Overview

The User Experience Specialist serves as a dedicated resource to the Foundation’s Marketing and Communications team, focused on website development for online giving and marketing sites, and is part of the Digital Engagement team’s efforts to engage and steward donors. This position is responsible for the fast-paced, ongoing development and execution of pioneering new digital initiatives that are scheduled and unscheduled, highly customized, and recurring marketing projects. The User Experience Specialist maintains and works with a cross-functional workgroup and outside consultants to support UMF’s online giving system. The person in this role also builds and maintains Drupal websites for marketing and stewardships initiatives. The User Experience Specialist also supports Salesforce Cloud Marketing email efforts and partners on special marketing projects as needed. A passion for innovation and collaboration are critical for this role. 

Responsibilities

Website development: Maintain and build UMF giving site, marketing, registration websites, ensuring branded, compliant, user-friendly, and timely output, while keeping up with industry trends. (60%)

• Maintain and work with a cross-functional workgroup and outside consultants to support UMF’s online giving system.
• Employ Drupal web development knowledge to create and maintain UMF websites, adhering to best practices and web usability/accessibility standards, while incorporating current trends to layout, and updating design and content. All sites must be responsive and undergo browser testing. 
• Integrate javascript, PHP, static HTML, and CSS into CMS templates.
• Source and integrate tools and software to advance the user experience.
• Support Formstack website builds for select projects.
• Build dynamic sites that can accept everything from event registrations to charitable gifts, creating a user-friendly and compliant experience.  This includes coding, testing, troubleshooting and developing and modifying specifications. 

Project coordination: Support web projects associated tasks in support of UMF fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship initiatives as assigned. (20%)

• Support team Google Analytics, Google Ads, and retargeting efforts across a variety of sites and projects.
• Partner on digital communication projects including, but not limited to, strategy, development, test, launch, trends, performance, analysis, and reporting.
• Oversee project web detail management including, but not limited to testing, review, and authorization processes.
• Field, coordinate, and support web development requests.
• Administer software contracts, access, and subscriptions.

Relationship management: Provide excellent client service and collaborate with Foundation team, department, and campus partners and vendors to advance UMF’s mission through the mediums of email and web. (10%)

• Manage customer service for the U community for UMF’s online giving platform and related programs, such as the online story sharing tool.
• Establish and manage relationships with partners to facilitate efficient and effective web execution.
• Facilitate day-to-day communications and troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with partners to establish content due dates and deliverables.
• Adhere to UMF and U of M branding guidelines, working closely with UMF design and editorial services for copy and graphic elements in support of all digital marketing.
• Work with Foundation, University, and subject matter experts to recommend ways to improve web-based assets and tools.

Email program management: Serve as a member of the team managing email marketing projects, including building, testing, and execution—ensuring branded, compliant, user-friendly, and timely output that aligns with industry trends. (10%)

• Create and oversee email applications, including but not limited to, coding, testing, troubleshooting, and developing and modifying specifications.
• Develop and oversee email processes including but not limited to intake, prioritization, timing, communication, approval, and execution.
• Use Salesforce Marketing Cloud to build, test, and send UMF email communications, some of which include photos, galleries, surveys, videos, or other interactive components.
• Maintain an organized digital file system for all email assets.
• Establish metrics and evaluate analytics to make recommendations for ongoing development, innovation, efficiencies, and enhancements based on results.

Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment (exhibit 100% of the time)

• Continuous learning in diversity, equity and inclusion for oneself and team via training, podcasts, articles, etc.
• Seek to explore and understand cultural differences and create a culture of belonging.
• Develop and employ anti-racist practices and principles to accomplish work.
• Advocate for employees of all ethnicities, genders, ages and backgrounds
• Cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with employees, colleagues, stakeholders, etc.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or a related field OR a combination of related education and work experience in the areas of application/web/systems development to equal four years.
• Experience with Drupal, javascript, PHP, and HTML coding, inline CSS (i.e. creating tables, links, etc.), and alt text.
• Experience with mass email systems, such as SMC, Constant Contact, Emma, etc…
• Experience with Google Analytics and Tag manager.
• Demonstrated strong writing, communication, and proofing skills and self-drive in managing and executing marketing tasks.
• Demonstrated strong graphic design, layout, typography, image manipulation, and color correction skills.
• Proven record for problem solving and successful completion of complex projects.
• Strong organizational skills, exemplary attention to detail, and the ability to multitask, prioritizing a high volume of projects at one time.
• Ability to work with diverse departments across an organization.

Preferred:

• Experience with the Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Demonstrated ability to work with responsive/fluid designed HTML templates.
• Experience managing digital advertising campaigns, data analysis and audience segmentation.