Senior Web Developer, Digital Communications

University of Chicago; United States; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago’s Advancement Digital Communications team seeks a Senior Web Developer to lead front-end and CMS initiatives, translating creative goals into accessible, high-performance digital experiences for websites and email campaigns. You will guide projects from concept through production and partner with Communications leadership.

This hybrid role combines hands-on coding with mentorship, collaboration across design, content, and marketing, and a focus on accessibility,

Qualifications

• Education: college or university degree in a related field required.
• Experience: 5–7 years in web development or related discipline.
• Experience with CMS-based websites or web applications and front-end development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor developers; provide technical leadership on digital platforms.
• Develop and maintain CMS-based websites and HTML email templates.
• Translate creative and marketing requirements into front-end solutions.
• Ensure accessibility, performance, and cross-browser compatibility.
• Collaborate with designers, content strategists, and marketers on projects.
• Coordinate with Advancement Technology on integrations and infrastructure.

Skills

Frontend development leadership

Technical leadership

Mentorship / coaching

Accessibility and usability

Cross-browser compatibility

Analytics and tracking

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in computer science or related field

College or university degree in related field

Tools

Drupal

WordPress

HTML/CSS/JavaScript

Marketo

Salesforce (Phoenix)

React / front-end frameworks

Job description

Department ADV Digital Communications

About the Department

About the Department The University of Chicago Advancement team cultivates lifelong connections with more than 220,000 alumni, current students, parents, and friends worldwide, building community through intellectual, professional, and other meaningful experiences on campus, around the world and online. Advancement empowers every division, school, department, and institute to thrive, generating support for esteemed faculty, pioneering researchers, visionary practitioners, and ambitious students. During the Chicago Minds campaign, Advancement seeks to raise over $1 billion annually. This unprecedented philanthropic effort is designed to stretch the boundaries of what is possible, fueling bold discovery and amplifying the University’s global impact. Our work is rooted in the belief that meaningful connection and lasting experiences inspire ambassadorship and enduring commitment. We champion a culture of innovation and excellence, inviting every member of our community to participate in a future defined by creativity, intellectual rigor, and shared purpose. Through collaborative partnerships, strategic stewardship, and investment in talent, Advancement is reimagining alumni and donor engagement while ensuring UChicago remains a catalyst of impact for generations to come. The Advancement Digital Communications team is responsible for digital marketing deliverables such as email, websites, web forms, online giving and social media. The team collaborates with design and editorial teams as well as program managers to develop and deploy digital marketing communications. To learn more about the university http://www.uchicago.edu/

Job Summary

The Senior Web Developer serves as the front-end technical lead for digital communications experiences and web development initiatives within the Communications team. This position combines hands‑on production work with creative collaboration, team leadership, and digital marketing technology expertise. Analyzes, designs, develops, debugs, and modifies HTML code for web content and email communications. Guides the development and implementation of websites, web pages, enterprise email platforms. Partners with Communications leadership and colleagues to translate creative, content, and marketing goals into effective digital experiences. This role leads and provides expertise to the development of programs for activities relating to software support and/or development. Analyzes, designs, develops, debugs, and modifies computer code for end user applications, beta general releases, and production support. Manages development and implementation of applications, web pages, and user-interfaces using a variety of software applications, techniques, and tools. Solves complex problems in administration, maintenance, integration, and troubleshooting of code and application ecosystem currently in production.

