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Information Architect, Greenwich Council
Nov 24 04
Source: SigIA
Greenwich Council are hiring an information archcitect (Job Ref: CEX 1) initially for a 12-month period.
Full job description and "how to apply" details follow
below:
For informal discussion contact Julie Zielstra, 020
8921 6409
How to apply: for an application form please contact Howard Armstrong, Personnel Officer, Chief Executive's Department, 29-37 Wellington Street, Woolwich, London,
SE18 6PW on 020 8921 5021 ( voicemail ) quoting reference number CEX1.
Salary: #27,495 - #29,730 p.a. inclusive Closing Date: 17 December 2004 Interview date: 11 January 2004
Job Description
A key role in analysing and designing content, the information architect is responsible for the user experience of the councils websites with particular focus on usability, navigation, and search and retrieval functionality.
Responsible for building information product models, element models, metadata, reuse strategies, and architectural models and site structures.
Specific duties:
* To be responsible for a good quality user experience across the councils websites and associated information systems.
* To provide the web team, along with its suppliers and internal partners, with usable and useful information architecture for the councils web-based applications.
* To be responsible for the translation of the information, communications and business objectives of the council into information architectures and interface designs.
* To contribute to the analysis of end-user needs and requirements and recommend, design, specify and/or implement solutions for meeting these requirements.
* To contribute to the research, design and development of new and existing projects and services delivered through the council's websites.
* To contribute to the creation, development and maintenance of corporate information management and e-service standards as related to the usability, accessibility, information architectural and search and retrieval functionality of the councils websites.
* To ensure the consistent application of the councils information management and e-service standards by content contributors, partners and developers
* To provide advice to the web team and other council staff about good practice in the discipline of information architecture and information management.
* To promote within the web team and user forums, relevant national information management and e-service standards
* To ensure changes are made to the councils information and e-service standards as required to maintain the councils compliance to national e-government requirements, guidelines and good practice
* To ensure the improvement of existing, information and transactional architecture on the councils websites to meet user and business needs.
* To provide new information and transactional architecture on the councils websites to meet user and business needs.
* To be responsible for improvements to the search and retrieval functionality on the councils websites using the skills and technology available within the web team.
* To be responsible for the design, implementation, development and maintenance of metadata, category lists, thesauri and other controlled vocabularies used to index and classify content and services on the council's websites and other information systems as required.
* To monitor the application and use of metadata and other search and retrieval functionality by content contributors and users and make recommendations for improved organisational learning in these areas.
* To contribute to the website improvement plan through competitive site reviews and the analysis of the councils websites usage trends, recommending content and information strategies and communicating these within the work of the web team.
* To be responsible for the production and maintenance of information architecture deliverables including site maps, schematics, content outlines, navigational labelling, prototypes, user goals and objectives analysis and project documentation.
* To assist the web team manager in the creation, delivery and analysis of user research activities (questionnaires/user surveys, focus groups and other
means)
* To liase with the web team manager to create usability test plans and usability tests.
* To carry out and facilitate usability testing as required.
* To ensure the improvement of the websites information architecture based upon the results of usability testing agreed within the web team and user forums.
* To assist the web team manager in the gathering and analysis of metrics required for performance measurement
* Manage the maintenance and development of the Resource Gallery for the web team in consultation with the needs of the editorial staff and other users
* Conduct research on assigned topics, analyse and compile results, present recommendations to team as assigned.
* Assist in website testing of new functionality, features or content as directed, providing feedback and recommendations as appropriate for enhancement.
Experience and Education
* 1-2 years experience working as an information architect, human-computer interaction (HCI) designer, or user interface (UI) designer in a web development environment (essential)
* BA/MA degree in related fields of Library or Information Science, Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, or equivalent (BSc or MSc) (desirable)
* Experience designing and carrying out user research and requirements gathering and translating into design decisions (desirable)
* Experience performing website competitive analysis and heuristic evaluations (essential)
* Experience creating site maps, schematics used for interface design, process maps and related information architecture documentation for a range of users
(essential)
* Experience designing user interfaces, search and navigation for websites or online applications that support users needs (essential)
* Experience using and applying metadata (essential)
* Experience of designing, facilitating and analysing usability tests (essential)
* Experience working with a content management system
(essential)
* Experience working with cross-functional teams throughout the web development process (essential)
Knowledge, skills and abilities
* Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills
* Excellent analytical problem-solving skills
* Excellent information analysis skills
* An ability to consult with clients about their business goals and propose IA solutions and strategies that match their needs
* An ability to analyse, develop and refine user tasks and processes
* An ability to document functional specifications and communicate them to both technical and non-technical staff
* An ability to design and develop effective metadata structures and controlled vocabularies
* Excellent skills designing information architectures, search aides and user interfaces for web based applications
* A good knowledge and understanding of the principals of information search and retrieval
* An ability to configure search engines based upon user research and site usage trends
* Knowledge of the use of usability good practice and standards and testing in web development
* An ability to analyse usability tests and translate results into design documents
* An ability to develop and apply information standards
* Knowledge and understanding of accessibility issues in human-computer interaction design
* Knowledge and understanding of UK government guidelines for designing websites, including metadata and controlled vocabulary standards
* Knowledge and understanding of the use content management and knowledge management software for enterprise solutions