Director, Disability Services and Student Support

Occidental College Careers • Los Angeles, CA

1d

About The Position

Reporting to the Professor/Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs, the Director of Disability Services and Student Support leads the Office of Disability Services and provides primary leadership for disability services at the College. The Director collaborates with campus partners to deliver education and training to the community on the lived experiences and needs of disabled students. The Director works directly with students requiring accommodations to ensure equal access to the College’s academic programs and provides support for students with a range of disabilities, including, but not limited to, medical, psychological, and learning disabilities. The Director oversees the student support programming of the office, which serves both students registered with the office and the broader student population. The Director also serves as a Student Success Advisor in partnership with the Dean of Students Office and is a member of Oxy’s Care Team.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Special Education, Counseling, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Seven years’ experience serving people with Disabilities.
• Two years of supervisory experience.
• Three years’ experience coordinating services to students with disabilities in a post-secondary setting.
• Knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and their application in student accommodation processes.
• Skilled in collaborating with faculty and campus partners to ensure students receive approved accommodation.
• Ability to provide education and training to campus partners to support the lived experiences and needs of students with disabilities.
• Ability to design and implement inclusive student success programming for students with diverse needs.
• Knowledge of Legal and ethical considerations for disability accommodations processes in higher education settings, Assistive technologies and accommodations utilized by students in higher education.
• Knowledge of disability service organizations in California and national associations for disability professions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google drives/folders/forms, Adobe Acrobat, Web Editing, and social media applications or any combination of productivity programs applicable to position responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and thorough; skilled at anticipating and preventing potential problems and handling a wide variety of tasks with efficiency and accuracy. Strong commitment to a quality work product.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally, in writing and electronically. Effective interpersonal skills as evidenced in the ability to collaborate with a variety of constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, inclusion & diversity.
• Demonstrated skill in adapting to and performing work effectively in high-volume, high accountability, confidential environment with multiple and changing priorities.
• Effective organizational, logistical, time management and planning skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks/projects simultaneously, prioritize and fulfill the functions of an office in a timely manner.
• Ability to self-motivate and work independently.
• Ability to provide effective leadership and training, and to work effectively and professionally across functions, disciplines, levels, and with diverse groups.
• Knowledge of contemporary leadership and management methods to ensure employee success and achievement, and demonstration of related and applicable skills as evidenced by the ability to effectively direct, assess and evaluate performance of direct reports.
• Ability to effectively design, define, describe and document job functions, responsibilities, tasks, and required qualifications associated with supervised positions, and the demonstrated skills in assessing candidates’ experience, knowledge, skills and abilities when hiring for vacant positions, ensuring the best choice of candidate.
• Ability to provide employee development, training and opportunities for direct reports to demonstrate performance achievement and success; recognizing performance of both above standards and needs improvement and respond accordingly.
• Skilled at communicating feedback verbally, in writing and electronically; and documenting performance via introductory and annual performance appraisals.
• Skilled in developing and determining corrective employment/performance/behavioral strategies, as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute performance improvement plans, conducting disciplinary action and/or determining the appropriateness of employment continuation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the functions of the Office of Disability Services, including the Testing Center. Provide leadership in developing and maintaining office policies and processes, guided by disability law and best practices under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Title III). Collaborate with key offices to advocate for and improve the lived experiences of students with disabilities on campus.
• Oversee the review, assessment, and approval of requests and documentation for academic and housing accommodations, ensuring compliance with disability law and institutional policy. Provide strategic guidance to staff in implementing accommodation and support services and advise faculty and other campus partners on academic flexibility for students unable to participate in class or activities due to illness, injury, or hospitalization. Develop, maintain, and communicate policies and procedures to ensure timely and accurate accommodation letters and support for students. Lead educational initiatives and training for faculty, staff, and the campus community to promote understanding of the needs and lived experiences of students with disabilities and collaborate with other offices to support students of concern across the College.
• Directly supervise the Disability Services Case Manager and the part-time Academic Success Coach graduate assistant, providing mentorship as needed. Coordinate the psycho-educational assessment program, co-supervising 1–2 graduate practicum students each academic year in collaboration with staff from Emmons. Co-supervise the Disability Services exam proctor (Department Coordinator).
• Oversee the maintenance of accurate and comprehensive records for students with disabilities, ensuring FERPA compliance and alignment with institutional policies. Lead the collection and analysis of annual data to identify trends, assess student needs, and inform program and policy development at the College level. Supervise staff in conducting student evaluations and reporting to internal and external stakeholders, including state and federal agencies.
• Lead faculty, staff, and student employee training initiatives to ensure the needs of students with disabilities are met and Disability Services policies and procedures are consistently implemented across the College. Provide strategic consultation and guidance to campus partners, including the Dean of Students Office, Writing Center, Residential Education and Housing Services, Office of Admissions, International Programs Office, department directors, academic advisors, faculty, staff, parents, Emmons Wellness Center, and other external partners on disability-related policy, programming, and student support initiatives.
• As a Student Success Advisor, provide strategic guidance to students navigating campus policies, procedures, and petitions, including those related to the Office of the Registrar, Student Progress Committee, Financial Aid, and Residential Education and Housing Services. Collaborate with the Dean of Students Office and other campus partners to ensure institutional practices support student success and equity. Supervise and mentor staff involved in student advising as needed.
• As a member of Oxy’s Care Team, provide strategic oversight of electronic Care reports and guide the team’s response to student needs. Lead weekly Care Team meetings and initiatives to promote the Culture of Care, ensuring students receive coordinated academic and personal support across the College. Supervise staff and coordinate campus resources to address complex student challenges.
• Provide leadership and strategic guidance on select College-wide committees related to student success, including the Student Progress Committee, Student Success Team (Care Team), Student Academic Success Committee, Retention and Persistence Committee, Faculty Pedagogy Committee, and Medical Leave Clearance Committee, to advance institutional priorities and student outcomes.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees