Job Description

Applications Developer at Southern Methodist University Inc

Salary Range: 

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, hands-on research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. The University offers a strong foundation in the humanities and sciences and undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs through eight schools.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is increasingly recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical leaders in their professions and communities. The University’s entrepreneurial spirit lives in people from every academic discipline who see opportunities to create something new in the world – and work hard to bring their innovations to life. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for our students, faculty and alumni to make a global impact. On the most beautiful college campus in the country, SMU Mustangs are energized by unbridled opportunities – from teaching, learning and research to creativity, performance and athletic endeavor.

About the Department:

Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body.

DEA comprises the offices of Office of the Vice President, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Development Services, Program Services and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, and School and Project Development.

SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fund-raising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.

About the Position:

The Applications Developer serves as a resource on a technical team charged with providing maintenance, custom development, and cross-platform integration capability for software applications used by Development and External Affairs (DEA).  Examples include Blackbaud CRM 4.0, (BBEC), Insight Reporting, Cvent Event Management, and GradAdvance Crowdfunding. 

Key duties include development of technical and functional solutions architectures, design, development and testing of new customizations; and support / troubleshooting of Production applications.  Success requires a solid technical skill set, good analytical and problem solving ability, extensive coding experience, and familiarity with software development methodology and best practices.

Position job title will be at a Applications Developer or Senior Applications Developer dependent on experience and qualifications.

Essential Functions:

System Software Development
Serves as a senior resource for all custom software initiatives, including web development and API-based system integration, needed to support DEA business operations.
Participates in Quality Assurance testing and release of all custom software, including test plan preparation.
Participates in development of and complies with programming standards.
Participates in documentation of all development efforts.
Requires solid, broad-based technical skill set, coding and troubleshooting expertise, and familiarity with software development methodology and testing practices.
Technical Solutions Architecture Delivery
Provides assistance to Team Lead to develop technical solution alternatives to efficiently use the tools and environments available.
Works closely with Business Systems Analysts (BSAs) to provide technical input to the design process. Consults with customers to evaluate current and emerging development needs.
Requires experience eliciting requirements, a solid technical skill set, and familiarity with current business processes.

Technical / Application Support
Serves as a key DMS resource for analysis and resolution of all DEA production software issues. 
Supports technical testing for upgrades and ongoing maintenance required by DEA’s BBEC application.
Requires knowledge of technical architecture of DEA applications, familiarity with the Microsoft technical “stack” that underlies key in-house applications, and skill researching, evaluating, developing solution alternatives for problems and issues.
Systems Analysis / Custom Software Application Design.
Serves as consultant to BSAs and customers to analyze existing business processes and software capability, define emerging automated processing requirements, identify gaps, and develop design specifications for software customizations.
Plays a significant role in confirmation of new business processes that will reflect new customized software capabilities. Requires solid knowledge of DEA business functions, software design modeling and documentation techniques, and current software application features.
Project Management
Responsible for daily entry of status information that includes work log, Estimate to Complete (ETC), and documentation regarding progress and issues using the DMS automated project tracking toolset.
Responsible for estimating assigned projects.
Requires familiarity with Agile project methodology, and strong knowledge of the DMS automated project management toolset.
Functional BBEC User Support
Participates with all members of the DMS team in monitoring/responding to requests for assistance from DEA application users via the departmental Help Desk.  Requests may involve technical or functional issue resolution, explanation, or training.
Requires solid knowledge of the DEA software application suite, and good communication skills.
Occasional evening or weekend work required.  Examples include working after hours to provide critical production system support or meet a hard deadline for a deliverable; working on weekends to support system upgrades or issue testing and resolution.  Regular after hours responsibilities can include collaborative monitoring of the BBEC Help Desk.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Bachelor’s is preferred. Degree in Computer Science, Technology, or Engineering, desired.

A minimum of five years of work experience in software development and working with large relational databases is required. Experience with analysis of business problems and development of solution alternatives is also required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidates must demonstrate strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to forge strong working relationships and manage interests of multiple stakeholders. Must also demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing. A strong customer service orientation is essential.

Candidates must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify the need for corrective action and develop alternatives. Must also have strong analytical skills.

Candidates must possess strong organizational, planning and time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities under deadlines. A strong focus on attention to detail is essential.

Proficiency/familiarity/ability to apply the following is required:

Structured Query Language (SQL), Visual Basic.NET software framework, MS Visual Studio IDECore Microsoft technical stack components: e.g. SQL Server RDBMS, IISStandard and emerging tools needed for efficient development, including web development: e.g. XML, JSON, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, AngularJSMicrosoft Office tools, especially Excel and AccessUse of available APIs to support cross-platform integration.Experience with project management (estimating, tracking), preferred. Experience or knowledge of advancement/fundraising business processes desired. Experience with documentation of processes, problems, requirements, and solutions is a plus.

Experience with CRM functionality, preferred. Experience with Microsoft-based technical environments, desired. Experience in multiple environments including web-based is a plus.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time deadline to Apply:

The position is open until filled.

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by January 13, 2023.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU’s retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.