Digital Accessibility Manager

The University of Huddersfield is seeking a Digital Accessibility specialist to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to help develop the creation of accessible digital course materials and ensure compliance with accessibility standards. The role involves acting as the subject matter expert on digital accessibility, chairing the University's Digital Accessibility Steering Group (DASG), and maintaining membership in relevant university and external groups and committees.

With a degree or equivalent qualification, preferably in the field of Online Education, Instructional/Learning Design, Education Technology, you will be responsible for testing, maintaining, developing, and evaluating accessibility and usability across all new digital course content, in line with user requirements. You will work closely with staff responsible for the creation and administration of digital learning materials to ensure that accessibility/usability evaluations are performed correctly according to guidelines such as WCAG, and that any issues identified have suitable fixes and are communicated and resolved effectively.

In this role, you will bring significant experience in understanding assistive technologies (e.g., magnification, text to speech, and screen readers) and be able to use automated tools and conduct expert manual reviews. You will undertake checks, reviews, and template testing of digital learning materials, ensuring reports show errors, fixes, and risks. Additionally, you will monitor the resolution of identified accessibility non-compliance under relevant guidelines such as WCAG.

You will manage the organisation and operation of accessibility and usability user testing sessions, including focus groups and interviews. Keeping updated with a wide variety of assistive technologies, you will regularly assess new technologies and testing tools to provide advice regarding their application and manage their use at the University, including institution-wide and individual licences. You will also develop and deliver training on the University's Digital Accessibility and Inclusive Practice training opportunities, including Accessibility Ace, Learning Bytes, Digital Dojos and the Removing Barriers to Learning Training delivered alongside the Disability Service.

The role includes managing, maintaining, and reporting on the Digital Accessibility of the University's institutional VLE and learning systems. You will also line manage the University’s Assistive Technology Trainer and placement students.

We offer an excellent employment package including hybrid working, blending a mix of remote and on-campus working (dependent on work duties).

The University is deeply committed to equality and diversity for all its students and staff. We seek to be diverse and inclusive, supporting individuals and groups to fulfil their potential and nurture a sense of belonging. We strive to be an accessible, inclusive employer, removing barriers for all. Find out more about our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, including our commitments and accreditations as a Disability Confident Employer, Stonewall Gold Award holder and Top 100 Employer, Athena SWAN Bronze Award holder and Race Equality Charter Bronze Award holder.

Informal enquiries are welcome to Shapna Ali: s.ali3@hud.ac.uk

If you are a current student at the University, you are welcome to apply for part-time roles of 16 hours or less per week, unless you are a part-time postgraduate student, in which case you can also apply for full time roles, subject to any visa requirements.

For more information, please download the recruitment pack.