Creative Technologist

About the Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY

Northeastern University is looking for a Creative Technologist to join its storytelling operation. The role focuses primarily on the design and development of Northeastern Global News (NGN) our award-winning news organization. This role invents and builds interactive storytelling experiencesmultimedia features new story formats and data visualizationsthat help audiences understand complex topics clearly and quickly. The Creative Technologist will collaborate closely with reporters editors photographers videographers and developers in a fast-moving newsroom environment taking projects from concept through launch and helping shape how journalism is presented and experienced across NGNs digital platforms.

The ideal candidate is a creative builder who can prototype quickly iterate confidently and ship polished work under deadline. They have a strong front-end portfolio demonstrating design excellence storytelling instincts and web development expertise with a proven ability to work collaboratively across disciplines. They can translate complex ideas into clear intuitive digital experiences with clean well-organized code. This role requires creative ownership and hands-on technical execution while working as part of a broader digital team with shared standards reviews and workflows.

This role reports to the Director of Digital Engagement within the Office of Communications in Northeasterns External Affairs team. Northeastern is a global research university with 14 campuses in three countries. The universitys Communications strategy focuses on promoting the university its faculty students and community by showcasing global leadership and innovation across the enterprise.

This position is fully in-person based on Northeasterns Boston campus. Like all positions in the Office of Communications after-hours and weekend work are routinely required. Experience in higher education is not needed for this position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors degree

• 5-8 years of job experience

• Professional experience designing and building interactive digital experiences in a journalism media or publishing environment.

• A portfolio demonstrating interactive or experiential digital storytelling projects that ranges from quick turnaround work to more long-term ambitious projects.

• Strong proficiency in HTML CSS and JavaScript.

• Working knowledge of object-oriented PHP with the ability to read understand and extend existing application or component code.

• Familiarity with and willingness to use AI-assisted design and development tools.

• Strong visual and interactive design instincts including typography layout motion hierarchy responsive design.

• Ability to take projects from concept to prototype to production while shaping and iterating on ideas collaboratively.

• Familiarity with Git/GitHub code review processes and modern development workflows.

• Ability to write clean organized and maintainable code.

• Understanding of web accessibility standards and inclusive design practices.

• Strong communication skills and collaborative mindset comfortable working at a newsroom pace.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Identify stories that benefit from interactive or experiential treatment and conceptualize appropriate approaches that go beyond traditional article formats.

• Design and build interactive storytelling experiences from prototype through launch working collaboratively and incorporating feedback throughout the process.

• Translate complex ideas narratives and data into clear engaging digital experiences.

• Build both quick-turnaround visual elements and more complex immersive projects.

• Build mobile-first responsive accessible experiences that follow NGN brand guidelines using HTML/CSS/JavaScript and appropriate visualization tools.

• Work within and extend existing systems including object-oriented PHP-based components following team best practices and workflows and participating in code reviews to ensure all work is maintainable and reusable.

• Collaborate closely with writers editors designers and developers on story packaging considering layout image placement typography visual hierarchy color and motion.

• Communicate timelines tradeoffs and technical constraints clearly to project stakeholders.

• Stay current on evolving tools techniques and best practices in digital journalism.

Job Duties

Hands-on Technical Execution and Engineering

• Design build and ship interactive features data visualizations and custom story formats using HTML CSS JavaScript and other visualization technologies

• Extend and maintain existing object-oriented PHP-based components and systems adhering to established architectural patterns coding standards and workflows

• Write clean maintainable and reusable code; participate in peer code reviews and technical discussions to ensure code quality and long-term maintainability

• Build mobile-first responsive and accessible experiences that meet WCAG standards and NGN brand guidelines

• Troubleshoot debug and optimize performance across browsers devices and platforms

• Apply emerging tools including AI-assisted development tools to improve efficiency experimentation and production workflows

Interactive Storytelling & Experience Design

• Primary focus: conceptualization narrative translation and experience design informed by technical expertise

• Identify stories that would benefit from interactive or experiential treatment and propose appropriate technical and design approaches

• Translate complex narratives data or abstract research concepts into clear intuitive and engaging digital formats

• Design interactive patterns layouts motions and visual hierarchies

• Rapidly prototype concepts to test ideas iterate based on feedback and refine experiences prior to coding and launch

Cross-functional Collaboration & Project Communication

• Work closely with reporters editors designers photographers videographers and developers throughout the lifecycle of projects

• Communicate timelines technical constraints tradeoffs and feasibility clearly to non-technical stakeholders

• Balance editorial ambition with technical scope deadlines and available resources

• Contribute to shared standards documentation and best practices across the digital team

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience education and skills when extending an offer.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race religion color national origin age sex sexual orientation disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above the starting salary will depend on several factors which may include your education experience location knowledge and expertise and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.