Background

The Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) is a collaborative effort between the US Forest Service Northwest Avalanche Center and the nonprofit Northwest Avalanche Center. Our mission is to increase avalanche awareness, reduce avalanche impacts, and equip the community with mountain weather and avalanche forecasts, education, and data. This position is funded and managed by the 501(c)(3) non-profit arm of NWAC.

NWAC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and gender non-conforming candidates to apply.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced UX Designer to lead the redesign of our website, nwac.us, into a website that supports multiple avalanche centers. In this role, you will collaborate with avalanche center staff, tech committee volunteers, designers, avalanche professionals, and researchers to create a user-centered, intuitive, and visually appealing website. Your expertise will be crucial in ensuring our website effectively serves multiple avalanche centers across the US and provides critical information to our community.

A demonstrated ability to operate with foresight and use areas of expertise to drive the collective team forward is highly valued for this position.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Work with PM to conduct user research to understand the needs, behaviors, and pain points of our target audience.
  • Develop wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that reflect user needs and project requirements.
  • Conduct usability testing to gather feedback and iterate on designs.
  • Ensure the website is accessible, responsive, and optimized for various devices and browsers.
  • Work closely with developers to implement design solutions and ensure design integrity throughout the development process.
  • Maintain and update design documentation, including style guides and design specifications.

Required Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in UX design, with a strong portfolio showcasing web design projects.
  • Proficiency in figma.
  • Familiarity with Content Management Systems (CMS) and web accessibility standards.
  • Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
  • Experience conducting user research, usability testing, and data analysis.
  • Knowledge of HTML/CSS/JavaScript is a plus.

Desired Attributes

  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote team environment.
  • Ability to work independently without support of other designers or design supervision. 
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to proactively recognize and address minor issues that could grow into larger problems.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks, troubleshoot unforeseen issues, and quickly pivot from one task to the next when needed.
  • Efficient work habits and time management skills, including the ability to estimate, plan, and manage tasks and report on progress in a remote environment.
  • Familiarity with NWAC or other avalanche centers’ existing functionalities and products is a plus.

Position Details

  • Job Type: Contractor
  • Pay: $80/hour
  • Schedule: ~20/week for three months with the possibility of expansion
  • Work Location: Remote, but Seattle area preferred

How to Apply

Interested applicants can send their resume and portfolio to charlotte@nwac.us. Please write “UX Designer” in the subject line of your email. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The expected start date is mid to late October.