Company State of Washington, Department of Social and Health Services
Location Olympia, Washington
Salary $65,112 to $85,392 annually
URL www.careers.wa.gov
Contact Gayle Hatfield, HRC issdrecruitment@dshs.wa.gov
Agency information
The mission of ISSD (Information System Services Division) is to provide an effective information technology foundation that supports the tactical and strategic goals of DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) in partnership with administrations, divisions and other state agencies.
Duties
This position requires a mastery of human factors and information technology requiring a high degree of innovation and vision.
Usability research and usability evaluations:
- Plan, organize and conduct usability analysis to assess usability of the DSHS Internet Web site.
- Collect and analyze data from various sources to understand user needs and learn their characteristics.
- Conduct interviews with key user groups to understand their motivations, fears, triggers for actions and mental models.
- Create and delivers research and analysis report used by senior management for decision making.
- Distill user research into user profiles and usage models.
- Work closely with stakeholders to determine test goals, scope, usability issues, scenarios, data measurement and participant selection. Recruit web users based on defined criteria.
- Prepare usability test material consisting of user scenarios and tasks, facilitator's script, consent forms, pre-test questionnaires, post-tasks questionnaires, post-test questionnaires and think aloud protocol warm up demo.
- Conduct usability sessions, analyze data, document usability findings, and deliver a report of findings used by senior management for decision making. Changes implemented by these results will be highly visible to the public and DSHS web users.
- Combine usability study with post-test user interviews to gather more information about the users' perception of DSHS and the web site and recommend solutions for usability problems.
- Conduct comparative reviews of other government web sites to build domain knowledge in the realm of similar state agency web sites. Stay abreast of new developments and best practices in improving user experience.
Conceptual design and prototyping:
- Translate business rules, requirements and user research into functional and usability requirements. Merge various disciplines such as user interface (UI) design, human factors, user research, information science and web strategy.
- Specify how users will find information in the site by defining its organization, navigation, labeling, and searching systems balancing end-user needs and agency's needs.
- Build the information architecture and collaborate with stakeholders to create conceptual user interface designs and low through high fidelity prototypes.
- Map out how the site will accommodate change and growth over time and analyze changes in the current services that may affect existing agency mission-critical sites.
- Create and maintain all information architecture deliverables, user scenarios, task flow diagrams, sitemap / navigation scheme / taxonomy, wireframes, interaction outline / specifications and copy direction.
- Analyze and organize data stored by information systems including entities, attributes and interrelationships (meta data).
- Collaborate with content management specialists to enhance and leverage the existing content management and technology infrastructure to increase efficiency and enhance the user experience. Determine what content and functionality the site will contain.
- Evaluate usability and accessibility for potential site users; measurement and assessment of website performance; track website usage and industry Internet trends.
- Develop user interface standards.
UCD consultation and education:
- Provide usability consultation and advise agency UCD project teams in the design of organization, indexing, labeling, and navigation systems to support browsing and searching throughout the DSHS Internet web site.
- As a usability marketing specialist, understand audiences and effectively communicate web usability information to different audiences. Advocate for users while understanding the business goals of customers promoting user-centered activities and best practices throughout the organization.
- Support effective communication throughout the organization. Write and implement policies and procedures that optimize the delivery of information technology services, specifically web-related technology, across the agency.
- Coordinate / design and maintain UCD training material and hands-on training for agency staff and support personnel.
- In collaboration with the UCD Web Manager, develop and manage cross-administration UCD processes that enable agency support staff to provide round-the-clock support of the DSHS Internet Web site user interfaces.
Required education, experience, skills and abilities
Must have at least three years recent experience:
- Expert experience planning, facilitating and conducting usability studies, and reporting usability study findings.
- Expert experience designing surveys and analyzing results, with a solid understanding of statistical methods.
- Expert experience in user interface design for websites, software, and/or web-based applications and in evaluating existing interfaces utilizing accepted principles (heuristics) and task-based methods.
- Usability testing to create an enterprise wide web site and in providing technical customer support in usability and information technology.
- Strong understanding of dynamic, data-driven web sites and web accessibility.
- Expert experience as an information architect or equivalent field.
- Expert experience supporting a large agency-wide web site.
- Ability to develop insight into user needs and translate them into effective user interface designs.
- Expert experience in designing site maps, process flows, user personas, wireframes / page schematics, feature requirements, functional specifications, storyboards, mockups and prototypes.
- Must be forward-thinking and resourceful about trends and best practices in Web design and information architecture.
- Knowledge of enterprise wide Content Management (e.g. Interwoven TeamSite) and web portal systems.
- Working knowledge of video editing techniques.
- Current information technology experience in consulting, analyzing, designing, programming, enterprise-wide web sites.
- Project management skills and knowledge in directing enterprise-wide technology projects.
- Implementation of program policies and guidelines directly impacting long-term technology direction and the day-to-day operation and management of the business side of enterprise technology.
- Exhibit leadership and problem solving skills, ability to anticipate project needs based on a solid understanding of project goals, and see the big picture and think abstractly.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills with demonstrated ability to write using plain talk concepts; speak and present information effectively, persuasively and confidently in a variety of communication settings. Experience writing and editing requirements documentation and in developing usability training material.
- Experience working with multiple administrations and ability to effectively deal with resistance.
- Ability to interact with upper management, stakeholders and customers at a high level on the technical and business-side.
- Excellent training and mentoring skills and ability to train others.
- Ability to function independently with minimal supervision. Motivated self starter who will take the initiative and identify problems and dependencies in code. Detail oriented with significant emphasis on quality of work.
- Ability to work in a dynamic environment with other UCD and technology specialists (designers, developers, content providers) and easily adapts to change.
- Knowledge of Web Mark-up & Scripting (XML, XHTML, Visual Studio.NET, Java script) and AUTOCAD.
- Proficient using Microsoft Project software to manage project work plans, and use of the Microsoft Office suite of products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) and Morae software.
Special notes
This position is included in a Union Shop that requires employees to become members within thirty (30) Days of employment.
This position may require work outside of normal Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00, business working hours.
Other information
To be considered for this position, you must apply through http://careers.wa.gov using reference code *8971*.
To apply for this position, please attach the following to your e-recruiting profile and submit through the e-recruiting system.
- A letter of interest clearly describing how your skills and experience meet the qualifications listed in this announcement, including a list of UCD projects and your role in those projects.
- Your resume OR e-recruiting profile depicting work experience and / or education that support your letter of interest.
- A list of three professional references including names, professional titles, and current phone numbers.
For help in using the e-recruiting system to apply for this job, please contact the Department of Personnel's customer service desk at information@dop.wa.gov.
If you are currently a state employee, please be sure to “Login as an internal applicant” on the e-recruiting home page and use your Personnel ID number and password.
The act of submitting application materials is considered affirmation that the information provided is complete and truthful.
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified persons including disabled and Vietnam era veterans, women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and persons over 40 years of age to apply.
Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960 or TDD (360) 664-6211. For questions about this recruitment, call (360) 902-7687 or email Gayle Hatfield at issdrecruitment@dshs.wa.gov
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