Web & UX Specialist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Web & UX Specialist

Company: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates

Location: Windrim Hall, Philadelphia, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Web & UX Design / Operations

Date Posted: May 19, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years (Mid-Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on enhancing the user experience (UX) and front-end design of digital properties, with a strong emphasis on building and maintaining a scalable design system.

• Responsibilities include ideating, designing, and delivering user-centered web experiences, directly impacting user engagement and conversion rates.

• The Specialist will collaborate closely with development teams to ensure seamless integration of designs into CMS platforms, particularly Drupal.

• A key aspect of the role involves leveraging analytics and user research to inform design decisions and optimize user journeys, especially for higher education enrollment.

• This position requires a blend of design, technical understanding, and cross-functional collaboration to drive consistency and efficiency across the university's web ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Web & UX Specialist," the description clearly indicates a strong operational component related to managing and scaling design systems, collaborating with development for implementation, and using data for optimization. This aligns with a "Web Operations" or "Digital Experience Operations" function within a larger marketing or IT department, rather than a pure design role. The emphasis on "design-to-development collaboration" and "CMS platforms (primarily Drupal)" further solidifies its operational leaning.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and deliver comprehensive UX solutions, including page layouts, templates, and interactive components, from initial ideation through to development handoff.

• Develop high-fidelity designs, interactive prototypes, and detailed interaction models that clearly articulate user flows and functionalities.

• Produce production-ready design specifications and annotations to ensure accurate and efficient implementation by the development team.

• Build, maintain, and evolve shared component libraries, design tokens, and reusable patterns to foster consistency and efficiency in front-end development.

• Proactively contribute to the strategic development and maintenance of a centralized university design system, ensuring its scalability and applicability across various digital properties and CMS templates.

• Translate user needs, insights from UX research, and performance data from analytics into actionable, user-centered design solutions.

• Partner closely with front-end and back-end developers during all project phases, including concepting, scoping, feasibility discussions, design reviews, and handoff.

• Implement, validate, and refine designs by working directly within CMS environments (primarily Drupal) and with front-end code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).

• Plan and execute UX research activities such as usability testing, user interviews, and heuristic reviews to gather insights and inform design iterations.

• Incorporate research findings directly into design updates, live web enhancements, and the evolution of the design system.

• Create and maintain user journey maps for key audience segments, particularly prospective undergraduate and graduate students, to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.

• Utilize analytics data (e.g., GA4) and performance metrics to inform design decisions and optimize digital experiences.

• Collaborate effectively with marketing, communications, analytics, enrollment, academic, and registrar stakeholders to ensure web experiences align with both user needs and institutional goals.

• Ensure overall consistency and cohesion across all university web properties through design guidance, system adoption, and best practice enforcement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative design and operational execution, particularly in managing the design system and collaborating with developers. This dual focus is common in roles that bridge design and development operations. The mention of "design-to-development collaboration" and "working directly within CMS environments (Drupal primarily) and with front-end code" highlights the hands-on, integrated nature of the role, which is crucial for operations professionals.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in UX Design, Web Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Marketing, Communications, or a closely related field is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in UX design, web design, or a hybrid UX/web role is required.

• Experience designing within or contributing to a formal design system is preferred.

• Familiarity with higher-education enrollment or marketing journeys is advantageous.

• Experience with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and UX research tools (e.g., UserTesting, Hotjar) is preferred.

• Exposure to marketing automation platforms and CRM systems (e.g., Slate) is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in modern collaborative design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) with advanced proficiency in managing component libraries, variants, variables, and developer handoff workflows.

• Strong understanding of core UX principles, interaction design methodologies, and a commitment to accessibility best practices (WCAG compliance).

• Proven experience working with Content Management Systems (CMS), with a preference for Drupal.

• Comfort and ability to author and discuss front-end code, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with developers, analysts, project managers, and non-design stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing and implementing within a formal design system.

• Familiarity with the nuances of higher education enrollment and marketing funnels.

• Proficiency in using Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for data-informed design decisions.

• Experience with dedicated UX research platforms like UserTesting or Hotjar.

• Exposure to CRM systems such as Slate and marketing automation tools.

• Understanding of SEO principles and their impact on user experience and web architecture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements specify a hybrid role with strong UX design skills but also a practical understanding of front-end code and CMS platforms. This suggests the company values individuals who can not only design but also understand the implementation constraints and operational aspects of web development. The emphasis on "design-to-development collaboration" and "working directly within CMS environments" reinforces this. The preference for Drupal and familiarity with higher education journeys are key operational insights for candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 diverse UX/web design projects demonstrating a full design lifecycle, from discovery and ideation to final implementation and iteration.

