and our project partners to ensure SERC-hosted websites implement effective information architectures, are sensitive to web standards, reflect accessible design and demonstrate excellent usability.
• Work with the Technical Director to advance Serckit through projects such as the development of flexible design templates and testing-based refinement of user interfaces.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• Develop expertise in the use of the Serckit platform and provide direct support to collaborating projects using the platform.
• The Web Designer/Developer will work at our Northfield office and travel may be required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree + a minimum of 2 year’s relevant experience.
• Demonstrated ability to create compelling and usable web designs from initial conception through implementation in HTML, CSS and Javascript.
• A strong visual aesthetic and facility with common graphic design tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator. • Familiarity with current UX and web design best practices such as responsive design.
• Comfort working in a modern web development environment that includes elements such as Javascript and CSS frameworks (e.g. JQuery, Bootstrap), a databased-backed content management system, and version control.
• Demonstrated ability to independently complete projects on schedule and to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently on loosely defined tasks as well as in close cooperation with a tight-knit team.
• Ability to rapidly learn new technical skills and share that expertise with others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: from communicating complicated technical issues to non-technical co-workers to sensitively negotiating site design elements with project leaders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with non-trivial programming in a web environment and an interest in developing strong Javascript and back-end (PHP) programming skills.
• Experience with front-end design and development that builds on and extends an existing web publishing platform (e.g. WordPress/Drupal templates, plug-ins, modules)
• Familiarity and facility with the full open-source web stack from installing nginx to diagnosing IE Javascript issues.
• Experience working directly with clients especially in the context of website development.