Accessibility Program Lead / Accessibility SME
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Accessibility Leader to partner with the Accessibility Strategist in advancing a district-wide accessibility program aligned with ADA Title II, Section 508, and WCAG 2.1 AA requirements. This role requires a combination of accessibility expertise, leadership, communication, and business acumen to drive accessibility initiatives across a complex higher education environment.
The ideal candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders at all levels of the institution, helping establish governance, standards, roadmaps, and sustainable practices that improve accessibility maturity across the district. This individual will lead cross-functional efforts, facilitate collaboration among technical and non-technical teams, and help translate strategic goals into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Partner with executive leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, and technical teams to advance institutional accessibility goals and priorities.
Help establish and operationalize accessibility governance, standards, policies, workflows, and accountability frameworks.
Contribute to the development of accessibility roadmaps, strategic plans, and long-term maturity models aligned with regulatory requirements and institutional objectives.
Lead accessibility-related projects and initiatives, coordinating activities across multiple departments and stakeholder groups.
Provide guidance and consultation on accessibility requirements, risk mitigation, compliance considerations, and best practices.
Facilitate meetings, workshops, and working sessions to build consensus, drive adoption, and support organizational change.
Develop and deliver training, communication plans, resources, and awareness programs that promote accessibility across the institution.
Assess current-state accessibility practices, identify gaps and opportunities, and recommend scalable solutions.
Support accessibility reviews, remediation efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives across digital content, web properties, instructional materials, enterprise systems, and related technologies.
Serve as a key point of contact for accessibility-related questions, priorities, and program coordination.
Qualifications
7+ years of experience leading accessibility, compliance, digital experience, governance, or related initiatives.
Strong knowledge of ADA Title II, Section 508, WCAG 2.1 AA, and accessibility best practices.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders across diverse organizations.
Exceptional communication, facilitation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
Strong business acumen with the ability to align accessibility initiatives to institutional priorities, risk management, operational goals, and user experience outcomes.
Experience working with executive leadership, governance committees, technical teams, and business stakeholders.
Ability to establish standards, drive adoption, and lead organizational change initiatives.
Experience developing strategic plans, roadmaps, governance models, and operational frameworks.
Higher education experience strongly preferred.
Success Looks Like
Accessibility governance, standards, and processes are clearly defined, adopted, and consistently applied across the institution.
Stakeholders across academic, administrative, and technology functions are aligned around accessibility goals and priorities.
Accessibility initiatives are effectively prioritized, communicated, and executed through a sustainable roadmap.
The institution demonstrates measurable progress toward accessibility compliance, maturity, and long-term sustainability.
Accessibility becomes embedded within organizational culture, project planning, procurement, content creation, and technology decision-making.
Never miss an opportunity! Create an alert based on the job you applied for.