Interface Specialist
JSTOR, Ann Arbor, Michigan

JSTOR (www.jstor.org), not-for-profit organization with a dual mission to create and maintain a trusted archive of important scholarly journals, and to provide access to these journals as widely as possible, seeks an energetic and self-motivated person as Interface Specialist. JSTOR is a small, distributed, and growing entrepreneurial enterprise that values teamwork and a collegial spirit and has offices located in New York and Michigan.

The Interface Specialist will be a member of a dynamic group of 4-6 Interface Specialists and Assistants. The main responsibility of the position is to improve the JSTOR website and associated sites and tools. This includes but is not limited to: creating wire frames and HTML mockups, conducting usability testing; applying principles of information architecture, content development and site maintenance; and writing use cases and functional specification/requirements.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with product management, development and other stakeholders during the storyboard, design and implementation of new usability features, applying user-centered design practices.
• Work closely with clients to understand their tasks, activities, needs and behaviors and test usability concepts and features.
• Assist in defining usability and user interface design standards across the entire application, in order to ensure a consistent look and feel and design philosophy.
• Be an evangelist for product usability throughout the organization.
• Work closely with sales, marketing and product management to ensure the swift configuration and delivery of compelling, easy-to-use demo instances that showcase new features and capabilities.
• Conduct ongoing research of usability and user interface design best practices.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Write functional specifications/requirements derived from business needs or requirements. Ensure that all stakeholders' needs are met.
• Based on business needs/goal as well as users' needs, define new or enhanced functionality for the JSTOR website or associated sites and tools.
• Develop wireframes and/or HTML prototypes to illustrate and extend the functional specifications.
• Work very closely with the software developers to ensure successful implementation of new interface design and functionality.
• Work closely with Quality Assurance staff to ensure that software and content meet JSTOR quality standards.
• Conduct usability evaluations on new features.
• Interpret user feedback and translate into potential site improvements.
• Ensure that new interfaces adhere to web standards, including web accessibility.
• Research and investigation new options and features for JSTOR to incorporate.
• Collaborate with other Interface Specialist to help ensure successful projects.

Required Experience and Skills

• Proficiency in developing HTML and CSS according to web standards and web accessibility guidelines (W3C-WAI, Section 508).
• Degree in Human Factors, HCI, Library Science, Industrial Design, or related area.
• At least 2 years experience with interface development/design.
• Experience in a team-based environment in a user-centered organization.
• Superior technical aptitude.
• Ability to easily adapt to changing computer environments, demonstrated proficiency with a wide range of computer platforms, Internet tools, and presentation and design software.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and leadership skills.
• Organized, able to act independently, and able to switch rapidly between different projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Solid understanding of information architecture and interaction design principles.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and actively as part of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to effectively manage time and priorities.

Desired Experiences and Skills

• Experience working in libraries or developing library web resources.
• Mastery of UCD principles and solid interaction design skills.
• Ability to develop new approaches to complex design problems.
• Awareness and understanding of latest user interface and information architecture trends.
• Track record of designing interfaces and writing detailed UI/functional specifications.
• Ability to create/produce interfaces that remain consistent across all popular browsers.
• Ability to distill complex business needs into functional requirements, wireframes and HTML mockups, and usability requirements.
• Familiarity with web content management systems.
• Some experience with graphic design.

To Apply

Please include with your application URLs to samples of your work, if available, along with descriptions of your input into the web site/pages.

JSTOR offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package, and the opportunity to grow.

Qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to: interfacespecialist@jstor.org

We will consider each response carefully, but only contact those individuals we feel are most qualified for the position. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

JSTOR is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.