Position: Web Accessibility Specialist
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Duration: 12 Months
We are currently seeking a highly skilled and experienced Web Accessibility Specialist to lead hands-on testing, remediation, and quality assurance efforts to ensure the City's websites and web applications meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. This role involves conducting comprehensive accessibility audits, collaborating with development teams and vendors to resolve issues, and embedding both automated and manual accessibility testing into development workflows. The specialist will also review vendor deliverables for compliance and support departmental web teams in adopting accessible design and coding practices. Working closely with the Accessibility Architect and the Client Digital Services team, this position helps align web accessibility initiatives with the City's broader enterprise governance framework.
Work activities:
- Bring City websites and web applications into compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria, utilizing tools such as axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse, Site Improve, and assistive technologies (JAWS, NVDA).
- Help guide continued development of the City's internal web crawler as it relates to accessibility.
- Collaborate with internal development teams and external vendors to remediate identified accessibility defects, providing detailed guidance on compliant HTML, ARIA markup, keyboard navigation, focus management, and color contrast.
- Integrate automated accessibility testing into CI/CD pipelines and establish pre-deployment accessibility gates to prevent regressions, including configuration of tools such as axe-core, pa11y, or Lighthouse CI.
- Identify, remediate, and validate existing City digital documents (PDFs, forms, reports, spreadsheets) for compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA, PDF/UA, and Section 508 standards using tools such as Adobe Acrobat Pro, CommonLook, and Client.
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum 3 years of professional experience in web accessibility testing, auditing, and remediation for large-scale or enterprise web environments.
- Deep working knowledge of WCAG 2.1 AA/AAA success criteria, WAI-ARIA authoring practices, Section 508, and ADA Title II requirements as applied to websites and web applications.
- Proficiency in front-end web technologies (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript) with the ability to read, evaluate, and recommend fixes to source code for accessibility compliance.
- Hands-on experience with accessibility testing tools (axe DevTools, WAVE, Lighthouse, pa11y) and assistive technologies (JAWS, NVDA) for both automated and manual evaluation.
Highly Desired/Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in or with government agencies on web accessibility compliance, particularly in environments with WordPress
- Familiarity with integrating accessibility checks into CI/CD pipelines (Github Actions) and with defect tracking workflows for accessibility issues.
- IAAP Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) certification, Client Trusted Tester certification, or equivalent professional credential.
- Familiarity with inclusive design principles and plain-language content practices for the web
Additional Details:
- Hybrid; minimum 2 days per week onsite at City offices, with flexibility for remote work
- Expected duration: 12 months
- Physical office location: Philadelphia, PA
Spruce Technology, Inc. is a mid-size, award-winning (Inc 5000, SmartCEO, Entrepreneur of the Year) technology services firm with a steadily growing portfolio of commercial and government clients. Spruce provides innovative technology solutions, specialized IT staff, and IT strategy consulting nationwide. Spruce maintains partnerships with major technology vendors and continually develops leading-edge offerings in service areas such as digital experience, data services, application development, infrastructure, cyber security, and IT staffing.
Spruce Technology, Inc. is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is the policy of Spruce Technology, Inc. to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process.
All full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:
Medical, dental, vision health benefits
Life Insurance and AD&D (paid by company)
401k, Flexible and Dependent Care Spending Account plans.
Paid-time Off or Paid Sick Leave (amount dependent on position level and if required by state).
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