Accessibility Technology Manager

pportunity Description

About Us

We are a district of three distinct colleges North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College and five specialty training centers. Which makes us the largest and most diverse community college district in the state of Washington, we are leaders in change and innovation.


As a Seattle Colleges employee, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the passionate work of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as we work against systemic racism. Additionally, you will gain the rewarding experience of contributing to the success of an open-access learning institution that prepares students for life and work, fostering a diverse, engaged and dynamic community.


Seattle Colleges staff and faculty also enjoy a competitive benefits package, professional development opportunities and enrichment experiences in areas of their choice including, committee, workgroup, and affinity group opportunities.

Competitive Pay Rates
Great Medical/Dental plans for the employee and their family
PEBB Wellness Plan SmartHealth
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Vacation
Retirement Plans
Tuition Waiver for additional education
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) in times of need
Promotional Opportunities
Orca Card / transportation benefits
Union Membership

To learn more about our excellent benefits offerings please see our benefits overview here: Seattle Colleges Employment Benefits


Position Summary

Seattle Colleges is looking to hire an Accessibility Technology Manager in our district-wide eLearning department.

Salary Range for this position is $71,230 to $98,364 annually.

Initial review of application materials will begin on September 16, 2024


This position specializes in helping the institution meet federal and state regulations specific to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) technical standards. Under the supervision of the Executive Director of eLearning, the Accessible Technology Manager will work to ensure that Seattle Colleges produces accessible digital materials and resources by providing accessibility training, mentoring, and other support for faculty and staff. Through collaboration and advocacy, the Accessibility Technology Manager will help create inclusive working and learning environments focused on anti-racist and anti-biased principals that support the success of staff, faculty, and students. In collaboration with district departments, this position will train staff on how to create accessible emails, web pages, and other digital materials that meet WCAG standards. In collaboration with the colleges¿ Access offices, and upon request, this position advises on technical solutions specific to student accommodations and provides subject matter expertise developing digital materials, including content remediation and the creation of alternative formats such as braille, audio, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and electronic texts. This position requires experience in higher education settings and strong communication to train faculty and staff on creating digital instructional materials that meet WCAG standards. The Accessible Technology Manager understands accessibility practices in multiple subject areas including math, computer science, and general studies. When faced with new situations, the Accessible Technology Manager is able to quickly access trusted resources, learn strategies, develop a plan of action, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of that plan in a timely manner.

This position supervises the District Accessibility Services Coordinator who is responsible for the schedule and coordination of ASL interpreters and live captioners for meetings and events as well as coordinating captioning of pre-recorded instructional and non-instructional videos.

This position is governed by a collective bargaining agreement with representation by AFT-SPS.

This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, primarily 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

This position works a hybrid schedule of both remote and on-site work based on a conversation and approval of the position¿s supervisor.


Application Procedures:

Attached current Resume
Attached cover letter addressing how your background intersects with the job

Required application materials must be completed and submitted online


Notice to Applicants:
Please note that Seattle Colleges has moved to holding interviews virtually using video conference options such as Zoom or Teams. As such, if you are selected for an interview, please be prepared to hold your interview virtually.


What you will be working on:

Lead with anti-racist and anti-bias principals to assist faculty, instructional designers, and other staff in developing, implementing, and evaluating accessible instructional systems, courseware, and course materials including digital textbooks, course materials, and online resources. Focus accessibility efforts on areas of greatest need and highest risk to the colleges including meeting WCAG 2.1 AA Technical Standards for Web Accessibility.
Supervise the Accessibility Services Coordinator and oversee the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the systems, procedures, and workflows for providing accessible meetings, coordinating live captioning and sign language interpreters, and captioning videos.
Perform accessibility conformance testing as needed, using appropriate automated evaluation tools, manual testing, and assistive technologies. Explain accessibility conformance testing findings to a variety of internal and external stakeholders and collaborate in identifying appropriate solutions.
Serve as district expert in developing alternative formats to make materials accessible and training staff and faculty on how to create accessible materials including emails, web pages, documents, presentations, and more.
Collaborate with the Access Services Offices and faculty to identify alternative formatting needs for students with disabilities and develop systems and technical solutions to address those needs as requested.
Collaborate with the 188 Specialist to evaluate the effectiveness of accessibility strategies and provide recommendations for improvements in alignment with Washington's Policy 188 - Accessibility.
Collaborate with Access and eLearning teams to create templates, guides, and one-pagers to help agency employees create accessible digital content.
Build processes and workflows for testing the accessibility compliance of instructional systems and electronic materials before adoption, working with publishers, vendors, developers, and content creators during the evaluation and testing process.
Coordinate with outside agencies and vendors to ensure that instructional content is accessible and provided in an alternative format in a timely and cost-effective manner. Collect and evaluate Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) documentation during the procurement process.
Keep abreast of technology developments, issues, and changes surrounding digital accessibility through active engagement with regional and national accessibility communities and other available resources.
Keep current with assistive technologies, accessibility standards, and accessibility law as it applies to instruction. Work proactively to prohibit infringement of applicable laws and to advise stakeholders as appropriate.
Contribute to eLearning's and Access Services strategic and operational planning, development of new services, support for initiatives and events, and program assessment.
Participate in district and state-wide committees and activities related to Access Services and accessibility to promote an inclusive learning environment for all students. Perform other duties as required.


What you bring as a candidate: (Any Equivalent Combination of Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education and Experience)

Bachelor's degree in disability studies, educational technology, instructional design, curriculum and instruction, or related field or 4 years equivalent experience.
Demonstrated experience or expertise in accessibility compliance testing, assistive technology support, or similar.
Knowledge and application of WCAG and ADA standards.
Experience supervising staff.
Experience working with faculty in a collaborative/consulting capacity supporting their course development process using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) theories and college-supported technology tools in alignment with their course objectives.
Experience applying anti-racist practices as they intersect with accessibility in working with students, staff, and faculty and others to create policies and develop technologies.
Ability to create, facilitate, and assess professional training opportunities specific to accessibility standards and instructional strategies.
Experience using Canvas or other commonly used learning management systems.
In-depth skills in using Windows and Mac Operating systems, MS Office, Outlook, Zoom, Google Docs, and other instruction technology.
Strong analytical, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
Excellent interpersonal communication, problem-solving and organizational skills.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by fostering a climate of multicultural appreciation and cultural competencies.
Ability to work independently, set priorities, and complete assignments in a timely manner under dynamic working conditions.
Demonstrated ability to be creative, collaborative, flexible, and thrive in a dynamic team oriented environment.


Physical Requirements:

Persons with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodation in all aspects of employment with Seattle Colleges. This includes, but is not limited to, recruitment, application, interviewing, hiring, training, termination, conditions of employment, and any other employer-supported activities. Applicants requesting accommodation should contact Human Resources.


Disability Accommodation

Seattle Colleges follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides the following information as a guideline for applicants:

Ability to operate office equipment, receive and interpret data, and prepare various materials
Ability to exchange information with supervisor, lead, co-workers, and students
Ability to provide 1:1 support, present to small groups, and work at a computer exercising repetitive hand motion
Work is performed primarily in office settings with frequent interruptions and encounters noises typical of these settings


Notice of Non-discrimination Statement

Seattle Colleges is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, status as an honorably discharged veteran or disabled veteran or military status, political affiliation or belief, citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability. In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. Further, the Seattle Colleges is committed to ensure that all employees and students work and learn in an environment that fosters mutual respect and professionalism, free from all forms of bullying behaviors, including cyber bullying.

Seattle Colleges is committed to recruiting dedicated faculty and employees who together create a welcoming academic climate that reflects the diverse backgrounds of our community, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, race, gender, gender identity, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, disability, political status, and sexual orientation.


Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the Director of Legal Compliance.:

1500 Harvard Avenue Seattle, WA 98122-3803

(206) 934-3873