This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains CMS-based websites and digital experiences (Drupal, WordPress, and other platforms used by Advancement Communications), including content publishing workflows, front‑end performance, and future platform implementations, in coordination with Advancement Technology on hosting, infrastructure, and platform administration.
• Provides senior‑level technical leadership, mentorship, coaching, and guidance to developers within Advancement Digital Communications.
• Serves as the primary technical resource and technical lead for the Communications team on all digital communications platforms, websites, and web applications within Advancement Digital Communications, translating approved requirements into front‑end and CMS‑based solutions.
• Develops and maintains HTML email templates and other email marketing assets in partnership with the email marketing team, ensuring compatibility, accessibility, responsiveness, and adherence to brand and communications standards.
• Develops responsive, accessible, user‑centered digital experiences across desktop, mobile, email, and other supported platforms that follow established accessibility, usability, SEO, responsive design, and cross‑browser standards.
• Manages project scope, timelines, deliverables, risk, and stakeholder communications for Communications web and email development work, ensuring quality assurance, quality control, and successful project execution.
• Serves as an advocate for selected projects by suggesting alternative solutions, areas for further exploration, and appropriate staff and user training.
• Serves as a resource across multiple Communications projects, helps determine appropriate technical approaches, and builds team capacity through knowledge sharing, training, code reviews, and technical demonstrations.
• Partners early in the creative and communications process with designers, content strategists, marketers, writers, email specialists, social media professionals, and other team members to translate creative, communications, marketing, and business requirements into technical approaches, wireframes, prototypes, front‑end solutions, and implementation plans.
• Manages the design and coding of automated systems in support of communications workflows.
• Serves as a primary technology liaison between the Communications team and Advancement Technology on areas within the role’s scope, communicating technical requirements, coordinating on integrations and infrastructure dependencies, and ensuring digital communications needs are represented in enterprise technology decisions.
• Provides advice and guidance to Communications management and staff on issues related to web and digital systems.
• Partners with Advancement Technology colleagues to implement and maintain analytics, tagging, conversion tracking, and performance measurement capabilities in support of approved Communications measurement strategies, and translates reporting into actionable insights for the team.
• Establishes development standards, coding practices, documentation practices, testing processes, accessibility standards, and quality‑assurance procedures for Communications development work.
• Keeps up to date on relevant advances in web and digital communications technology and seeks professional development opportunities that enhance job performance, including attending professional conferences as needed.
• Partners with Communications leadership and stakeholders to identify digital opportunities, recommend technology solutions, and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Contributes to the planning, development, testing, and deployment of digital communication experiences from concept through launch.
• Consults with Advancement Technology in communicating needs, evaluating technology options, and recommending approaches that best support Communications goals, timelines, and audience needs.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Designs new systems, features, and tools.
• Solves complex problems and identifies opportunities for technical improvement and performance optimization.
• Reviews and tests code to ensure appropriate standards are met.
• Acts as a technical consultant and resource for faculty research, teaching, and/or administrative projects.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s or advanced degree in computer science or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of five years of professional experience developing CMS-based websites or web applications, web programming, or similar professional experience.
• Minimum of one year of experience consulting on complex website or web application development projects.
• Managing technical projects, including project scope, timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communications.
• Partnering with staff and stakeholders to understand and articulate business goals and translate them into digital marketing and communications solutions.
• Providing technical leadership, mentorship, or guidance to developers or other technical staff.
• Professional experience in a nonprofit or higher education environment.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University, as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Advancement, including Phoenix, the University’s Salesforce donor relationship management system. Proficient in a Microsoft Windows environment. Demonstrated proficiency in standards‑compliant, semantic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Basic knowledge of programming languages such as Python, PHP, or Ruby. Basic understanding of back‑end development, databases, and API integration sufficient to communicate effectively with technology partners and work within CMS and platform environments. Knowledge of Drupal, WordPress, CMS content publishing, custom theming and front‑end development, and publishing workflows. Marketo, email marketing automation, HTML email development.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Explain complex ideas clearly and simply.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Self‑motivated and take initiative.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Strong understanding of web accessibility and usability, including cross‑platform and browser compatibility issues.
• Strategic thinker with strong problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities.
• Excellent analytical skills to conceptualize a course of action and organize its successful completion.
• Familiarity with front‑end frameworks and libraries like React, Angular, or Vue.
• Proficiency in using design tools like Adobe Photoshop or Figma.

Working Conditions

This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence. Standard office environment. Travel to campus and/or non‑campus locations for University business. Work evenings and weekends as needed. This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court. This position is not eligible for employer‑sponsored employment authorization.

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required) Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

Job Family Information

Technology Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 37.5 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary FLSA Status Exempt Pay Range $90,000.00 - $130,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits

Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637. The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to free and open inquiry draws inspired scholars to our global campuses, where ideas are born that challenge and change the world. We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students in the College develop critical, analytic, and writing skills in our rigorous, interdisciplinary core curriculum. Through graduate programs, students test their ideas with UChicago scholars, and become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government. To learn more about the university http://www.uchicago.edu/