Senior Digital Accessibility Specialist

University of North Dakota•Grand Forks, ND

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Digital Accessibility Specialist is a University leader in digital accessibility. The position is responsible for identifying, planning, and implementing strategic initiatives and overall coordination of the University’s digital accessibility compliance. The position acts as a liaison for the department to internal and external partners on digital accessibility issues. The position develops strategic roadmaps to ensure University operations align with accessibility requirements. The Senior Digital Accessibility Specialist is responsible for evaluating and testing software, web/mobile applications, and other digital content to ensure compliance with accessibility standards, including as part of the University’s procurement process. The position also develops and presents digital accessibility education to students and employees.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Five years of experience in digital accessibility compliance and concepts
Two years of experience teaching and/or creating and leading training
Two years of experience reviewing and assessing completed VPATs (ACRs)
Two years of experience testing accessibility of mobile apps, websites, and digital documents
Thorough knowledge of digital content remediation processes, including reviewing and remediating PDFs with Adobe Acrobat Pro
Thorough knowledge of WCAG standards at various levels
Thorough knowledge of how people with different disabilities use technology and the implications of their different needs.
Experience using Excel, Word, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and PowerPoint or other presentation software, with specific knowledge of accessibility functions
Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or higher in related field
Experience working within university environment
Experience working with PREP or another PDF Remediation Platform
Experience working with accessibility integration to LaTeX, InDesign, and similar specialized software
Certifications/credentials relevant to duties, e.g., DHS Trusted Tester Certification, IAAP certifications, etc.

Responsibilities

Oversee University’s digital accessibility compliance
Lead UND’s efforts to comply with applicable digital accessibility regulations and standards
Maintain deep technical knowledge of digital accessibility compliance to serve as UND’s expert in this regard
Maintain superior knowledge of current trends, new technologies, and best practices within the digital accessibility field
Provide guidance and consultation to ensure effective technical implementation of digital accessibility requirements
Identify inaccessible content, advise content owners of inaccessibility, escalate any continued noncompliance with accessibility requirements to ADA Coordinator for further management
Lead or participate in evaluation of RFPs and RFIs related to digital accessibility
Collaborate with Procurement & Payment Systems to develop and continually improve processes for purchasing and deploying software and other digital content in compliance with accessibility requirements
Develop and maintain University policies and procedures to support digital accessibility compliance
Develop and maintain a process for evaluating and assessing the University’s compliance with digital accessibility requirements
Serve on or lead, as applicable, University committees and working groups related to digital accessibility
Review, test, and facilitate remediation of digital content for compliance with accessibility standards
Independently review and assess ACRs for compliance with UND policy and appropriate technical standards.
Independently determine whether accessibility standards are met.
If accessibility standards are not met, follow appropriate procedures to address noncompliance.
Independently manually test high impact web content and applications for compliance with accessibility criteria.
Independently determine whether accessibility standards are met.
Communicate accessibility concerns and barriers effectively with key stakeholders.
Utilize technical expertise and problem-solving skills to work with stakeholders and vendors to resolve issues and/or develop alternative access plans
Provide technical assistance and direction to facilitate remediation of digital content
Independently develop, design, and facilitate presentations and training on relevant WCAG and/or other digital accessibility standards
Provide guidance on accessible digital content.