Job Details

Web User Experience & Content Architecture Specialist - #002861

Position Number: 9906841
Location: Cullowhee, United States
Position Type: Public Relations, Marketing and Communications

Web User Experience & Content Architecture Specialist - #002861

Western Carolina University

Department: Marketing

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:
* 2025 -- Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
* 2024 -- Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
* 2023 -- Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
* 2022 -- Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans -- eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences -- many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary:

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (EHRA).

The Web User Experience & Content Architecture Specialist transforms existing institutional information into clear, audience-centered digital experiences. The specialist organizes and structures content to create effective user journeys while applying information architecture, accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO), and answer engine optimization (AEO) practices to improve how university information is discovered and understood by people, search engines, and AI-driven systems.

Working within the Web and Digital Content team, the position collaborates with campus partners, content professionals, and web developers to improve the organization, usability, accessibility, and discoverability of university websites.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Knowledge of user experience, information architecture, and content design principles, including navigation, hierarchy, and labeling used to organize website content around audience needs.
Knowledge of web accessibility, usability, semantic content structure, and inclusive-design principles, including familiarity with applicable W3C and WCAG standards.
Knowledge of SEO and emerging AEO practices, including how content structure supports discovery and understanding by people, search engines, and AI-driven systems.
Ability to organize complex information into clear navigation, content hierarchies, user journeys, page structures, site maps, wireframes, or comparable planning materials.
Ability to evaluate website content, audience feedback, usability findings, and available data to identify issues and recommend practical improvements.
Ability to explain recommendations and coordinate website improvements with technical and non-technical partners.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:
Minimum Qualifications:

Interested candidates must already be legally authorized to work in the United States and will not require any immigration sponsorship or support.
Bachelor's degree in a field related to the position; or an equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and professional experience that demonstrates equivalent preparation in user experience, information architecture, content design, web design, or related digital work. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Demonstrated experience gathering stakeholder or audience needs and translating them into navigation structures, user journeys, site maps, wireframes, page architectures, or comparable UX and information-architecture deliverables.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience supporting large or content-rich websites involving multiple audiences, stakeholders, or content owners.
Experience using a content management system and developing information architecture, content structures, site maps, wireframes, or comparable web-planning materials.
Experience using web analytics, site-search data, usability findings, audience feedback, or similar evidence to inform website improvements.
Familiarity with WCAG, semantic HTML, HTML/CSS, SEO, AEO, and accessible and responsive web practices.

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please include a cover letter, resume, and a list of at least three professional references to include their complete contact information.

Applicants are encouraged to provide examples of relevant work demonstrating their approach to user experience, information architecture, content organization, wireframing, usability, accessibility, or digital discoverability.

Examples may include professional, academic, freelance, or personal work. A formal portfolio is not required. Applicants who do not have shareable work samples may describe relevant projects, their role in the work, and the approach they used as part of their application materials.

Candidates selected for interviews may be asked to complete a brief skills-based exercise related to the responsibilities of the position.

For more information please contact ###

AA/EOE
Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

University Safety
The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

To apply, please visit: https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/35730