Qualifications
Responsibilities
Benefits
Job Description
The Office of Research has an outstanding opportunity for a Digital Solutions Specialist to join their team.
Reporting to the Executive Director of the Research Administration Collaborative, the Digital Solutions Specialist is responsible for translating operational needs and service opportunities into practical digital solutions, with particular emphasis on workflow automation, AI-enabled support tools, technology integration, data-informed services, and scalable digital service delivery. The Digital Solutions Specialist develops solutions using enterprise-licensed, and emerging, technology platforms, including but not limited to Microsoft Power Automate, Power BI, and UW-supported artificial intelligence tools.
Working closely with Business Analyst and User Experience functions, the position participates throughout the solution lifecycle from problem definition and requirements development through prototyping, testing, implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement. The position combines technical fluency with a strong understanding of business processes and user needs, ensuring that technology is applied purposefully rather than simply introducing new tools.
The Digital Solutions Specialist operates within established institutional technology, data governance, security, accessibility, and responsible AI requirements and collaborates with central technology partners when solutions require capabilities beyond the position's scope or authority.
Key Responsibilities30%: User-Centered Solution Design & Implementation
Design, build, and maintain digital solutions that improve the efficiency and reliability of research administration services.
• Develop workflow automations using Microsoft Power Automate and other approved platforms.
• Translate defined business requirements into functional workflows, applications, dashboards, and digital tools.
• Prototype, test, deploy, document, and maintain solutions through an iterative development lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities to replace repetitive manual processes with sustainable, scalable solutions.
• Point person for defining and requesting improvements to existing tools as well as new tools
25%: AI-Enabled Services & Intelligent Automation
Develop and responsibly implement AI-enabled tools that improve access to information, decision support, and administrative services.
• Build and configure UW-supported AI agents for defined research administration use cases.
• Develop agent instructions, knowledge sources, workflows, and guardrails in partnership with subject matter experts.
• Test AI outputs for accuracy, reliability, usability, and appropriate escalation to human expertise.
• Monitor deployed solutions and refine them based on performance, user feedback, and evolving requirements.
• Manage small-scale technical projects including gathering business requirements and authoring specifications
20%: Technology Integration & Digital Service Delivery
Support an integrated digital service environment that connects users, information, workflows, and institutional systems.
• Configure solutions that connect approved platforms, data sources, and business processes.
• Develop reusable components and approaches that can scale across services and user groups.
• Partner with institutional technology teams when solutions require enterprise integrations, advanced development, or system-level changes.
• Maintain appropriate technical and operational documentation for supported solutions.
• Evaluates new information, system products, or services as opportunities arise and suggests changes to existing products or services to better aid the end user
10%: Data, Reporting & Service Intelligence
Use data and reporting tools to improve operational visibility and support service decisions.
• Develop Power BI reports and dashboards that translate operational data into useful service information.
• Automate recurring reporting and data preparation where appropriate.
• Collaborate with business owners to define meaningful measures and reporting requirements.
• Support monitoring of digital solution adoption, performance, and effectiveness.
10%: User-Centered Solution Design & Implementation
Partner across disciplines to ensure digital solutions address real operational and user needs.
• Relationship management with external stakeholders and internal IM groups.
• Collaborate with Business Analyst and User Experience colleagues to define problems, requirements, and user needs before development.
• Engage users in prototyping, testing, and evaluation of proposed solutions.
• Adapt deployment, communication, and support approaches for different user populations and levels of technical experience.
• Incorporate user feedback and service data into iterative improvements.
• Advise clients on best practices
5%: Technology Stewardship & Continuous Improvement
Support responsible and sustainable adoption of emerging technologies within research administration.
• Evaluate emerging capabilities for potential research administration applications.
• Promote appropriate standards for solution documentation, maintainability, accessibility, and responsible AI use.
• Share reusable approaches, lessons learned, and technical knowledge with colleagues.
• Contribute to digital service planning and prioritization.
Required QualificationsTo be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.
• Experience designing, configuring, or implementing technology-enabled business solutions.
• Experience translating business or user requirements into functional digital solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply low-code/no-code, automation, analytics, or AI platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple solution-development efforts from concept through implementation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with technical specialists, business stakeholders, and end users.
• Experience with Microsoft Power Platform, including Power Automate and Power BI.
• Experience developing or configuring AI assistants, agents, copilots, or related generative AI applications.
• Experience with API-based integrations, structured data, connectors, or enterprise information systems.
• Familiarity with user-centered design, business process analysis, Agile or iterative development methods.
• Experience working in higher education, research administration, or another complex regulated environment.
• Familiarity with data governance, information security, accessibility, and responsible AI practices.
Core Competencies
• Applied technical problem solving: Selects and applies appropriate technologies to defined operational problems.
• User-centered mindset: Designs solutions around user needs, work contexts, accessibility, and usability.
• Systems thinking: Understands relationships among processes, people, data, policies, and technologies.
• Iterative delivery: Moves effectively from concept to prototype, testing, deployment, and improvement.
• Digital stewardship: Builds solutions that are supportable, documented, governed, and sustainable.
• Collaborative practice: Works effectively across operational, analytical, UX, and technical disciplines.
• Learning agility: Evaluates and applies rapidly evolving technologies appropriately.
About the TeamThe Office of Research is led by the Vice Provost for Research and oversees three administrative units: Human Subjects Division (HSD), Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), and Office of Research Information Services (ORIS).
https://research.washington.edu/research/
Compensation, Benefits and Position Details
Pay Range Minimum:
$108,000.00 annualPay Range Maximum:
$132,000.00 annualOther Compensation:
-Benefits:
For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)Temporary or Regular?
This is a regular positionFTE (Full-Time Equivalent):
100.00%Union/Bargaining Unit:
Not Applicable
Our team will look into this right away.
