ADA / Section 504 Coordinator

University of North Carolina at Wilmington; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Carolina Wilmington seeks an experienced ADA/Section 504 Coordinator to lead compliance, policy development, and accommodation processes across campus. You will guide accessibility strategies, oversee grievance investigations, and collaborate with the Disability Resource Center and HR to ensure equitable access for students and employees.

Reporting to the General Counsel, you will drive training, monitor regulatory guidance, and manage complex accommodation cases, with a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Public Administration, Law, HR, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, or related field.
• Minimum of three years of experience in ADA/Section 504 coordination, disability services, HR accommodations, compliance, or investigations.
• Experience managing processes and supporting impartial investigations.
• Knowledge of disability laws and their application in higher education or similar setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead ADA/Section 504 compliance and advise senior leadership on risk and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies on disability access and nondiscrimination.
• Oversee accommodation processes for students and employees and coordinate with key offices.
• Oversee grievance processes and investigations related to disability-based discrimination.
• Collaborate to ensure physical and digital accessibility across campus and procurement guidance.
• Design and deliver training on ADA/Section 504 obligations for faculty, staff, and administrators.
• Monitor guidance and trends to strengthen institutional practices and reduce risk.

Skills

ADA / Section 504 coordination

Disability services

Policy development

Communication skills

Investigations experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Master’s degree in relevant field

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

PLEASE NOTE: This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application, including the ‘Work History’ section before you apply for this position.
Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.

This position is designated as Exempt from the Human Resources Act ( EHRA ).

Benefits of Working at UNCW

At the University of North Carolina Wilmington, we are driven by a clear purpose: to empower student success, advance innovation, and strengthen the communities we serve. Guided by our strategic vision and commitment to excellence, UNCW offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where employees can make meaningful contributions while growing their careers.
Located in coastal North Carolina, UNCW combines the energy of a thriving academic community with the natural beauty of nearby beaches and outdoor spaces. Here, professional opportunity is balanced with an exceptional quality of life—creating a workplace where you can thrive both personally and professionally.
As a member of the Seahawk community, you’ll benefit from a culture that values well-being, lifelong learning, and connection. UNCW offers a competitive and flexible benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and professional growth. From comprehensive health coverage and retirement options to generous paid leave, tuition opportunities within the UNC System, learning and development opportunities, and wellness programs, UNCW is committed to helping you thrive both at work and in your personal life.

The ADA /Section 504 Coordinator serves as the university’s designated officer responsible for leading and facilitating institutional compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and all related federal and state regulations. Reporting to the Office of General Counsel, this role provides strategic leadership and oversight to ensure equitable access to university programs, services, activities, and employment.
Working across academic and administrative units, the Coordinator advances a campus-wide accessibility approach by guiding policy development, overseeing accommodation and grievance processes, and mitigating institutional risk. The position plays a central role in fostering an environment where students, employees, applicants, and visitors can fully participate in university life, free from disability-based discrimination. This position reports to the General Counsel.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Institutional Compliance & Strategy

• Serve as the university’s lead authority on ADA and Section 504 compliance, advising senior leadership on risk, policy, and regulatory requirements
• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of institutional policies, procedures, and practices related to disability access and nondiscrimination
• Monitor federal guidance, case law, and Office for Civil Rights interpretations to ensure institutional alignment and proactive compliance

Accommodation Processes (Students & Employees)

• Provide oversight and coordination of accommodation processes for students and employees, ensuring consistency, timeliness, and compliance across units
• Partner with the Disability Resource Center and Human Resources to establish clear, equitable procedures for reviewing and determining reasonable accommodations
• Support and advise on complex or high‑impact cases, including those involving competing access, safety, or essential requirement considerations

Grievance Resolution & Investigations

• Oversee the university’s ADA /Section 504 grievance processes, ensuring prompt, equitable, and compliant resolution of complaints
• Conduct or coordinate investigations into allegations of disability‑based discrimination or failure to accommodate
• Track and analyze complaint trends to inform institutional improvements and reduce systemic risk

Accessibility (Physical & Digital)

