Web Accessibility Programmer

Who We Are

The San Mateo County Community District is committed to achieving educational equity for all students. As outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan, “success, equity, and social justice for our students are longstanding goals.” The District’s “Students First” Strategic Plan is focused on “Student Success, Equity and Social Justice.” We provide students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that embraces differences — emphasizing collaboration and engaging students in and out of the classroom, encouraging them to realize their goals, and to become global citizens and socially responsible leaders. When you join our team at San Mateo County Community College District, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, classified staff, administration, students and community partners.


The College and the District

The San Mateo County Community College District is home to Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. All three of our colleges are designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions enrolling approximately 33,000 students each academic year. San Mateo County Community College District has a diverse student population that is a reflection of the communities that it serves. Detailed information about the student population, including data related to student success, can be found on the San Mateo County Community College District’s Educational Services & Planning website.


Who We Want

We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities and orientations. Therefore, we prioritize applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded individual committed to collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, students and community partners who are also committed to closing equity gaps. The San Mateo County Community College District seeks employees who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping all students achieve their educational goals.


The Position

Under direction, the Web Accessibility Programmer position performs technical work involved in the design, development, and implementation of accessible web-based applications and provides support for all 3 colleges and the District related to the implementation of Universal Design (Accessibility) into instruction. This Web Accessibility Programmer is responsible for ensuring compliance with web accessibility and assisting college and District staff in making web content more accessible to users with disabilities. The Web Accessibility Programmer evaluates, develops, and implements a variety of moderately difficult web programs and systems and analyzes web program problems to develop resolutions. Public contact is extensive and can include students, staff, other educational institutions, community and business representatives, governmental agencies and the general public, for the purpose of exchanging program information and services. A high degree of independent judgment, technical skills, and creativity are required to adequately represent the college and program, to serve as a technical resource for the program, and to design original program components and services. Consequences of errors in judgment can be costly in public relations and in employee time; however, management controls limit the risk of more serious consequences. The Web Accessibility Programmer can train and lead the work of other clerical staff and student assistants as assigned.


Duties and Responsibilities

The duties below are representative of the duties of the classification and are not intended to cover all of the duties performed by the incumbent(s) of any particular position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the scope of work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this classification.

1. Evaluates college web sites and applications for accessibility compliance and coordinates with college Instructional Designers, Instructional Technologists, Web Developers, and District ITS staff to resolve issues

2. Provides web accessibility training, technical assistance, and support to college Webmasters

3. Chairs the Web Accessibility Taskforce Committee, makes presentations to small and large groups at all 3 colleges on accessibility issues, best practices, and recommendations

4. Manages the District-wide accessibility website; builds a library of accessibility-related resources and resolves user submitted accessibility issues

5. Works directly with vendors on ensuring that 3rd party products meet accessibility guidelines, gathering VPATs, and finding alternative solutions if necessary

6. Serves as accessibility expert for District approved Learning Management System. Evaluates instructional content within Learning Management System for accessibility and compliance

7. Generates accessible content, including but, not limited to fillable PDF’s and web forms; properly tags webpage images and captions videos

8. Attends meetings, conferences, and workshops to obtain current procedural and other information and participates in division and department planning activities as needed

9. Performs other duties as assigned


Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in a web development field

Ability to pick up new technologies quickly, adapt to new systems, and learn independently

Working knowledge of federal and state laws, policies, regulations, and standards governing services for individuals with disabilities (Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment, Section 508, and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA)

Experience in front-end web design, back-end web development, MVC frameworks, and APIs

Experience with version control systems, database queries, design and development for web applications

Strong experience in website technologies and knowledge of current best practices, such as W3C standards, ADA 508 standards, and cross browser compatibility

Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff



Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Ability to solve complex and difficult accessibility problems related to people, processes, and technology and perform a variety of specialized duties involved in identifying and suggesting potential solutions for accessibility barriers

2. Ability to use web programming technologies, such as PHP, HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript to develop and debug new and existing websites across multiple browsers and operating systems

3. Skill in multi-tasking, prioritizing workloads, working independently, and managing multiple projects in a constantly changing environment

4. Knowledge of disabilities, human relations, assistive technology devices, and services

5. Ability to learn a wide variety of assistive technology software and devices, including, but not limited to Jaws, Dragon Naturally Speaking, WebAIM WAVE, Tenon.io, uDoit, etc.

6. Ability to research, compile data, prepare reports, and make appropriate contacts

7. Skill in establishing and maintaining respectful, sensitive communication and working relationships with people at all levels within an organization who are diverse in their academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds

8. Skill in oral communication, including public speaking, presentations, conducting effective meetings, and trainings to a diverse body of individuals

9. Skill in written communication

10. Knowledge of FERPA and ability to maintain confidentiality


Physical Requirements

This classification requires sitting for various lengths of time; the ability to type, use phone, stand intermittently, walk, bend and stoop, occasionally lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects of light to moderate weight, work at a computer, including viewing a monitor for various lengths of time, repetitive use of keyboard, mouse or other control device, and dexterity of hands and fingers to operate keyboard in order to perform the essential functions.


Preferred Qualifications

Benefits

Benefits include paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. The District pays all or a portion of monthly medical plan premiums (depending on the coverage) and pays all of the monthly dental and vision plan premiums for employees and eligible dependents. Additional paid benefits include life insurance, salary continuance insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program. Classified employees participate in the Public Employees’ Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California. Optional tax-deferred 403(b) and 457 retirement plans are also available.