Web Designer and Digital Humanities Editor: Department of History - UTK

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Web Designer and Digital Humanities Editor

Company: University of Tennessee, Department of History

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Digital Humanities / Web Operations

Date Posted: August 12, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to the operational success of a grant-funded digital humanities project, requiring a blend of technical web development and specialized editorial skills.

• The position involves the end-to-end management of a project website, focusing on user experience, accessibility, and search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure maximum reach and usability.

• A significant component of the role includes digital content creation, digitization of historical documents, and meticulous transcription, directly contributing to the project's research output.

• The Web Designer and Digital Humanities Editor will also play a key role in mentoring junior staff and contributing to the overall strategic direction of the project's digital initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is titled "Web Designer and Digital Humanities Editor," its core operational functions align with aspects of Web Operations and Digital Content Management within an academic research context. The emphasis on website maintenance, user experience, and information architecture points to a need for robust operational oversight of digital assets and platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain the project's digital humanities website, ensuring it adheres to current web standards and best practices.

• Enhance website functionality and user experience (UX) through regular updates, content optimization, and implementation of responsive design principles.

• Develop and manage the website's information architecture to ensure logical content flow, intuitive navigation, and effective presentation of digital resources.

• Monitor website security and usability, implementing necessary measures to guarantee a stable and accessible online platform for researchers and the public.

• Generate original online content, including articles, project updates, and multimedia elements, to support the project's outreach and engagement goals.

• Digitize historical documents, including microfilm and images, ensuring high-quality preservation and accessibility of archival materials.

• Transcribe original documents, meticulously checking and formatting transcriptions for accuracy and scholarly use.

• Conduct original historical research to support project initiatives and contribute to scholarly publications.

• Mentor and guide undergraduate and graduate assistants, fostering their development in digital humanities methodologies and research practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on technical operations (website design, maintenance, security) and editorial/research operations (digitization, transcription, historical research). This blend requires a candidate comfortable with both systematic content management and in-depth research support.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in History, Digital Humanities, Computer Science, or a related field with a strong digital component. Experience:

• 2-5 years of demonstrated experience in web design, development, and content management.

• Proven experience in digital humanities projects, including website development, digital archiving, and content digitization.

• Experience with historical research methodologies and archival practices. Required Skills:

• Web Design & Development: Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Experience with content management systems (CMS) like WordPress is essential.

• Digital Humanities Tools: Familiarity with platforms such as Omeka for digital collections and TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) for encoding textual content.

• User Experience (UX) & Accessibility: Strong understanding of UX principles, search engine optimization (SEO), web accessibility standards (WCAG), and responsive design.

• Content Management: Ability to manage website content, develop information architecture, and ensure data integrity.

• Digitalization & Transcription: Proficiency in digitizing various media formats and accurate transcription of historical documents, including potentially challenging handwriting.

• Historical Research: Demonstrated ability to conduct original historical research and contribute to academic projects.

Preferred Skills:

• Master's degree in a relevant field.

• Experience with image editing software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop).

• Knowledge of database management and querying.

• Familiarity with project management methodologies.

• Experience mentoring or supervising junior staff or student assistants.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for TEI coding and proficiency in specific platforms like Omeka and WordPress indicates a need for a candidate with a specialized technical skill set beyond general web design. The emphasis on 19th-century handwriting transcription suggests a need for meticulous attention to detail and potentially specific paleography skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Website Development & Design: Showcase at least two distinct website projects, detailing your role in design, development, and implementation. Include live links or detailed mockups demonstrating responsive design, user flow, and information architecture.

• Digital Humanities Projects: Present examples of digital humanities initiatives you have contributed to, highlighting your specific contributions to website content, digital collections (e.g., using Omeka), or text encoding (e.g., TEI).

• Content Optimization & UX: Demonstrate how you have improved website user experience, search engine visibility (SEO), or accessibility in previous roles. Quantifiable metrics on traffic increase, user engagement, or accessibility compliance are highly valued.

• Digitization & Transcription Case Studies: Include examples of digitized historical documents or transcribed texts, illustrating your process, accuracy, and any tools used. Highlight challenges encountered and how they were overcome.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Provide documentation or examples of workflows you have designed for website updates, content creation, or digitization processes, emphasizing efficiency and quality control.

• System Implementation & Maintenance: Detail your experience in implementing or maintaining web platforms, including security protocols, backup strategies, and performance monitoring.

• Measurement & Analysis: Illustrate how you measure the success of digital initiatives, using metrics related to website traffic, user engagement, content accessibility, and research impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role combining web operations and digital humanities, the portfolio should strongly emphasize projects that demonstrate both technical proficiency in web development and operational excellence in managing digital historical resources. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the strategic thinking behind their design choices and the operational processes they employed to ensure project success.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated range of $60,000 - $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement savings plan with employer match.

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

• Access to professional development and training opportunities, including continued education and coaching.