• Collaborate with Facilities and Environmental Health and Safety to ensure accessibility of physical spaces and campus infrastructure
• Lead and coordinate institutional efforts to ensure digital accessibility across websites, instructional materials, and technology platforms in alignment with current standards such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
• Provide guidance on accessibility in procurement, including third‑party tools and learning technologies

Training, Education & Campus Engagement

• Collaborate with campus partners to design and deliver training for faculty, staff, and administrators on ADA /Section 504 obligations, inclusive practices, and accommodation processes
• Promote awareness and shared responsibility for accessibility across the university community
• Foster a culture where individuals feel supported in requesting and receiving accommodations
• Evaluate the effectiveness of accessibility initiatives, accommodation processes, and compliance efforts using data and stakeholder feedback
• Identify gaps and implement improvements to strengthen institutional practices and outcomes
• Contribute to strategic planning efforts related to access, equity, and student and employee success
• Other related duties and projects as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Public Administration, Law, Human Resources, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, or a related field
• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in ADA /Section 504 coordination, disability services, human resources accommodations, compliance, or investigations
• Demonstrated experience managing processes and conducting or supporting impartial investigations
• Knowledge of applicable disability laws and regulations and their application in higher education or a comparable setting

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Higher Education, Law, Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Human Resources, or a related field
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in ADA /Section 504 coordination, compliance, or investigations
• Experience responding to or supporting reviews, complaints, or investigations from the Office for Civil Rights or similar regulatory bodies
• Strong judgment and ability to interpret medical documentation, essential job functions, and academic requirements
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills
• Experience navigating complex, high‑impact accommodation and compliance scenarios in higher education

Required Certifications or Licensures

N/A

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Office of the General Counsel, as a unit of the Chancellor’s Division, provides, manages, and coordinates all legal services for UNCW in a collegial, responsive, and professional manner. The office provides these services on university matters to the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, the senior officers, other university administrators, staff, and faculty who are acting on behalf of the university. The attorneys and legal staff are committed to rendering high quality, cost effective, and responsive legal and risk management advice to facilitate the achievements of UNCW’s goals of teaching, research, scholarship, and service. The goal of our office is to provide professional advice minimizing risk, reducing litigation, and identifying and responding to legal issues affecting the university.
The Office of the General Counsel researches the law and advises the university on compliance with applicable federal and state law and regulations and UNC policies, drafts and/or reviews contracts, grants, and license agreements, and advises on a wide variety of legal and risk management matters to include employment, student affairs, business affairs, advancement, litigation, civil rights, public records, real property, public finance, facilities development, sponsored programs, and intellectual property matters. The office is responsible for selecting, engaging, and supervising any outside counsel retained by the university. We represent the university in a variety of administrative proceedings and coordinate all litigation conducted by the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office on behalf of the university.

College/School Information

University Information

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world‑class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.
A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate‑and graduate‑level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN‑to‑ BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation’s only bachelor’s degree program focused on coastal engineering.
UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.

EEO Statement

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents – except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

Eligibility for Employment

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Number of Openings

Special Notes to Applicants

PLEASE NOTE : This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application, including the ‘Work History’ section before you apply for this position.
Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.

Months Per Year

Months Per Year 12 Months

FTE

FTE 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

Type of Position

Type of Position Permanent

Anticipated Ending Date if Time‑Limited Positions

Job Posting Date

Job Posting Date 08/17/2026

Posting Close Date

Posting Close Date 09/20/2026

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you learn of this opportunity with UNCW? (2026)
  • UNCW Website
  • UNCW LinkedIn Page
  • UNCW X Account (formerly Twitter)
  • UNCW Employee Referral
  • UNCW Instagram Account (UNCW_jobs)
  • UNCW Job Alert
  • Chronical of Higher Education
  • Glassdoor
  • Higher Ed Jobs
  • Indeed
  • Inside Higher Ed
  • North Carolina Job Network
  • Craigslist
  • Career Events/Job Fairs
  • Billboards/Marquee
  • Other
• * If you selected "Other" to the question above, please explain how you found out about this opportunity. Enter N/A if not applicable.

  (Open Ended Question)