Accessibility Specialist

Role Purpose:

The Accessibility Specialist will lead and embed accessibility and inclusive design practices across our digital services and products. This combined role covers accessibility expertise, assistive technology knowledge, practical testing, and inclusive design delivery to ensure that VE3 builds and supports services that are usable and accessible for everyone.

This role will actively contribute to building VE3’s accessibility and inclusive design capability while supporting client-facing delivery teams with clear guidance, testing, remediation, and continuous improvement.





Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

Accessibility Strategy and Consultancy

Advise clients and delivery teams on accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.2, EN 301 549, and relevant public sector requirements.


Conduct accessibility audits for websites, applications, and documents using a mix of automated tools and manual testing.


Produce clear audit reports with actionable and prioritised remediation guidance.


Support the development and maintenance of accessibility statements and VPAT documentation for client services.


Inclusive Design Leadership

Integrate inclusive design principles across project lifecycles, ensuring accessibility is considered from discovery through delivery.


Facilitate workshops to embed accessibility into design thinking and service design processes.


Contribute to accessible design assets, component libraries, and design systems aligned with user needs and accessibility standards.


Accessibility Testing

Plan and execute accessibility testing using automated tools and manual verification methods.


Test for keyboard navigation, focus management, and colour contrast compliance.


Conduct assistive technology testing using screen readers and alternative navigation methods.


Document findings with clear replication steps and collaborate with engineers for remediation.


Assistive Technology and User Testing

Provide expertise on the use and impact of assistive technologies, ensuring services function effectively with screen readers, magnifiers, speech input, and alternative devices.


Support user research and usability testing with participants with different access needs, incorporating feedback into design iterations.


Capability Building and Knowledge Transfer

Contribute to VE3’s internal capability by developing guidance, checklists, and training for accessibility and inclusive design.


Deliver training sessions and workshops to support VE3’s teams in building accessible and inclusive services.


Support delivery teams in embedding accessibility into sprint planning, development workflows, and testing processes.




Essential Skills and Experience:

Experience conducting accessibility audits and testing digital services for WCAG compliance.


Understanding of assistive technologies, including practical testing with screen readers and alternative navigation tools.


Knowledge of ARIA, semantic HTML, and accessible front-end design practices.


Experience using automated accessibility testing tools such as axe, Pa11y, Lighthouse, or equivalent.


Understanding of inclusive design and its practical application in digital product and service design.


Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.


Experience working within Agile delivery environments.




Desirable Skills and Experience:

Certifications such as IAAP CPACC, WAS, or Deque University certifications.


Experience working with public sector accessibility standards, including GDS and NHS Digital guidelines.


Familiarity with design systems with accessibility considerations.


Experience facilitating user research sessions with participants with lived experience of disability.


Understanding of relevant legal frameworks, such as the Equality Act 2010, PSBAR, and Section 508.




Tools and Platforms:

Accessibility testing tools such as axe, WAVE, Pa11y, Lighthouse, and Siteimprove.


Assistive technology platforms, including NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack.


Design and prototyping tools including Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD with accessibility plugins.


Issue tracking tools such as Jira and GitHub, with accessibility tracking integrations.


Documentation and reporting tools for accessibility statements, WCAG audit results, and VPATs.


Desired Skills and Experience

Key Responsibilities: Accessibility Strategy and Consultancy Advise clients and delivery teams on accessibility standards, including WCAG 2.2, EN 301 549, and relevant public sector requirements. Conduct accessibility audits for websites, applications, and documents using a mix of automated tools and manual testing. Produce clear audit reports with actionable and prioritised remediation guidance. Support the development and maintenance of accessibility statements and VPAT documentation for client services. Inclusive Design Leadership Integrate inclusive design principles across project lifecycles, ensuring accessibility is considered from discovery through delivery. Facilitate workshops to embed accessibility into design thinking and service design processes. Contribute to accessible design assets, component libraries, and design systems aligned with user needs and accessibility standards. Accessibility Testing Plan and execute accessibility testing using automated tools and manual verification methods. Test for keyboard navigation, focus management, and colour contrast compliance. Conduct assistive technology testing using screen readers and alternative navigation methods. Document findings with clear replication steps and collaborate with engineers for remediation. Assistive Technology and User Testing Provide expertise on the use and impact of assistive technologies, ensuring services function effectively with screen readers, magnifiers, speech input, and alternative devices. Support user research and usability testing with participants with different access needs, incorporating feedback into design iterations. Capability Building and Knowledge Transfer Contribute to VE3’s internal capability by developing guidance, checklists, and training for accessibility and inclusive design. Deliver training sessions and workshops to support VE3’s teams in building accessible and inclusive services. Support delivery teams in embedding accessibility into sprint planning, development workflows, and testing processes. Shape Essential Skills and Experience: Experience conducting accessibility audits and testing digital services for WCAG compliance. Understanding of assistive technologies, including practical testing with screen readers and alternative navigation tools. Knowledge of ARIA, semantic HTML, and accessible front-end design practices. Experience using automated accessibility testing tools such as axe, Pa11y, Lighthouse, or equivalent. Understanding of inclusive design and its practical application in digital product and service design. Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Experience working within Agile delivery environments. Shape Desirable Skills and Experience: Certifications such as IAAP CPACC, WAS, or Deque University certifications. Experience working with public sector accessibility standards, including GDS and NHS Digital guidelines. Familiarity with design systems with accessibility considerations. Experience facilitating user research sessions with participants with lived experience of disability. Understanding of relevant legal frameworks, such as the Equality Act 2010, PSBAR, and Section 508. Shape Tools and Platforms: Accessibility testing tools such as axe, WAVE, Pa11y, Lighthouse, and Siteimprove. Assistive technology platforms, including NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. Design and prototyping tools including Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD with accessibility plugins. Issue tracking tools such as Jira and GitHub, with accessibility tracking integrations. Documentation and reporting tools for acc