Director of Disability Services, Disability Services Department

Job Description:

The Director of Disability Services provides strategic and operational leadership for Mount Saint Mary's University's Disability Services department, ensuring that students with disabilities receive effective, equitable, and legally compliant access to academic programs, housing, and campus facilities. The Director oversees the interactive accommodations process, exam proctoring services, and grievance resolution, while supervising staff and managing departmental resources. The Director partners with legal counsel, faculty governance, Student Affairs, Facilities Management, and Information Technology/Instructional Design to develop sound policies, resolve student accommodation and access issues, and ensure digital and physical accessibility across campus. Through proactive training, communication, and community outreach, the Director cultivates a campus culture that upholds disability rights, promotes inclusion, and advances MSMU's mission of educating leaders in a supportive and accessible learning environment.

Work Location: Chalon Campus (West Los Angeles). Evening Shift.

Start Date: Immediately

Applications Deadline: Open until filled

Annual Salary Rate: $115,000.00

Monthly Salary Rate: $9,583.34

Hiring salary can be above the posted pay range if candidate's qualifications are determined to be above the minimum requirements of the position description

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Leadership:

a. Leads MSMU's Disability Services department, which handles disability accommodations for students, ensuring the services provided are effective, efficient, inclusive, and legally compliant
b. Supervises employees and manage the budget for the Disability Services department
c. Oversees the provision of exam proctoring services for students with disabilities
d. Develops appropriate policies and procedures in consultation with legal counsel, faculty, and university administrators
e. Provides training and professional development for Disability Services staff to grow their expertise in the provision of disability accommodations in a higher education setting
f. Creates a sense of community around disability rights, including outreach to faculty, staff, and students

2. Accommodations and Grievance Resolution:

a. Oversees the interactive process for reviewing and implementing reasonable academic accommodations for students with disabilities; participate in the interactive process on an as-needed basis (e.g. if staff are unavailable or the request is complicated)
b. Work collaboratively with faculty to resolve questions and concerns about applying accommodations in courses, consulting with external counsel as needed
c. Coordinate with Student Affairs and Facilities Management on the provision of reasonable housing accommodations and equal access to physical spaces on campus for students with disabilities
d. Receive, investigate, and respond to student complaints or grievances alleging disability discrimination or harassment, consulting with legal counsel as needed

3. Education and Training:

a. Designs and delivers regular training programs for faculty, staff, and students on disability needs and best practices in higher education
b. Works collaboratively with faculty committees within the faculty governance structure to develop transparent processes and procedures when needed
c. Oversees the dissemination of informational materials in a variety of formats (video, flyers, emails) about disability rights and responsibilities to the campus community
d. Ensures documentation of policies and procedures are visible and easily accessible to the campus community on the MSMU website, myMSMU, and myDSP portal

4. Compliance and Policies:

a. In consultation with legal counsel and campus stakeholders, develop appropriate policies, procedures, and grievance processes in the Disability Services department to ensure compliance with federal and state disability laws, including the ADA, Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and California-specific regulations
b. Participates in the development and modification of University policies to ensure continued ADA compliance and best practices
c. Maintains current knowledge of relevant disability laws, court decisions, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) guidance, and best practices in higher education to inform campus operations
d. Partners with the Office of Information Technology, Instructional Design, and other campus units to ensure that university websites, digital resources, and learning platforms meet accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
e. Prepares descriptive and evaluative reports for university leadership on compliance efforts
f. Serves as the primary point of contact for the campus community regarding student-related ADA/Section 504 concerns g. Collaborates with Facilities on a plan that outlines how the university will identify, prioritize, and remove physical barriers to accessibility

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serves as a backup testing coordinator as needed
• Collect and report relevant statistics
• Some weekends and evenings may be required
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Requirements:

Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), FERPA, Fair Housing Act, and California regulations related to accessibility
• Working knowledge of regulations related to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and WCAG 2.0. Familiarity with VPATs
• Familiarity with case law and Office of Civil Rights guidance related to disability services in higher education
• Familiarity with using assistive technologies (screen readers, captioning software, adaptive technologies)
• Knowledge of best practices for universal design and inclusive pedagogy
• Familiarity with physical accessibility requirements

Abilities and Skills:

• Ability to interpret psychological and/or educational testing and apply standards for providing accommodations
• Ability to formulate relevant policies, including grievance and appeals, and ensure appropriate documentation
• Ability to explain legal regulations to faculty, staff, and students

Education:

• Required: Bachelor's degree
• Preferred: Graduate degree in disability-related studies, counseling, education, or psychology

Experience:

• At least four years of experience leading disability services in a higher education setting
• Experience engaging with students in the interactive process for determining accommodations
• Experience with conflict resolution and mediation between students, faculty, and administration
• Experience supervising employees and leading teams of cross-functional employees
• Experience with Title IX investigations (preferred)
• Experience navigating the complexities of disability laws and regulations as they relate to higher education
• Experience with digital accessibility compliance
• Experience selecting and using assistive technologies

Additional Information:

Application Instructions:

Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application.