USC Application – Digital Accessibility Director

The University of Southern California (USC) is a leading private research university located in Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology and international business. As the city’s largest private employer, responsible for more than $5 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic schools and units. As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks, and you will be a member of the Trojan Family – the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make USC a great place to work.

The Office

The Office of Institutional Accessibility, ADA/504 Coordinator is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance and oversight of all matters related to access for individuals with disabilities, in collaboration with schools, divisions, governmental agencies and advocacy groups supporting students, faculty, staff and visitors. The office develops and implements policies and procedures for ensuring campus facilities and programs are accessible to the entire Trojan Family, including students, faculty, staff, and guests. USC is committed to the full accessibility of our programs and activities and is currently growing its Digital Accessibility program to ensure that its digital portfolio is accessible.

The Position

The Office of Institutional Accessibility is seeking an experienced professional to serve as the University’s

Digital Accessibility Director

. The Director will oversee the implementation of the university’s Digital Accessibility Policy and related governance structures to ensure that the institution’s digital portfolio (e.g., websites, applications, data management systems, etc.) is accessible and compliant with all applicable laws. The Director will define strategy, processes, and approaches to guide university stakeholders in this area, consistently refining approaches to meet the latest requirements and expectations. The individual will collaborate with a diverse group of campus leaders, including IT, communications, and disability services professionals to prioritize, facilitate, and ensure digital accessibility in all units’ products and services. The Director will oversee a team of professional staff responsible for outreach, training, and technical remediation and will develop and implement digital accessibility procurement efforts. The Director oversees the development and implementation of a robust and differentiated digital accessibility training program for a diverse set of university stakeholders. As a unit within USC’s Office of Culture, Ethics, and Compliance, the Director will oversee ongoing compliance assessments, monitoring, and University-level remediation efforts. At the individual unit-level, the Director will develop and oversee remediation strategies for inaccessible assets and lead complex remediation projects with stakeholders across USC’s schools and divisions. Reporting to the Audit, Risk, and Privacy Committee of the Board of Trustees, the Director will develop and implement strategic goals, milestones, and key activities for the University in the area of digital accessibility.

Key Accountabilities Include:

• Develops and implements a strategic digital accessibility vision for the University, defining processes and approaches to guide university stakeholders in alignment of the vision
• Develops and implements policies, practices, and procedures related to the design, selection, implementation, and maintenance of accessible technology and digital materials for core Digital Accessibility areas, e.g. procurement, software selection, web content development, academic platforms, social media, etc.
• Designs and oversees outreach efforts and communications to increase awareness of Digital Accessibility. Leads efforts to develop a robust collection of trainings, resources, and related materials to promote the university’s programs for technology accessibility.
• Collaborates with key colleagues in the university community to implement accessibility best practices. Oversees training program to provide guidance on principles, tools, and techniques for members of the university who develop web content, maintain websites and/or other technology platforms, e.g. school-level technology directors, colleagues in Central ITS, webmasters, instructional designers, etc.
• Contributes to the development of processes to collect, analyze, and disseminate data and reports on current EIT Accessibility plans/programs; lead university efforts for continuous improvement in area.
• Ability to communicate and build positive relationships with stakeholders of all levels, including senior leaders, faculty, and staff who select, create, and maintain digital assets; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; Ability to positively influence others; Ability to work independently and attain project goals with minimal direct supervision.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Assistive Technology, or related field.
• Seven years’ experience in digital accessibility or related accessibility field.
• One or more of the following or ability to obtain within one year of hire: Certified Professional in accessibility Core Competencies (CPAAC), ADA Coordinator Training Certification Program (ACTCP), Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), The Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP)
• Strong understanding of universal design and ability to guide faculty and staff in meeting digital accessibility standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices for accessible documents, media, and other digital tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Assistive Technology, or related field.

T he annual base salary range for this position is $ 152,217.14 – $ 185,816 .00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree Minimum Certifications: One or more of the following: Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC); ADA Coordinator Training Certification Program (ACTCP); Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA); The Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP). Minimum Experience: 7 years Minimum Skills: Strong understanding of universal design and ability to guide faculty and staff in meeting digital accessibility standards. Demonstrable knowledge of best practices for accessible documents, media, and other digital tools. Demonstrable understanding of relevant legislation, regulations, and compliance requirements for higher education, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG). Demonstrable knowledge of captioning and transcription production for video and audio files. Experience with assistive technology (e.g., screen readers, magnifiers, or optical character recognition software). Experience conducting and assessing training sessions and workshops and/or teaching experience. Ability to communicate and build positive relationships with all stakeholders including faculty, staff, and students. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills. Ability to work independently and attain project goals with minimal direct supervision.