IT Accessibility Coordinator

Description

The IT Accessibility Coordinator will be the primary accessibility technology expert for campus with responsibility for the support, technical direction, assessment, and implementation of new and existing technologies at Portland State University. As part of its core values, PSU is committed to “promote access, inclusion, and equity as pillars of excellence.” This position will support that ethos by assessing that University technologies are in compliance with State and Federal accessibility requirements, as well as the institution’s commitment to access, equity, and Universal Design.

Housed in the Office of Information Technology (OIT), this position will collaborate extensively with campus accessibility advocates including: the ADA/504 Coordinator in Global Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of General Counsel, the student Disability Resource Center, University Communications, Human Resources, the Office of Academic Innovation, and more.

An overview of the job duties for this position are as follows:

Develop Web Accessibility Capabilities-

Define and work towards a goal of a fully accessible public web presence. Take a leading position within the University in developing standards of practice and uniform business processes that adhere to WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA guidelines.

Project Management-

In collaboration with key stakeholders, develop a prioritized list of electronic and information technology (EIT) accessibility needs. Organize large-scale audit and remediation projects, present status reports, and develop strategies for continual improvements towards compliance with the PSU EIT Accessibility policy and Universal Design.

Web Accessibility Technology Training and Support-

Act as the primary web accessibility trainer for the campus community, ranging from academic and administrative executives to faculty and other campus partners. Build and maintain extensive resources for the campus community to reference in support of online accessibility.

Evaluate Products and Services for Accessibility-

Develop tools and processes for evaluating technology assets, platforms, and services for their ability to comply with accessibility standards. Identify and prioritize accessibility issues and communicate with vendors, content owners, application owners, and on-campus stakeholders.

Portland State University (PSU) is a thriving campus of 27,000 students in downtown Portland, easily accessible by bike and public transit and surrounded by many restaurants, food carts, parks, and local businesses. PSU is committed to offering opportunity to students from a variety of backgrounds, and prides itself on providing access for low-income and nontraditional students. Our motto to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to finding innovative, sustainable solutions to local and global problems. Our location in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities gives our students unmatched access to career connections and an internationally acclaimed culture scene.

PSU’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) empowers students, faculty, and staff through technology, and has been ranked on the Computerworld Best Places to Work in IT in the nation for two years running. Our number one value is our employees: we support a culture of inclusion, actively encourage a healthy work-life balance, and strive to support our employees professionally and personally. PSU offers an impressive tuition discount and we encourage our staff to take advantage of this, be it for pursuing a degree or personal interest. We are a department of dynamic, engaged, collaborative, and communicative people, and seek to attract more of the same. Read more about why we’re a great place to work at https://www.pdx.edu/oit/employment

Academic & Technology Services (ATS) facilitates the use and understanding of technology to connect the campus’s needs with the best IT solutions. Our support teams are the first stop for tens of thousands of campus community members in need of technology assistance each year. The ATS teams are customer-focused and have specializations in the design, planning, deployment, support, and administration of the core academic and business tools as well as technology-driven learning spaces.

Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, OR any combination of 3 years experience in project management, accessibility, or web design/development.

• Experience creating accessible content in accordance with accessibility standards for web sites, documents, or other digital assets.

• Strong commitment to accessibility principles and the concept of Universal Design.

• Project management skills including communication, organization, facilitation and independent decision making.

• Ability to synthesize complex concepts or criteria and develop into concise written form (such as best-practice guidelines, support articles, project plans, and status reports).

• Exceptional oral communication skills including presenting in front of an audience and delivering technical concepts to non technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience with accessibility principles related to web technologies, multimedia, and digital document design.

• Experience providing oversight for EIT accessibility solutions in a higher education environment.

• Experience developing training and/or presentation materials, either in group or one on one settings.

• Hands-on experience supporting industry leading assistive technologies such as JAWS, NVDA, ZoomText, and Dragon Naturally Speaking.

• Professional experience utilizing automated accessibility audit and quality assurance tools and processes.

• Formal project management experience or certification.

• Proven record of exceptional customer service that creates a welcoming and supportive environment.

• Demonstrated experience working with technology vendors and service providers (procurement, implementation, modification/customization, incident remediation, etc.).

• Creativity to review solutions and processes critically to make recommendations for continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated experience working with people with disabilities.

Key Cultural Competencies

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.

• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.

• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.

• Adheres to all PSU policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.