• Projects should highlight experience with responsive design, interactive components, and user-centered design principles.

• Include detailed case studies that articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process, challenges faced, and measurable outcomes.

• Demonstrate proficiency in creating high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and clear design specifications for development handoff.

Process Documentation:

• For each project, clearly document the user research methodologies employed (e.g., interviews, usability testing, analytics review) and how findings informed design decisions.

• Illustrate the collaboration process with development teams, including how designs were translated into functional components and how feedback was incorporated.

• Provide examples of how accessibility standards (WCAG) were integrated into the design and development workflow.

• Detail experience with CMS platforms (preferably Drupal) and how design solutions were adapted to platform constraints and capabilities.

• Showcase examples of creating or contributing to design systems, including component documentation, style guides, and governance models.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role emphasizing design systems and collaboration with development, a portfolio is critical. It should not just display final designs but also the process of creation, iteration, and implementation. Demonstrating an understanding of how designs translate into functional code within a CMS like Drupal, and how a design system supports this, will be key. Highlighting analytics-informed decisions and accessibility implementation will also be crucial for showcasing operational effectiveness.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The estimated pay range for this position is $60,000 to $62,600 annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance plans (medical, dental, vision).

• Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions.

• Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training and conference attendance.

• Access to university resources and facilities.

• Potential for hybrid work schedule, offering flexibility.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, aligning with the 40-hour work week.

• While not normal practice, occasional off-hours work may be required to support site refreshes or critical updates, particularly during non-peak periods.

• The role offers the opportunity for a hybrid schedule, allowing for a blend of on-site work at the Hawk Hill campus and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and within the expected mid-level for a UX/Web Specialist in a higher education setting in Philadelphia. The note about "work experience and educational background" is standard, but candidates should be prepared to justify their salary expectations based on their demonstrated skills and portfolio achievements. The mention of potential off-hours work for site updates is typical for operational roles supporting live digital platforms.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education (Private, Catholic, Jesuit Institution)

Company Size: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates is a large, global law firm. However, the job description is for Saint Joseph's University, which is a medium-sized private university. This distinction is important; the operations of a university web team will differ significantly from a law firm.

Founded: Saint Joseph's University was founded in 1851. This long history suggests a stable institution with established traditions, but also a need to modernize digital experiences.

Team Structure:

• The Web & UX Specialist reports to the Director of Web Experience, indicating a structured team within a larger digital or marketing department.

• This role requires close collaboration with front-end and back-end developers, project managers, analysts, and marketing/content teams across the University.

Methodology:

• The team utilizes a user-centered design approach, heavily informed by research and analytics.

• Emphasis is placed on building scalable design systems and reusable components to ensure efficiency and consistency.

• Collaboration with development partners is integral, with a focus on smooth design-to-development workflows.

• Decisions are data-driven, leveraging tools like Google Analytics 4 to optimize user journeys and institutional goals.

Company Website: https://www.sju.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: It's crucial to differentiate between the parent organization (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates) and the actual employer for this role, Saint Joseph's University. The job description is clearly for the University. Understanding the mission-driven nature of a Jesuit university is key to cultural fit. The operations within a university web team are focused on student recruitment, academic support, and institutional branding, which are distinct from a law firm's client-facing or internal operational needs.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-level specialist role, suitable for individuals with 3-5 years of experience. It offers hands-on design and implementation work with significant responsibility for core digital assets and systems.

Reporting Structure: The Web & UX Specialist reports to the Director of Web Experience. This structure allows for direct mentorship and guidance from a leadership figure within the web team, facilitating career progression.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the university's digital presence, influencing prospective student enrollment, current student engagement, and overall institutional perception. By optimizing user journeys and ensuring a consistent, accessible web experience, the Specialist contributes significantly to achieving institutional goals in recruitment, retention, and brand management.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems management, advanced UX research methodologies, or specific CMS development (Drupal).

• Leadership Potential: Progress to a senior specialist or lead designer role, potentially managing design system initiatives or mentoring junior team members.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into roles focused on digital strategy, product management for web platforms, or broader marketing operations within the university.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and attending industry conferences (e.g., UXPA, DrupalCons) to stay current with best practices and emerging technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for this role leans towards deepening expertise in web experience operations, design systems, and UX research within the higher education context. The reporting structure to a Director provides a clear line for mentorship and potential advancement within the web team or broader marketing/digital departments. The impact is tied to institutional goals like enrollment, which is a key operational metric in higher ed.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on the Hawk Hill campus, suggesting a traditional university office environment. The description explicitly mentions the opportunity for a hybrid schedule, indicating a modern approach to work flexibility.