• Tuition remission for eligible employees and dependents.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Opportunities for career advancement within the University of Tennessee system. Working Hours:

• Standard 40-hour work week. Flexibility may be available for certain tasks, but the role is primarily on-site, requiring consistent presence during business hours for collaboration and project execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on typical compensation for similar roles in academic institutions in the Knoxville, TN area, considering the experience level and grant-funded nature of the position. The benefits listed are standard for university employees in the US, with specific details to be confirmed by the University of Tennessee HR department.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education / Academic Research

Company Size: Large (over 10,000 employees)

Founded: 1794

Team Structure:

• This role operates within the Department of History at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The Digital Humanities Editor will collaborate closely with faculty members, project staff, and potentially other university IT and library services.

• The position is grant-funded for four years, indicating a project-specific team structure that may evolve over the grant period.

• Cross-functional collaboration will be essential, involving historians, digital specialists, and potentially students serving as research assistants. Methodology:

• The project emphasizes a data-driven approach to digital humanities, integrating historical research with modern web technologies.

• Workflow planning and optimization are critical for managing the lifecycle of digital content, from digitization to online presentation.

• Automation and efficiency practices will be leveraged where possible to streamline digitization, transcription, and website maintenance tasks.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The University of Tennessee's culture values leadership, service, and innovation, as evidenced by its land-grant mission and Carnegie classification. For this role, expect a collaborative academic environment that encourages professional development and a commitment to advancing knowledge through digital means.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-level position within the digital operations and humanities research support spectrum. It requires a solid foundation of technical skills combined with specialized knowledge in digital humanities and historical research.

Reporting Structure: The Web Designer and Digital Humanities Editor will likely report to a senior faculty member or project director within the Department of History. They will also oversee the work of undergraduate and graduate assistants.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the accessibility, usability, and scholarly reach of critical historical research projects. By optimizing the digital platform and ensuring the integrity of digitized content, the position enhances the project's ability to disseminate knowledge and engage with academic and public audiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in digital humanities methodologies, specific historical periods, or advanced web development techniques relevant to academic research.

• Leadership: Develop leadership skills by mentoring assistants and potentially taking on greater project management responsibilities within future grant cycles.

• Skill Development: Access university-provided training and continued education to enhance skills in areas like advanced web technologies, data visualization, or digital archiving.

• Research Contribution: Contribute directly to scholarly output through research and the creation of significant digital historical resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The grant-funded nature of this position means career progression might be tied to the success of the project and securing future funding. However, the skills acquired are highly transferable within academic institutions and the broader digital content management field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus. This will likely involve a combination of office-based work for digital editing and research, and potentially studio-based work for digitization.

Office Location(s): Knoxville, TN. The specific department location will be within the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus facilities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect to work closely with faculty, researchers, and students in a dynamic academic setting. Shared office spaces or dedicated project areas may be available.

• Tools & Technology: Access to university IT infrastructure, including high-speed internet, necessary software licenses (e.g., for CMS, image editing, research tools), and potentially specialized digitization equipment.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the history department and project team members through meetings, workshops, and informal discussions.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with specific hours to be arranged with the reporting manager. While some flexibility might exist for tasks that can be done remotely or outside of core business hours, the primary requirement is on-site presence for collaboration, access to resources, and direct supervision of assistants.

📝 Enhancement Note: As an on-site role within a large university, the work environment will likely be stable and structured, offering access to a wide range of campus resources and a community of scholars. The focus on collaboration and access to specialized equipment is key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review focusing on resume, cover letter, and portfolio.

• Technical Assessment/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to complete a practical exercise related to web design, content editing, or a small research task. This could involve website mockups, content optimization scenarios, or a brief transcription exercise.

• Interview Panel: A panel interview with faculty members, project leads, and potentially HR representatives. Questions will assess technical skills, digital humanities knowledge, research experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, their process, and the impact of their work.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on projects that best demonstrate your proficiency in web design, digital humanities tools (WordPress, Omeka, TEI), UX/SEO, and historical research/digitization.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to show the results of your work (e.g., increased website traffic, improved user engagement, successful digitization of X number of documents).

• Explain Your Process: For each project, clearly articulate your role, the methodologies you employed, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize aspects of your portfolio that align with the specific responsibilities of this Web Designer and Digital Humanities Editor role, such as website optimization for accessibility and search, and accurate historical document handling.

Challenge Preparation:

• Web Design/UX: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing or improving a website for a historical research project, focusing on user needs and accessibility.

• Digital Content Workflow: Understand and articulate best practices for digitizing, transcribing, and encoding historical documents.

• Historical Research: Be ready to discuss your experience with historical research, archival work, and how digital tools can enhance these processes.

• Collaboration: Prepare examples of how you have collaborated with diverse teams (e.g., academics, technical staff) on complex projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, seeking a candidate who can bridge the gap between technical web operations and specialized academic research. A strong portfolio that showcases practical application of skills in a humanities context is crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Content Management System (CMS): WordPress (essential for website design and maintenance).

• Digital Humanities Platforms: Omeka (for managing digital collections and exhibits).

• Text Encoding: TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) standards for structured text data.

• Web Development Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript (fundamental for front-end development).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Website Analytics: Google Analytics or similar tools for monitoring website traffic, user behavior, and content performance.

• SEO Tools: Familiarity with tools for keyword research and SEO auditing (e.g., SEMrush, Moz, Google Search Console).

CRM & Automation:

• While not a traditional CRM role, experience with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello) may be beneficial for task tracking.

• Familiarity with digital asset management (DAM) systems and basic scripting for automation of repetitive tasks (e.g., file conversion, data processing).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in WordPress, Omeka, and TEI is critical. The ability to leverage web analytics and SEO best practices is also highly valued for ensuring the project's digital footprint is maximized. Familiarity with scripting or automation for repetitive tasks in digitization or data handling would be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Accuracy & Diligence: A commitment to meticulous work in digitization, transcription, and data management is paramount.

• User-Centricity: Designing and maintaining digital resources with the end-user (researchers, students, public) in mind, focusing on usability and accessibility.

• Innovation: Embracing new digital tools and methodologies to enhance historical research and dissemination.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with faculty, students, and other project stakeholders to achieve common goals.

• Efficiency: Streamlining processes for content creation, digitization, and website maintenance to maximize project output within grant constraints.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Active participation in project meetings, sharing technical insights with historians and contributing to strategic discussions about digital project development.

• Process Review & Feedback: An open approach to receiving and providing constructive feedback on workflows, design choices, and content accuracy.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share expertise in web design and digital tools with team members and mentor student assistants.

📝 Enhancement Note: The University of Tennessee emphasizes a culture of leadership and service. For this role, expect an environment that values contribution to scholarly work, collaborative problem-solving, and continuous improvement of digital research infrastructure.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Grant Funding Limitations: Working within the defined scope and timeline of a four-year grant, requiring efficient resource management.

• Technical Obsolescence: Keeping pace with rapidly evolving web technologies and digital humanities tools to ensure the project's digital assets remain accessible and functional long-term.

• Balancing Technical & Editorial: Effectively managing the demands of both sophisticated web development and detailed historical content work.

• Digital Preservation: Ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of digitized historical materials beyond the grant period.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Digital Humanities Training: Access to workshops and courses on emerging DH methodologies, digital archiving, and data visualization.

• Web Development Certifications: Opportunities to pursue certifications in specific web technologies or CMS platforms.

• Academic Research Exposure: Deep immersion in historical research, potentially leading to co-authorship or contributions to scholarly publications.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced faculty and digital specialists within the university.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to blend technical operational skills with deep engagement in historical research. The challenges are offset by significant growth potential in a specialized and increasingly vital field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a user-friendly and accessible website for an academic research project. What tools and methodologies would you employ?" (Focus on UX, accessibility standards, and your experience with WordPress/Omeka).

• "How would you approach digitizing and transcribing a collection of 19th-century handwritten documents? What are the key challenges, and how would you ensure accuracy and efficiency?" (Highlight your transcription skills, attention to detail, and understanding of historical documents).

• "Explain your experience with TEI or other text encoding standards. How have you used them to enhance digital humanities projects?" (Demonstrate your technical understanding of structured data for historical texts).

• "Discuss a time you had to balance competing priorities between technical development and content creation/research support. How did you manage your time and resources?" (Showcase your operational planning and multitasking abilities). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about digital humanities and the University of Tennessee's Department of History specifically?" (Show your research into the department's work and your genuine interest).

• "How do you see this role contributing to the broader mission of a land-grant university like UTK?" (Connect your work to public service, education, and research dissemination).

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style when working with faculty and students on a research project." (Emphasize teamwork, communication, and support). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by project type (e.g., Website Design, Digital Collections, Transcription Projects).

• Narrative: For each project, tell a story: the goal, your role, the challenges, your solutions, and the outcomes (quantify if possible).

• Demonstrate Process: Walk through your workflow, showing how you moved from concept to completion.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out how your showcased work demonstrates your proficiency in WordPress, Omeka, TEI, UX, SEO, and historical research.

• Be Prepared for Technical Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, coding practices, or the technical implementation of your projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who is not only technically proficient but also understands the academic context and can effectively communicate complex technical and research concepts to a non-technical audience. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is key to demonstrating this capability.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Web Designer and Digital Humanities Editor position:

• Submit your application through the University of Tennessee's Oracle Cloud portal via the provided URL.

• Tailor Your Resume & Cover Letter: Highlight specific experiences in web design, digital humanities, historical research, and proficiency with tools like WordPress, Omeka, and TEI. Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills in web development, digital content management, and historical document handling. Ensure it is easily accessible (e.g., a personal website, PDF, or shared drive).

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on your process, challenges, and outcomes, especially as they relate to the job description's requirements.

• Research the Department: Familiarize yourself with the University of Tennessee's Department of History, its faculty, and ongoing research projects to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of the academic environment.

⚠️ 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.