AY27 - Academic Director, Disabled Support Programs & Services Students

Los Angeles Community College District • Monterey Park, CA

27d

About The Position

East Los Angeles College (ELAC), part of the Los Angeles Community College District, is hiring an Academic Director for Disabled Support Programs & Services (DSPS). ELAC serves more than 28,000 diverse students across its Monterey Park and South Gate campuses and is committed to equity, access, and student success. DSPS supports an accessible and inclusive educational experience for students with disabilities through accommodations, counseling, adaptive instruction, and assistive technology.

Reporting to the Vice President of Student Services, the Academic Director provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for DSPS programs and services. The Director leads program development, personnel and budget administration, regulatory compliance, and collaboration across the college and with community partners. The role is responsible for delivering high-quality, compliant, student-centered services that promote access, equity, and student achievement.

The position is listed as 1.0 FTE and A BASIS. The position is contingent upon available funding. The current salary range is $151,452–$177,828 annually; an additional doctoral stipend of $6,288 per academic year is available for candidates with an accredited doctorate. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents, term life insurance, and State Teachers Retirement System programs.

Requirements

• Meet one of the listed education and qualification pathways: a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling; specified master's degrees plus required counseling-related and disability-related coursework; a specified master's degree plus disability counseling coursework or qualifying experience; a master's degree or equivalent foreign degree in disability, special education, education, psychology, educational psychology, or rehabilitation counseling plus 15 semester units of upper-division or graduate disability study; or a master's degree plus one year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment.
• Have at least one year of full-time experience or equivalent in a qualifying area: instruction or counseling in higher education programs for students with disabilities; administration of a higher education disability program; teaching, counseling, or administration in secondary education programs predominantly or exclusively serving students with disabilities; or administrative or supervisory work predominantly or exclusively related to persons with disabilities.
• Demonstrate cultural competency and enthusiasm for serving community college students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, gender identity, sexual orientation, racial, and cultural backgrounds, including students with differing physical or learning abilities.
• Demonstrate commitment to equity, inclusion, and serving diverse student populations.
• Have knowledge of the California Community College mission and DSPS regulations and expertise in federal and state disability-services laws.
• Have strong leadership, organizational, and supervisory skills.
• Be able to manage complex budgets and multiple funding streams.
• Be able to analyze data and develop measurable outcomes for program improvement.
• Have effective oral and written communication skills.
• Be able to collaborate across departments and with external partners.
• Have conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills in a student-centered environment.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of administrative leadership in DSPS or similar programs.
• Experience managing budgets, grants, and categorical funding.
• Experience with assistive technology and accessibility tools.
• Experience supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and ASL services.
• Proven ability to lead program innovation and expansion.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, planning, and oversight for DSPS programs, including Adaptive Kinesiology, the High Tech Center, and specialized instructional services.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, including ADA, ADAAA, Section 504, FERPA, and Title 5.
• Direct daily DSPS operations, service delivery, program evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Provide supervision and support for faculty, and supervise and evaluate classified professionals and student employees.
• Develop, manage, and monitor program budgets, grants, and fiscal resources.
• Oversee data collection, MIS reporting, program review, and audit and accreditation processes.
• Serve as the college's primary resource on disability access, accommodations, and compliance.
• Coordinate services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, including ASL support services.
• Lead the DSPS Advisory Committee and campus-wide disability awareness initiatives.
• Collaborate with instructional and student services areas to support equitable access to programs and facilities.
• Train and consult with faculty and staff on accessibility and inclusive practices.
• Build partnerships with K–12 districts, community organizations, and external agencies, including the Department of Rehabilitation and the Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled.
• Address and resolve student and faculty concerns related to accommodations and services.
• Research and implement emerging technologies to improve accessibility and service delivery.
• Represent DSPS on campus and district committees.

Benefits

• Medical insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
• Dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
• Vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
• Term life insurance.
• State Teachers Retirement System programs.
• Additional doctoral stipend of $6,288 per academic year for applicants with a doctorate from an accredited institution.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director