Office Location(s): Hawk Hill campus, Philadelphia, PA. The university has specific geographical limitations for applicants (PA, NJ, NY (excluding NYC zip codes), DE), which is important for candidates considering relocation.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as collaborative, requiring close partnership with developers, analysts, and marketing teams.

• Access to relevant design and analytics tools is implied, essential for UX and web operations.

• The team structure suggests opportunities for knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving within the web experience group.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (40 hours/week) are expected.

• The hybrid schedule offers flexibility, allowing employees to balance on-site and remote work.

• Occasional off-hours work may be necessary for critical site updates, a common operational requirement for live digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work arrangement is a significant factor for modern professionals. The mention of the Hawk Hill campus provides a specific physical location, and the applicant location restrictions are a critical operational detail for the university. The collaborative nature of the workspace is typical for teams managing complex digital ecosystems.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications, resumes, and portfolios to assess qualifications and experience against requirements.

• First Interview: Likely a conversation with the hiring manager (Director of Web Experience) or a senior team member to discuss experience, role fit, and initial technical/design capabilities. Portfolio walkthroughs may be requested here.

• Technical/Design Assessment: May involve a practical exercise, a more in-depth portfolio review focusing on specific project details, or a design challenge to evaluate UX design skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of design systems.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interview: An opportunity to meet with key collaborators (developers, project managers, marketing stakeholders) to assess communication, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level manager or department head to confirm suitability and discuss final aspects of the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Process, Not Just Polish: Showcase the journey of your projects. Detail your problem-solving approach, research methodologies, and how you iterated based on feedback or data.

• Emphasize Design System Contributions: If you have experience building or maintaining design systems, dedicate specific sections to this. Show component examples, documentation, and how the system improved efficiency or consistency.

• Demonstrate Development Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with developers, provided clear specifications, and understood implementation constraints (especially with CMS like Drupal).

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. For this role, focus on user engagement, conversion rates (especially for enrollment journeys), accessibility improvements, or efficiency gains from design system implementation.

• Tailor to the Role: Ensure your portfolio clearly addresses the requirements for UX design, web design, design systems, CMS experience (Drupal), and analytics-informed decision-making.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building or contributing to a design system for a higher education institution.

• CMS Integration: Understand how UX designs are implemented within a CMS like Drupal, and be ready to discuss potential challenges and solutions.

• Data-Informed Design: Prepare to explain how you use analytics (e.g., GA4) and user research to inform design decisions and optimize user journeys.

• Accessibility: Be ready to discuss WCAG guidelines and how you ensure designs are accessible.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with developers, project managers, and non-technical stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio, design systems, and collaboration with developers suggests that the review process will be hands-on and practical. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process and demonstrate how they translate design concepts into tangible, operational web experiences within a CMS framework. The higher education context may also mean a focus on enrollment and student-centric journeys.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Modern collaborative design tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD are essential. Proficiency in creating component libraries, variants, and variables within these tools is expected.

• Content Management System (CMS): Strong experience with Drupal is preferred. Familiarity with other enterprise-level CMS platforms may also be relevant.

• Front-end Technologies: Working familiarity and comfort with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are required for design validation and implementation collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Proficiency with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is explicitly mentioned and crucial for data-informed UX decisions.

• UX Research Tools: Experience with platforms like UserTesting.com, Hotjar, Crazy Egg, or similar tools for usability testing and user behavior analysis is preferred.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Exposure to CRM systems, with a preference for Slate (commonly used in higher education for admissions and enrollment), is a plus.

• Marketing Automation: Familiarity with marketing automation platforms can be beneficial for understanding broader enrollment journey operations.

Other Relevant Tools:

• Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello is likely beneficial for managing projects and tasks within a team environment.

• Version Control (for code): Basic understanding of Git or similar systems may be helpful for developers collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack highlights a blend of design and operational tools. Proficiency in modern design software is a given, but the emphasis on Drupal, GA4, and potentially Slate points to the operational core of this role within a university. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience integrating designs into these specific platforms and using data from these tools to drive decisions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental commitment to understanding and serving the needs of students, faculty, and staff through intuitive and effective digital experiences.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively across departments (marketing, IT, admissions, academics) to achieve shared institutional goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing analytics and research insights to inform design choices, optimize performance, and measure impact.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A focus on building and maintaining reusable components and design systems to streamline development, ensure consistency, and support future growth.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Dedication to creating digital experiences that are usable by everyone, adhering to WCAG standards.

• Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to identifying areas for enhancement and iterating on designs and systems to improve user experience and institutional outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: The role necessitates close, ongoing collaboration with developers, project managers, and content strategists, fostering a shared ownership of digital products.

• Transparent Communication: Open and clear communication is vital for design handoffs, feedback loops, and stakeholder updates.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Working to align web experiences with broader university marketing and enrollment strategies, requiring an understanding of diverse departmental needs.

• Feedback Culture: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and used to refine designs, processes, and systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlight a blend of design principles and operational excellence. For operations professionals, the emphasis on "Data-Driven Decision Making," "Efficiency & Scalability," and "Collaboration & Partnership" will resonate strongly. Understanding how these values translate into daily work, such as using GA4 data for design iterations or contributing to design system documentation, is key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design Vision with Technical Constraints: Ensuring that creative UX designs can be realistically implemented within the constraints of a CMS (Drupal) and existing development workflows.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Collaborating with diverse university departments, each with unique needs and priorities, to ensure web experiences meet broad institutional goals.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying current with advancements in UX design, web technologies, CMS capabilities, and analytics tools to maintain best-in-class digital experiences.

• Driving Design System Adoption: Encouraging and supporting the consistent use of the design system across various web properties and by different teams.

• Optimizing Enrollment Journeys: Navigating the complexities of higher education recruitment funnels to create effective and engaging experiences for prospective students.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Opportunity to become a subject matter expert in design systems, contributing to their strategic evolution and governance.

• Advanced UX Research: Deepen skills in qualitative and quantitative user research, translating findings into actionable insights for web development.

• CMS Specialization: Further develop expertise in Drupal theming, module integration, and best practices for web development within the platform.

• Higher Education Digital Strategy: Gain a comprehensive understanding of digital operations and marketing strategies specific to the higher education sector.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Enhance collaboration and communication skills through regular interaction with project managers, developers, and marketing teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for roles that bridge design, development, and operational management. For an operations professional, approaching these challenges with a focus on process improvement, system optimization, and data-driven solutions will be key. The growth opportunities highlight a path towards specialized expertise within web operations and design systems.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a complex UX design with the technical limitations of a CMS like Drupal. How did you approach the situation, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem-solving, collaboration, and technical understanding)

• "How would you approach building or contributing to a design system for a university with diverse digital properties and stakeholders? What are the key considerations for scalability and adoption?" (Assess strategic thinking, process design, and operational planning)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Saint Joseph's University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution. How do you see your role in contributing to our mission through web and UX design?" (Assess alignment with institutional values and cultural fit)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration and productivity when working remotely and on campus?" (Evaluate adaptability and collaboration skills in a flexible work model)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Operations Impact: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your solution, the process (including collaboration with dev), and the impact (quantified where possible).

• Design System Focus: If a project involved a design system, dedicate slides to explaining its components, benefits, and your contribution. Show how it supports efficiency and consistency.

• CMS Integration: Be ready to discuss how your designs were implemented in Drupal or a similar CMS. Highlight any challenges and how you overcame them.

• Data & Research: Explicitly call out where analytics or user research informed your design decisions and how you measured success.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, have a live demo or interactive prototype ready to showcase key functionalities and user flows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating practical application of UX skills within an operational context. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience with design systems, CMS implementation, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration, all framed within the specific needs of a higher education institution.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Web & UX Specialist position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://sju.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/SJU/job/Philadelphia---Hawk-Hill/Web---UX-Specialist_JR101099

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities mentioned in the job description, such as "UX Design," "Web Design," "Design Systems," "Drupal," "WCAG Accessibility," and "GA4." Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Improved user engagement by X%" or "Contributed to a design system that reduced development time by Y%").

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your portfolio to showcase projects that best align with the role's requirements, emphasizing your process, collaboration with developers, design system experience, and data-informed decision-making. Ensure it's easily accessible online.

• Research Saint Joseph's University: Familiarize yourself with the university's mission, values, target audiences (especially prospective students), and their current digital presence. Understand their Jesuit heritage and how it shapes their community and operations.

• Practice Portfolio Presentation: Be ready to walk through 2-3 key projects in detail, articulating your role, process, challenges, and outcomes, with a focus on how your work aligns with the university's operational and user experience goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.