Job Title:

Senior Applications Developer

Physical Location:

 Kent Campus - Kent, OH (Hybrid)

Salary:

Offered salary is Pay Grade 08-IS and will be consistent with University Policy. Position has a targeted salary of $65,719 - $70,000 plus exceptional comprehensive benefits including medical coverage, paid time off, employer-matched retirement savings and full tuition waivers for employee and employee’s immediate family. Human Resources will conduct a compensation review of the applicant’s education and job experience to determine final pay package.

Basic Function:

Responsible for the basic design, development and ongoing modification of software applications, and implementation of work products in a complex production environment. Design, develop and maintain software applications and provide application-specific user support. Develop application requirements based on business requirements from clients and technical requirements from IS support specialties. Implement prescribed security policies. Reports to Designated Administrator.

Additional Basic Function – if applicable:

The Digital Enterprise Solutions (DES) team designs dynamic, user-friendly products and services for over 25,000 Kent State students and 10,000 faculty and staff, in addition to supporting enterprise systems like Banner ERP and Canvas LMS. Of the various teams in DES, this vacancy resides in Web Presence.

A successful candidate should thrive on an excellence-driven, collaborative, highly communicative team with supportive coworkers who enjoy solving technical and design problems together. Web Presence projects focus on deliverables that are as high in quality and innovation as leading companies in the commercial arena but are rooted in the desire to improve and advance the educational efforts of the entire Kent State body. This motivation creates a less cutthroat and more aspirational culture than in the commercial sector.

Examples of Duties:

Duties/essential functions may include, but not be limited to, the following: 

Responsibilities include working closely with clients, business analysts, and team members to understand more complex business requirements that drive the analysis and design of quality technical solutions. These solutions must be aligned with business and IT strategies and comply with the organization’s architectural and security standards.

Involved in the full systems life cycle and responsible for designing, coding, testing, implementing, maintaining and supporting complex applications software.

May supervise students and/or provide functional guidance of support staff or other employees who work on a project or assignment on a temporary or intermittent basis.

JOB COMPETENCIES:

Design, develop and/or maintain multiple complex applications, user interfaces, application functions, application interfaces, databases or database applications.

Implement applications based on system life-cycle standards and IS Architectural and Security protocols.

Perform analysis and judgment regarding interdependencies of processes/applications/technologies.

Provide user support for multiple complex applications.

Develop application requirements based on business requirements from clients and technical requirements from IS support specialties.

Work effectively with limited oversight.

Provide information and recommendation to supervisor for decision-making.

Establish estimates and timelines for specific applications/projects and take direct accountability for results.

Responsible for relationships with team members and clients for applications/projects with a moderate to large scope (division, college).

Anticipate clients' future needs; participate in the definition of client's strategic plan.

Effectively deliver informational and decision seeking presentation to technical and functional groups.

Assist in communicating team goals and keeping team focused.

Effectively prioritizes and handles multiple concurrent activities; assist teams in planning and estimating techniques for various activities.
Establish focused, measurable goals for self and others.

Identify solutions that effectively combine needs and or resources for multiple clients and applications

IT’s COMMITMENT TO THE HIRED CANDIDATE:

We will give clear direction and set clear expectations.

We will give flexibility on work location: on premises if that’s how you work best, remote if/when needed.

We will respect your ideas so that you actively engage in problem solving rather than silently fulfill orders.

We will develop both your ability to research and problem-solve independently AND your awareness of when to loop in a colleague for collaboration. We value teachability and curiosity.

We will support you as a whole person, understanding that work is only one part of your identity. We work to live, not live to work.

We commit to transparency about your advancement options. We will teach you the organizational structure, explain the qualifications necessary for the rung above you, then encourage you if/when you reach higher.

Additional Examples of Duties – if applicable:

 

Minimum Qualifications:

A baccalaureate degree in information sciences, computer science, or a related field, and four or more years of relevant professional experience; or a combination of education, specialized training, and/or work experience equivalent to an associate degree plus six years of professional experience including; developing application requirements; design, development and /or maintaining and providing support for multiple complex applications, user interfaces, application functions, application interfaces, databases or database applications; implementing applications based on system life-cycle standards and IS Architectural and Security protocols; performing analysis and judgment regarding interdependencies of processes / applications / technologies; developing application requirements based on business requirements from clients and technical requirements from IS support specialties; and working effectively with limited oversight.

License/Certification:

 

Knowledge Of:

Several appropriate development language(s), operating system(s), and reporting tool(s). Complex relational database design, remote processing and virtual systems.Complex programming concepts; server and storage architecture and its capabilities; complex techniques of studying business processes related to new or modified applications; advanced systems design; technical report writing; and application of algorithms and mathematical modeling and record selection
Very complex computer system analysis, design, testing, debugging and maintenance techniques and practices. IT goals and priorities, as well as client divisional mission and goals

Skill In:

A solid understanding of web application programming and associated technologies

Web development best practices

Systems design/architecture

Data integration techniques, especially working with web services and JSON data sources

Ability to apply accessibility best practices as required

Ability To:

Develop very complex programs and detailed program specifications
Analyze very complex data and situations, reason logically and creatively; identify complex problems, draw valid conclusions, and develop very complex effective solutions
Apply creative thinking in the design and development of complex methods of processing data
Prepare and interpret complex structured and/or computerized diagramming techniques

Preferred Qualifications – if applicable:

Knowledge and experience with Drupal CMS and an understanding of its architecture, theming and module development.

A solid understanding of PHP and object-oriented programming techniques.

Experience with version control systems such as GIT.

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot issues, debug code, and identify efficient solutions.

Effective communication and teamwork skills to work with designers, other developers, and stakeholders to understand project requirements and deliver quality results.

Familiarity with Drupal security best practices, including data protection, user authentication, and secure coding techniques to mitigate vulnerabilities.

Experience with web technologies: PHP, JavaScript, jQuery, CSS / SCSS, HTML and the HTTP protocol.

Knowledge of modern JS frameworks a plus, e.g React, VueJS

Familiarity with Amazon Web Services especially CloudFront and S3

Assessments:

Asterisk (*) indicates knowledge, skills, abilities which may require assessments. Assessments could take the form of interview questions, a request to provide work samples or a written or practical test to assess job-related competencies.

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements:

Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Incumbent may be required to travel from building to building frequently and off campus occasionally.

Working Schedule:

 

Additional Information:

Kent State University is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community including those that experience discrimination or under representation. This is a core value of the organization as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and our world.

Disclaimer:

The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted to describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Directly related experience/education beyond the minimum stated may be substituted where appropriate at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. Kent State University reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.