Penn State Job Catalog

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Strategic Communications - Web Design

The Strategic Communications Specialist - Web Design works within the University's Office of Strategic Communications and is responsible for translating digital strategy into high-quality, user-centered web experiences; focuses on visual design execution, information layout, front-end implementation, and content development across the university's approved digital platforms; ensures that websites are intuitive, accessible, on-brand, and optimized for user engagement.

• Transform strategic direction, requirements, and content models into intuitive, accessible, and responsive website designs
• Develop layouts, visual interfaces, and interaction patterns aligned with the university's design system, brand standards, and component libraries
• Create wireframes, page-level designs, prototypes, and UI specifications to guide implementation and ensure design consistency across sites
• Conceptualize, create, and manipulate individual design elements (e.g., audio, video, still images, animation, text, digital data, interactivity, etc.) using graphic/multi-media design software
• Write, structure, and refine digital content to support clear communication, discoverability, and user intent
• Build or configure pages using available components, templates, and patterns
• Apply content models, metadata standards, and taxonomy frameworks defined by the digital strategy
• Ensure content adheres to accessibility requirements (WCAG), SEO best practices, editorial guidelines, and plain-language standards
• Support content creators by producing templates, style guidelines, page patterns, microcopy, and design-ready assets
• Organize site structures, navigation systems, and page-level hierarchies that support user journeys and strategic goals
• Conduct or support usability testing and iterative design improvements
• Partner with Digital Strategists to apply analytic insights into layout, content, and UX enhancements
• Collaborate in ensuring feasibility and quality of design handoffs and validate implementation through QA testing
• Optimize page performance, responsiveness, accessibility, and visual fidelity after deployment
• Work closely with Digital Strategists, content authors, information technology, and marketing and communications teams to align experience execution with strategy
• Provide design guidance to distributed content creators, ensuring adherence to design system standards and best practices
• Participate in design reviews and cross-unit web initiatives
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Supervisor

Base Description:

– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates appropriate knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. Demonstrates baseline planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Reviews completed work of others to verify accuracy and quality. Follows recommended approaches to assigned work. Supervises assigned staff and coordinates routine work activities. Monitors employee interactions and facilitates a productive working environment. Communicates instructions and policies in a consistent, effective and timely manner. Identifies and addresses concerns appropriately. Makes recommendations for possible solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Support track, performs work at Senior Support level or higher; for Professional track, performs work at the Advanced Professional level or higher)

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– May monitor/track budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems with progressively more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows standard operating procedures to resolve problems
– May apply specialized knowledge and skills to resolve complex and/or varied problems
– Applies proven and tries new approaches when solving problems

Independence of Action:

– Works with minimal supervision on difficult work assignments, conferring with manager on unusual matters
– Follows precedents and procedures
– Organizes work of direct reports and may set priorities within general guidelines established by manager
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and conformance to required procedures and special instructions

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials

• Comp Grade – 11
• Minimum – $72,300.00
• MidPoint – $90,312.00
• Maximum – $108,444.00

• Accessibility
• Branding
• Collaboration
• Content creation
• Content management
• Facilitation
• Project Management
• Quality Assurance (QA)
• Stakeholder engagement
• User experience
• Visual design
• Web content management
• Web design