Director of Accessibility

The University of Texas at Dallas; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Dallas seeks a Senior Director for the AccessAbility Resources Center (ARC) to lead university‑wide accessibility services and ensure ADA compliance. This strategic role coordinates with IT, teaching and learning, and academic leadership to create a proactive, inclusive environment that supports students with disabilities.

Responsibilities include vision, data‑driven service improvement, and professional development for faculty and staff, while advancing digital

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of related field experience.
• 14+ years of progressively responsible experience in a related field (preferred).
• Five years or more of experience in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic vision for the ARC, aligning accessibility goals with student success initiatives.
• Use assessment data to evaluate impact on student success and graduation rates; forecast resource needs.
• Serve as the primary SME on ADA, Section 504/508, and related laws; interpret legislation with Legal Counsel.
• Direct daily ARC operations: intake, exam administration, and assistive technology; manage budget and personnel.
• Collaborate with OIT and Educational Technology Services to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards; advise on facilities as needed.
• Mentor and evaluate a diverse team of accessibility professionals; foster a high‑performance culture.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Collaboration

Communication

Change management

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The Senior Director of the AccessAbility Resources Center (ARC) is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing university-wide accessibility services for students and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Success & Innovation, this position serves as the University's primary subject matter expert on ADA compliance, leading a dedicated team to provide comprehensive accommodations that enable students with disabilities to meet their academic potential.

The Senior Director balances operational efficiency with long-term planning, focusing on removing barriers to education, modernizing accommodation workflows, and partnering with the Office of Information Technology, Educational Technology Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning to advance digital accessibility standards. In addition to managing operations, the Senior Director works closely with faculty and academic leadership to provide professional development and advocate for student needs.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional collaboration skills and advanced communication acumen, enabling them to build trust across a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and senior leadership, while navigating complex and sensitive conversations with empathy and clarity. The candidate will skillfully cultivate collaborative partnerships, promote a campus-wide culture grounded in respect, shared accountability, and drive strategic initiatives that meaningfully strengthen student engagement, access, and belonging.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree with ten years of work experience in related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fourteen or more years of progressively responsible experience in a related field.
• Prior experience supervising and leading a complex team.
• Five years or more of experience in higher education.

Other Qualifications: To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and execution of a strategic vision for the ARC, aligning accessibility goals directly with major institutional initiatives for student success.
• Use assessment data to evaluate the impact of services on student success and graduation rates, ensuring continuous improvement and responsiveness to student needs, while identifying campus-wide bottlenecks and forecasting future resource requirements.
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert on federal and state regulations (ADA, Section 504/508, Fair Housing Act). Partner with Legal Counsel and Risk Management to interpret legislation, mitigate institutional liability, and guide leadership on best practices.
• Direct the daily operations of the ARC, including the intake process, exam administration, and assistive technology. Oversee the departmental budget and personnel, ensuring scalable workflows to handle increasing caseloads.
• Collaborate with academic leadership to transition the university from a retroactive accommodation model to a proactive Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Develop and deliver training for faculty on accessible course design and navigating complex accommodation scenarios while maintaining academic integrity and respecting academic freedom.
• Partner with the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and Educational Technology Services to ensure digital assets meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Consult with Facilities Management on capital projects to ensure physical environments exceed minimum code requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate a diverse team of accessibility professionals. Foster a high-performance culture grounded in empathy, professional growth, and operational excellence.
• Work closely with students to ensure their feedback informs the development of ARC services, ensuring a consistent and inclusive experience across all aspects of university life, while actively fostering their self-advocacy skills and managing expectations around reasonable accommodations.
• Mediate complex situations between students and faculty, utilizing diplomatic persuasion to build buy-in for accessibility as a shared campus responsibility rather than solely a legal mandate.
• Demonstrated understanding of best practices for supporting student success, retention, and access in a research university setting.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop professional staff, encouraging growth and fostering a collaborative, high-performance team culture.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, with the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders—including students, faculty, and executive leadership—to foster an environment of respect.
• Deep understanding of recent and emerging laws governing accessibility in higher education (ADA, Section 504/508).
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, tact, discretion, and integrity when handling confidential information and sensitive conversations, backed by strong conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.
• Connection to national initiatives and trends related to accessibility, inclusive educational technologies, and Universal Design.
• Experience relating to budget oversight and resource allocation.
• Ability to act as a change agent, anticipating demographic and technological shifts, and leading without direct authority to drive proactive practices across academic micro-cultures.