POSITION SUMMARY
Virginia Union University (VUU) seeks an accomplished and visionary Director of Web Services to lead the university's digital presence and web ecosystem. The Director of Web Services is responsible for the strategic direction, design, development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of VUU's institutional website and affiliated digital properties. This position serves as the primary steward of the university's online identity, ensuring that all web content and experiences align with VUU's mission as a historically Black university committed to academic excellence, economic and social mobility, and community transformation.
The Director will manage the university's Modern Campus CMS platform, provide leadership to web staff and stakeholders across campus, and serve as the institution's subject matter expert on web technologies, accessibility standards, and digital communications best practices.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Director of Web Services reports directly to the Vice President for Infrastructure Management & Planning and operates within the Information Technology department. This position partners closely with the Office of Marketing & Communications, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, and all university divisions to support institutional priorities through effective digital communications.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Website Strategy & Leadership
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Develop and execute a comprehensive, multi-year digital web strategy aligned with VUU's strategic plan, ESM framework, and accreditation goals
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Serve as the primary institutional authority on web governance, digital standards, and content strategy across all university departments
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Establish and enforce university-wide web policies, brand standards, and content guidelines
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Monitor emerging web trends, technologies, and higher education digital best practices to ensure VUU remains competitive and current
Modern Campus CMS Administration
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Serve as the primary system administrator for the university's Modern Campus CMS platform, overseeing configurations, updates, user permissions, and system integrations
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Manage template architecture, workflows, and publishing processes within Modern Campus to ensure efficient content management across all departments
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Provide training, documentation, and technical support to departmental web editors and content contributors using Modern Campus
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Coordinate with Modern Campus (Omni CMS) vendor support for platform updates, bug resolution, and feature deployment
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Ensure CMS workflows comply with university branding and accessibility requirements
Website Design & User Experience
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Lead or oversee the design and redesign of university web properties, ensuring consistency with VUU's visual identity and brand standards
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Apply user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design principles to create intuitive, accessible, and visually compelling digital experiences
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Conduct usability testing, user research, and analytics analysis to continuously improve site performance and visitor engagement
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Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to ensure web design aligns with print and digital brand campaigns
Technical Development & Maintenance
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Oversee all front-end and back-end development activities, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and server-side components as applicable
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Manage website hosting environments, domain configurations, SSL certificates, and server-side performance optimization
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Ensure website uptime, security, and performance through proactive monitoring, regular audits, and timely issue resolution
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Maintain disaster recovery protocols and back-up procedures for all web assets and content
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Oversee integrations between the CMS and university systems including Jenzabar SIS, Canvas LMS, and other enterprise platforms
Accessibility & Compliance
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Ensure all VUU web properties meet or exceed WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards and comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
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Conduct regular accessibility audits and remediation efforts; maintain documentation of compliance activities
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Stay current on ADA, FERPA, and applicable state and federal digital compliance requirements as they relate to university web operations
Analytics, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
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Implement and maintain web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) to track site performance, traffic, and user behavior
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Produce regular reports for university leadership on website KPIs, content performance, and digital engagement metrics
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Use data-driven insights to recommend and implement ongoing improvements to site architecture, content, and navigation
Team & Stakeholder Management
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Supervise, mentor, and evaluate web services staff and student workers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture
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Collaborate with divisional and departmental stakeholders to coordinate web content projects, refresh cycles, and new page development
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Manage vendor relationships related to web hosting, domain services, and third-party web tools
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Represent web services on university committees, planning bodies, and cross-functional project teams as needed
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education
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Bachelor's degree in Web Design, Computer Science, Information Technology, Digital Communications, or a related field required
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Master's degree preferred
Experience
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Minimum of five (5) years of progressive professional experience in web services, digital communications, or web development
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Demonstrated experience managing a content management system in an enterprise or institutional environment; Modern Campus (Omni CMS) experience strongly preferred
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Experience in a higher education setting preferred; familiarity with HBCU missions and communities is a plus
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Proven track record of leading website redesigns or large-scale digital transformation projects
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Experience supervising staff or managing cross-functional project teams
Technical Competencies
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Proficiency in Modern Campus CMS (Omni CMS) administration and workflow management
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Strong working knowledge of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript; familiarity with frameworks such as Bootstrap or similar
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Experience with web analytics platforms (Google Analytics, Google Search Console, or equivalent)
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Working knowledge of SEO principles, site performance optimization, and accessibility remediation tools
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Familiarity with higher education system integrations (SIS, LMS, ERP) as they relate to web infrastructure
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Understanding of web security principles, SSL/TLS configuration, and vulnerability mitigation
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
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Experience with Jenzabar, Canvas, or similar higher education platforms and their web integrations
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Knowledge of ADA/Section 508 compliance auditing tools (e.g., Siteimprove, WAVE, Deque axe)
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Familiarity with UX research methods, wireframing tools, or digital project management platforms
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Experience developing digital accessibility remediation plans and training programs
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Modern Campus CMS certification or demonstrated advanced platform proficiency
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
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Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously
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Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
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Commitment to VUU's mission as a historically Black university and to supporting equity-centered digital access
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Collaborative leadership style with demonstrated ability to build relationships across organizational units
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Self-directed, detail-oriented, and able to operate with a high degree of independence
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Strong problem-solving capabilities and sound professional judgment
WORKING CONDITIONS
This position is primarily office-based and located on the Virginia Union University campus in Richmond, Virginia. Occasional evening and weekend availability may be required to support website launches, university events, or emergency outage response. Hybrid work arrangements may be considered commensurate with institutional policy and operational needs.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Virginia Union University offers a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance; retirement plan participation; tuition benefits; and paid leave. This is a full-time, exempt, 12-month position.
APLICATION PROCESS
Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following materials through the VUU Human Resources portal:
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Letter of interest addressing qualifications and commitment to VUU's mission
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Current curriculum vitae or professional résumé
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Contact information for three (3) professional references
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Portfolio or links to web projects managed or developed (optional but encouraged)
Virginia Union University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. VUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.
