Sr Director, Accessibility Services

Job Description

REQUIRED: Resume and Cover Letter

The Sr Director of Accessibility Services' responsibilities include providing leadership and supervision, ensuring the delivery of services and resources, and overseeing education and outreach. The Sr Director will develop and articulate a shared vision for accessibility, involving students, staff, and faculty. The Sr Director is responsible for planning and directing services for students with accessibility needs at all five (5) UR schools, as well as supporting the accessibility and accommodation needs of UR employees. The Sr Director provides ongoing, collaborative education and outreach regarding accessibility services for members of the UR community, prospective students, parents and other constituencies. As Sr Director, they supervise staff members, allocate resources, and oversee programmatic initiatives. This role also serves as a member of the Health and Well-being Leadership Team.

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

LEADERSHIP and SUPERVISION (50%):

The Sr Director will develop and articulate a shared vision for campus accessibility, involving students, staff, and faculty. The Sr Director supervises staff members, allocates resources, and oversees programmatic initiatives.

• Develops annual objectives and long-term goals for student accessibility that align with Health and Well-being, the Division of Student Development, and Human Resources goals
• Develops and utilizes various short- and long-term assessments to determine the needs of students and employees with disabilities and accessibility needs, and identifies and implements strategies to address those needs
• Allocates and monitors budget and staff resources
• Articulates the vision of student accessibility to all members of the UR community; serves as a subject matter expert and the point of contact for various campus committees regarding accessibility
• Supervises, evaluates and professionally develops staff members, keeping them current with best practices and legal issues impacting student accessibility
• Evaluates and updates, as needed, accessibility policies and procedures and guidelines for verification of disability/need for students and employees requesting accommodations and services

SERVICES and RESOURCES (30%):

The Sr Director is responsible for planning and directing services for students with accessibility and accommodation needs at all five (5) UR schools, as well as helping support those needs for UR employees.

• Reviews disability documentation, evaluates requests for accommodation, advocates for students when needed, and provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations based on current laws, regulations, and best practices
• Consults with HR partners in review of employee requests and accommodations
• Serves as the University's ADA Coordinator
• Works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students in five (5) schools to ensure that approved accommodations are provided effectively and efficiently
• Processes student intakes and maintains an ongoing caseload
• Generates creative and practical solutions to address current and emerging needs, including accommodating students in online learning environments
• Identifies, promotes, and oversees opportunities for students and employees with disabilities and accessibility needs to fully participate in the University of Richmond experience
• Provides input to Facilities Management, Residence Life and Housing, and other departments in the development of a campus-wide accessibility plan, including the physical landscape.
• Supports the Director in grievance and appeal-related processes involving student accommodations
• Partners with Human Resources to resolve complex employment situations regarding accommodations and other ADA requirements

EDUCATION & OUTREACH (20%):

The Sr Director provides ongoing, collaborative education and outreach regarding accessibility services for members of the UR community, prospective students, parents and other constituencies.

• Develops educational/informational materials and presentations for faculty, staff and students to promote consideration, active inclusion, and removal of barriers for people with disabilities and those in need of accommodations.
• Consults with the Faculty Hub and the Weinstein Learning Center (WLC) on Universal Design (UD) principles
• Reviews and recommends updates to the student accessibility website in consultation with the HWB operations team
• Serves as a collaborative expert by working with General Counsel and educating faculty and staff on appropriate accommodations in compliance with University policy and equal access laws
• Collaborates with the Division of Inclusion and Belonging to improve the campus climate around disability and access
• Serves on Division- and University-wide advisory committees and working groups related to accessibility
• Actively engages in meetings and programs with Deans Offices, colleagues, division-wide activities, staff development programs, and professional development opportunities
• Other duties as assigned

CONTACTS:

• All aspects of the University community including students, staff, faculty, and parents/families
• Regular direct contact with University Counsel's Office, HR partners and faculty/staff, and the Director of Inclusion and Belonging (in the Division of Inclusion and Belonging)
• External contact with prospective parents/families and external partners providing accommodation services

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: provides direct supervision of at least 3 professional and part-time staff and indirect supervision of student workers

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT: Requires employee to work mainly inside in an office environment and travel to other locations on campus for meetings and events

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required knowledge, skills & ability:

• Knowledge and understanding of the application of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the subsequent ADAAA, and court decisions and agency rulings as they relate to the higher education context
• Ability to interpret a wide variety of disability diagnostic assessments and determine accommodations
• Proven experience developing and implementing policies, procedures, and best practices related to accessibility and inclusion
• Ability to complete multiple tasks with competing priorities; manage and organize work to consistently meet deadlines
• Working knowledge of assistive technology and adaptive equipment
• Ability to develop and maintain partnerships among multiple stakeholders, both on and off campus

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience as a director or other leadership role in a college/university disability/accessibility services office
• Experience supervising professional staff
• Experience working with administration/management at all levels
• Knowledge of Universal Design (UD) learning styles, strategies, and techniques

Required education & experience:

• An earned advanced or terminal degree in education, special education, psychology, social work, law, or a related area

• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience working in a disability-related field at the postsecondary level
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, academic leadership, HR partners, legal counsel, and student-facing offices

Scheduled Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm; 38.75 hours per week

Salary Range Grade 9, exempt: $77,854 to $121,659