Job Description

Virginia Highlands Community College serves our community by providing quality and affordable education, training, and cultural activities through an array of flexible, diverse programs that enable community members to succeed today and in the future.

* RESTRICTED, GRANT FUNDED (Title III/SIP) *

Located in the heart of the Appalachian region, Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) serves the city of Bristol, Washington County, and the western portion of Smyth County, Virginia. In view of Mt. Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, VHCC serves as a beacon for educational opportunities at Exit 14 on Interstate 81 in historic Abingdon, Virginia. With a robust 56-year heritage, VHCC serves students in the service region through a Workforce Development Division, a Professional and Technical Studies Division, an Arts and Sciences Division, and a Health Program Division. VHCC awards workforce credentials, as well as Associate of Applied Science degrees, Associate of Arts and Sciences degrees, certificates, and career studies certificates. As one of 23 institutions in the Virginia Community College System, VHCC has served students from across the region, including northeast Tennessee, eastern Kentucky, and western North Carolina by providing quality and affordable education, training, and cultural activities through an array of flexible, diverse programs that enable community members to succeed today and in the future. More information about VHCC may be found at http://vhcc.edu

Responsibilities: The User Experience Designer is a full-time, grant-funded position reporting to the Director of Marketing & Communications. The position will independently research, conceptualize, design, and manage high-quality, data-driven design solutions to enhance the user experience for a variety of audiences. This position will play a vital role in understanding how to analyze and predict user behavior, identify technical limitations, design sophisticated solutions through sketching, wireframing, prototyping, user/AB testing, database management, and data analysis.

This role will collaborate with multiple teams to create cohesive and complex user focused omni-channel communication experiences in a variety of digital spaces, including: Salesforce, AI Chatbot, LiveCHAT, Motimatic, SMS messaging, the VHCC intranet, and other channels for optimal external and internal user experience. The successful candidate will demonstrate familiarity and high-level skills in UI/UX design trends, database management, and honed skills to adhere to the VHCC brand and accessibility standards.

The position will coordinate all UX projects and activities (internal and external) related to the College’s marketing and communications efforts, enrollment/retention goals, and individualized interactions culture, including:

Elevate college stakeholder engagement and goal achievement by researching, conceiving, sketching, prototyping and user-testing excellent experiences for digital products.

Translate concepts into user flows, wireframes, journeys, mockups and prototypes that lead to intuitive user experiences that are optimized for a wide range of devices and interfaces.

Manage UI/UX databases, customizations, and interfaces.

Make strategic design and user-experience decisions related to core, and new, functions and features.

Take a user-centered design approach and rapidly test and iterate designs.

Analyze and test digital product data quality to ensure data integrity and accuracy is in alignment with the college’s database(s) of record.

Collaborate with other team members and stakeholders; work with internal & external partners to integrate additional app integrations into the user experience framework.

Assist the Institutional Advancement Division with production/event deadlines and other tasks.

Establish and maintain effective relationships with students, faculty & staff and other stakeholders important to the college.

Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Special Assignments

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA’s/Required Qualifications
The successful candidate will show:

Proven ability and experience in designing clean user-friendly interfaces.
Experience in building successful lead-generating and retention user journeys.
Analytical skills in monitoring and predicting user behavior.
Experience working with Google Analytics, GTM or similar data collection platforms.
Experience with database design, customization, integration, and problem-solving.
Strong understanding of brand voice; Keen eye for aesthetics and details.
Understanding of design principles for both print and digital platforms.
Strong writing and editing skills; including proper use of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Excellent oral communication and time management skills.
Ability to work independently and in teams in a fast-paced environment; have exceptional organizational abilities with fluency in managing multiple projects/competing priorities with professionalism and grace.
Prioritize tasks and utilize front-line decision-making skills to problem-solve.
Learn and maintain proficiency in state computer systems and programs.
Higher education experience preferred.

Additional Considerations

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing & Communication, Graphic Design, UX/UI Design and/or Web Design.
A minimum of 2 years of experience working with Adobe Creative Suite and/or any similar wireframing/prototyping program is required.
A minimum of 2 years of full-time experience as a UX/UI designer.
Successful history of professional achievement related to the duties and responsibilities specified. A portfolio of relevant work will be required of all finalists.

Operation of a State Vehicle
Yes

Supervises Employees
No

Required Travel
N/A

Posting Detail Information
Posting Number CLS_2998P

Recruitment Type
General Public – G

Number of Vacancies
1

Position End Date (if temporary)

Job Open Date
04/29/2024

Job Close Date
05/10/2024

Open Until Filled
No

Agency Website
www.vhcc.edu

Contact Name
Tiffany VanBuren

Email
tvanburen@vhcc.edu

Phone Number
276-739-2425

Special Instructions to Applicants

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth’s Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly called a Certificate of Disability) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans may also apply via the AHP if they also provide an AHP Letter. To request an AHP Letter, use this link: https://www.dars.virginia.gov/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155

Additional Information

Applications will ONLY be accepted online through the Recruitment Management System. Complete the Virginia state application online through the VCCS Career Portal at
https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/72955.

For first consideration, all required application materials must be received by 5:00 pm EST on May 7, 2024.
Persons with disabilities requiring assistance should contact 276-739-2425. It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to ensure that all required documentation is received. Incomplete on-line applications or other materials submitted via e-mail, postal mail, fax or in-person will not be considered.
Virginia Highlands Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation, genetics, veteran status, or disability in its employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position,
however, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Documents verifying identity and eligibility to work in the United States must be presented upon hire.
VHCC participates in E-Verify.
Selected applicant will be subject to a background check.
An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Background Check Statement Disclaimer

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System, an EEO employer, welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and recognizes the benefits of a diverse workforce. Therefore, the VCCS is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disabilities, political affiliation, veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors.

ADA Statement

The VCCS is an EOE and Affirmative Action Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), VCCS will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing and selection processes.

E-Verify Statement

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.