Associate Director of Accessibility

Maritime Aquarium; Norwalk (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Reimbursement Account

Life Insurance

Short- and Long-Term Disability

Retirement Benefits and Plans

Paid leave

Paid Parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Free Family Membership to The Maritime

Job summary

The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT is seeking an Associate Director of Accessibility to lead and oversee inclusive programs across exhibits, guest services and education. You will ensure universal design and accessibility for guests with disabilities while building alliances with disability-serving organizations.

As a member of the senior staff, you will train staff, collaborate with departments, and manage the Accessibility for All program and outreach to local institutions to advance

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field with ability to lead accessibility initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams and build partnerships.
• Experience training others on accessibility practices and inclusive design.

Responsibilities

• Lead accessibility collaboration and training across Aquarium staff.
• Develop priorities supporting the Strategic Plan and Accessibility for All program.
• Train staff to improve accessibility for guests with disabilities and ensure accommodations.
• Represent the Aquarium with disability-serving organizations and community stakeholders.
• Oversee exhibit planning to incorporate universal design principles.

Skills

Collaboration across teams

Partnership development

Communication skills

Staff training

Accessibility initiatives

Data-informed decision making

Grant-funded initiatives

Education

Advanced degree in special education, accessibility studies, disability studies, human service or related field

Job description

Maritime Aquarium’s mission is to ignite a connection to Long Island Sound and the ocean to enrich the lives of all people and inspire action to protect our blue planet. For 38 years, the Aquarium has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of Norwalk and the region. The second largest family attraction in Connecticut, and 50 miles from New York City, the Aquarium hosts nearly 450,000 guests annually. Its primary exhibits take guests on a voyage from the shallow salt marshes and estuaries to the depths of the Long Island Sound and the ocean beyond, culminating with habitats for sharks and harbor seals.

Altogether, the Aquarium is home to more than 8,000 animals and 285 species in 75 exhibits. Anew 4D Theater offers a unique sensory film experience for guests. Its education programsintroduce nearly 50,000 students, campers and scouts to marine and STEM education. TheAquarium is recognized as a top aquarium in the nation and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is an active participant in the local and regional community. The strength of the Aquarium is its approximately 97 full-time and 78 part-time employees, seasonal staff, and our volunteers.

Position Overview

The Associate Director of Accessibility creates, implements and oversees the Aquarium’s essential efforts to be accessible to audiences, individuals, and groups who have physical, cognitive and/or developmental disabilities. The Associate Director works to ensure that the Aquarium’s building, exhibits, guest services, educational programs, and interpretive activities are welcoming, inspiring and suited for all. This position is also responsible for reaching out to other organizations and institutions to create new alliances with the Aquarium that benefit audiences living with disabilities. The Associate Director is a member of the Aquarium’s extended senior staff and serves as a resource for all departments, providing in-house expertise and training, and working collaboratively to realize the goals of the strategic plan, An AquariumWithoutWalls.

Compensation

This is a full-time, in-person, exempt position offering a salary range of $75k-$90k per year.

Schedule

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5PM.

Primary Responsibilities

Collaborationand Training

• Provide guidance and leadership to Aquarium staff todeepen understanding of disability inclusion and best practices for serving guests and colleagues with disabilities.
• Partnerwithdepartments to develop accessibilityprioritiesthatsupportthe Aquarium’sStrategicPlan.
• Train staff in guest-facing, guest-serving,and other relevant roles to makethem more knowledgeable,sensitive,and confident in serving guests with disabilities.
• Collaborate with People and Culture to ensure that staff and volunteers with disabilities receiveappropriate accommodationsand accessibility support throughout their employment or volunteer experience.
• Be an effective peer and partner, working with leadership of other departments to ensure seamless cooperation andsynergy.
• Serve as an outstanding representative of the Aquarium,building andmaintainingmutually beneficial relationships with disability-serving organizations, advocates, and community stakeholders.

Community Engagement andPartnership/Accessibility for All Program

• Serve as an outstanding representative of the Aquarium, engaging with and forming mutually beneficial partnerships with diverse community members,groupsand stakeholders.
• Lead the Accessibility for All program, a collaboration of 11 visitor-serving institutions in Fairfield County dedicated to building a culture of accessibility. Work with partner institutions and service providers toestablishand implement priorities and programs.
• Growthe network of participating institutions within and beyond Fairfield County.
• Maintain the Accessibility for Allwebsiteandsharedcalendar.

Exhibit Design, Construction, DEAIand Safety

• Participatesin the planning and design of new exhibits and spaces ensuring universal design principles are incorporated.
• Serve on internal committees to ensure safe, inclusive environments for guests, staff, and volunteers with disabilities.

Education and Interpretive Programs

• Collaborate with education staff to design and adapt programs that meet the needs of diverse learners and participants withdisabilities. Provide accessibility training to educators, curriculumdevelopers,and counselors.Review lesson plans as needed.
• Work with interpretive staff to craft and adapt interpretive carts, narrations, animalencountersand other activities toensure inclusive participation.

Transition Program

• Lead the Aquarium’s collaborationwith local school systemsinprovidingworkplace training to young adults eligible for post-graduate services.
• Mentor participants during their on-site workexperience.
• Train Aquarium staffand volunteersto better prepare them toeffectively support and mentor programparticipants.
• Work collaboratively with department leaders toidentifywork opportunities that can be fulfilled through the transition program.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in special education, accessibility studies, disability studies, humanserviceora related/relevant field.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams and build strong partnerships.
• Exceptional communicationand interpersonal skills anddemonstratedability toengage diverse communities.
• 2+years experiencetraining others in accessibility practices, disabilityinclusionor universal design.
• Proven success advancing initiativesthatsupportequitableoutcomes for people with disabilities.
• Experience training others onaccessibility-relatedapproaches and issues.
• Experience with data-informed decision making, assessment, and grant-fundedinitiatives.
• Experience in a non-profit, museum,zooor aquariumenvironmenta plus.

Health Insurance Benefits

• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• Life Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Retirement Benefits and Plans
• Paid leave (Vacation and Sick Time, Bereavement Leave, Jury Duty, and Holidays)
• Paid Parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free Family Membership to The Maritime Aquarium

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that arerequired ofthe employee for this job. Duties,responsibilitiesand activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The Maritime Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

As set forth in Maritime Aquarium’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.