Digital Accessibility Developer

Full Time 40 hours Grade 055 Ofc University Communications

Schedule

8 AM-5 PM

Responsibilities

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Reporting to the University Director of Digital Accessibility in University Communications, the Digital Accessibility Developer is a member of the University's central digital accessibility team and serves as the lead technical expert and web developer for the University's digital accessibility compliance program. This position provides strategic leadership to ensure digital environments comply with University policies, meet state and national legal requirements for accessibility, and create a more inclusive digital environment for the University community and the general public.

The Developer collaborates with key stakeholders and other information technology and digital colleagues to develop and implement enterprise solutions for websites, digital tools, and web applications that support compliance goals established by the Director in partnership with University senior leadership and the University's Web Governance Council. They are responsible for leading and analyzing technical digital accessibility audits, and designing and implementing solutions that reduce legal and reputational risk. This position also is responsible for leading training and education programs to establish and support an institution-wide community of practice for accessible web development.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Identify, recommend, build, and implement accessible technical solutions as part of development and redesign projects for websites, digital templates and tools, web applications, and other digital assets in collaboration with the Director and University colleagues.

Lead technical audits of websites, digital tools and templates, web applications, and other digital assets using specialized tools to identify and evaluate accessibility issues based on severity and critical nature. Perform manual code review and user testing to ensure content accessibility compliance. Consult on and lead remediation efforts to meet accessibility standards. Identify opportunities for sustainable solutions to support ongoing accessibility compliance. Work with partners to develop and implement web governance plans, including providing rigorous assessment and feedback on progress as measured against goals, scheduling future audits and analyzing results, and providing support and consultation for maintenance.

Develop and deliver training materials and documentation that help establish a community of practice for digital accessibility for websites, digital templates and tools, web applications, and other digital assets.

Test solutions to confirm results and report findings to the University digital accessibility team, and other key partners, including senior leaders, deans, directors, and digital team leaders. Work with partners to develop and implement governance plans, including providing rigorous assessment and feedback on progress as measured against goals, scheduling future technology audits and analyzing results, and providing support and consultation for maintenance.

Support the Director in developing and delivering awareness campaigns and change management programs to digital, web, and information technology professionals and teams at the University. Serve as a technical expert for W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards, and stay abreast of emerging web, mobile, assistive, information, and instructional technologies, and accessibility solutions and best practices.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, user experience/user interface (UX/UI) design, or related field with an emphasis on inclusive design, human-computer interaction, or related discipline required.

Certificate or continuing education in accessible web development and assistive technologies is preferred.

Three years' experience leading technical accessibility audits of websites and digital tools and building and remediating digital assets to meet international digital accessibility compliance guidelines and national and state legal standards required.

Experience in higher education is preferred.

Expert knowledge of tools for testing, auditing, and monitoring digital assets against accessibility standards required

Deep knowledge of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Section 508, and other disability laws regarding digital accessibility required

Deep knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and content management systems required

Experience with assistive technologies hardware and software on multiple platforms including Windows, Mac, iOS and Android; knowledge of designing and testing methodologies on each platform required

Experience designing and developing training programs that integrate best practices for digital accessibility and inclusive design principles required.

Superior communication and writing skills required.

Project management and time management skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, adapt to change, and work to tight deadlines with changing priorities required.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University's mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create - and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations.