Director of Web Services

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff "for fit" makes significant contributions to Howard University's overall mission. At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth. Here is what we offer: Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture Join Howard University and thrive with us https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness JOB PURPOSE: The Director of Web Services provides leadership and guidance on the strategic direction, design, development, and maintenance of the University's websites and digital presence in support of the University's strategic goals and priorities. This position focuses on utilizing web resources, including but not limited to infrastructure, development, and dev-ops, as well as UX design principles and web assessment tools, to maintain the University's overall public-facing web presence, as well as the University's intranet. The position will also contribute to strategies that support digital story-telling, marketing, and branding via the University's flagship website howard.edu. This is a management position within the Office of University Communications (OUC) that reports to the Assistant Vice President of Web Innovation and Strategy. SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY: The Director of Web Services manages staff within the User Experience & Web Strategy team within the Office of University Communications, as well as external vendor partners that support web and digital services. NATURE AND SCOPE: Internal contacts include executives, decanal leadership, cabinet, administrators, faculty, staff, students, vendors, University web developer(s), technical support, and information technology personnel throughout the University. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: Provide leadership and guidance for building, enhancing, and maintaining the University's public web presence. Maintain a strategy that prioritizes supporting the entire Enterprise as efficiently as possible with a centralized and integrated web hardware and application infrastructure. Related principles, such as COPE (Create Once, Publish Everywhere), should be identified and guide this strategy. Conduct audits, analyze web platforms, enhance UX, maintain content calendar, and make data-driven decisions. Conduct research and analysis of industry trends in web and higher education technology, UX and general best practices, and emerging technologies, in order to build these into the web strategy. Manage UX and user access for the University's intranet, which is built from Microsoft Viva Connections and other Office365 applications, as well as provide consultation to the OUC's Strategic Communications and Brand/Marketing teams and other University units, as it relates to the intranet. Serve as an internal thought leader and subject matter expert for the University's digital and UX strategy. Share key insights with University stakeholders. Work with Office of University Communications leadership to improve the University's overall online presence, including web, social media, intranet, and other digital channels, as well as integrate strategy to align with and support digital story-telling, marketing, and branding. Coordinate with the Director of Digital and Marketing to improve SEO, social media integration, and other digital marketing techniques, as well as monitor KPIs and analytics to measure the effectiveness of digital marketing efforts, making data-driven recommendations for improvement. Help lead the strategic direction of the OUC, generally, in conjunction with OUC leadership. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including designers, developers, content creators, and marketers, to implement user-focused design solutions. Collaborate with key stakeholders to define and execute the university's web strategy, aligning it with institutional goals and brand guidelines. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to gather requirements. Develop project plans, allocate resources, track progress, and communicate updates to stakeholders. Manage the development and maintenance of the University's websites, ensuring technical excellence and adherence to industry standards and accessibility guidelines. Provide guidance to the web development team by setting priorities and coordinating resources to deliver high-quality web solutions. Work closely with the marketing team to support digital marketing strategies that align with the university's goals and target audiences. Manage the budget and resources allocated for web services. Foster a culture of efficiency by utilizing digital property tools that support digital communication across the University. Integrate AI-based and other technical tools to enhance productivity of related work. CORE COMPETENCIES: Working knowledge and understanding of, as well as experience with, managing the underlying technologies that support web-based communications (web hosting and development and infrastructure, application architecture, APM, DevOps, etc.). Experience maintaining CMS configuration that aligns with business needs. Proven track record of developing and implementing successful UX and web strategies that drive positive business results. Proven track record of leading multiple web-related projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery within budget and scope. Strong analytical skills and experience using data to drive decision-making. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Experience managing cross-functional teams and building effective working relationships. Passion for innovation and technology, with a keen interest in staying up-to-date on emerging trends and best practices. Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines. Experience directly managing a web team. Experience working in a higher education setting is preferred. Experience with Drupal is preferred. Experience managing intranet for medium, large, and/or enterprise-level organizations is preferred. Experience managing multiple web properties simultaneously, such as multi-site frameworks, for a large enterprise is preferred. Experience managing and/or developing AI-based web applications is preferred. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in website content development and management, technical web resource management, UX design, and enterprise strategy. Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, computer science, or a related field; Master's-level degree or higher preferred. Minimum of 4-6 years of leadership experience in website management, digital strategy, digital marketing, web technology, or related fields. Minimum of 12-15 years of overall experience in website management, digital strategy, digital marketing, web technology, or related fields. Work Schedule: This role is primarily in-person, with the option for a hybrid schedule allowing up to 2 days per week to be worked remotely. Compliance Salary Range Disclosure Expected Pay Range: $109,090 - $120,000