Digital Accessibility Expert

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.
Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Provides technical leadership, expert guidance, coordination, and support in order to achieve and maintain digital and web accessibility.
Key ambassador and support person for the rollout of the Digital Accessibility Policy. Provides knowledge and expertise of how standards apply across different functions and supports development of departmental/organizational roadmaps and procedures to ensure adoption and adherence to WCAG standards.
Evaluates digital products and content and provides accessible solutions.
Completes testing to ensure accessible solutions are implemented and functioning properly.
Provides digital accessibility expertise and consultation on projects and products across the academic experience.
Supports procurement processes, vendor management, and contract adherence when accessibility issues are to be addressed as a contractual obligation. Makes recommendations and meets with vendor partners’ development teams to align on and validate accessibility fixes.
Develops and delivers resources and training for team members across various organizations within the university on digital accessibility guidelines and best practices.
Maintains current knowledge of regulatory landscape and guidelines for digital accessibility and keeps WGU updated on legislative, policy or guideline changes.
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

This individual has a strong commitment to digital accessibility and full inclusion for all community members.
This individual has demonstrated interpersonal relationship skills (social-emotional intelligence) of confidence, focus, ethics, and accountability.
Understands the organization and how to engage with technical and business partners
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present information clearly and accurately.
Ability to synthesize and communicate complex analyses and discussions into written documentation; and exercise good judgment and effectively organize, prioritize, and perform multiple job functions and conflicting priorities.
Experience and knowledge with accessible Web design, principles of Universal Design and understanding of accessibility issues related to emerging web technologies, multimedia and learning environments

Competencies:
Organizational Impact:

Responsible for implementing initiatives and projects established by university or department leadership; establishes strategic, operational plans for department, function, or office with short to mid-term impact on results.
Delivers measurable input into new processes, standards, or plans that impact the achievement of overall university or department results.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

Leverages a systems-thinking approach for improving existing processes and systems using significant conceptualizing, reasoning, and interpretation.
Problems and issues faced are numerous, may not be clearly defined, and may have missing information. Conducts extensive investigation to understand the root cause. Problems span a wide range of difficult and unique issues.

Communication & Influence:

Collaborates cross-functionally across the University or department and typically has responsibilities for communicating with external parties.
Works to influence others to accept the job area’s views, practices, concepts, and approaches.
Requires ability to communicate with executive leadership regarding matters of significant importance to the University. May conduct briefings with leaders within the University or department.

Leadership & Talent Management

Responsible for providing guidance, coaching, and training to other employees across the University within the area of domain-specific expertise. Provides direction to project team members, including feedback on performance.
Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGU.

Job Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Information Design, Assistive Technology, or a related field
Seven (7) years of experience with accessible Web design, principles of Universal Design and understanding of accessibility issues related to emerging web technologies, multimedia and learning environments
Expert knowledge of WCAG 2.x
Expert knowledge of WAI-ARIA
Knowledge of accessibility features across a range of operating systems and platforms
Knowledge of a range of assistive technologies and devices, including screen readers

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience and knowledge in project management.
IAAP Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) Certification.
Well networked with the global accessibility community.

Physical Requirements:

Prolonged periods working on a computer.
Up to 10% travel required.


As an equal opportunity employer, WGU recognizes that our strength lies in our people. We are committed to diversity.