Director of Disability Services

Metropolitan State University of Denver; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 83,836 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, dental

RTD pass

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement plans

Life and supplemental insurance

LTD plan

Other programs

Job summary

Metropolitan State University of Denver is seeking a Director of Disability Services to lead the Access Center and advance institutional accessibility and inclusive design. You will oversee broader accommodations, testing services, and collaboration with campus partners to drive outcomes for students with disabilities.

The role requires strategic leadership, regulatory compliance knowledge (ADA/Section 504), and experience supervising a team while managing budgets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five (5) years of experience in disability services within post‑secondary education.
• Experience interpreting and applying ADA and Section 504 requirements.
• Experience administering disability accommodations and related support services.
• Experience leading disability services or accessibility programs.
• Three (3) years of direct supervisory experience.
• Experience managing departmental budgets or financial resources.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the development and implementation of a comprehensive, institution‑wide approach to student disability accessibility that aligns with the University’s mission, values, and student success priorities.
• Advance institutional efforts beyond accommodation delivery by proactively identifying and addressing systemic barriers through universal design, inclusive practices, and accessibility planning.
• Serve as a primary institutional subject matter expert on student disability access, accessibility compliance, and inclusive design.
• Advise University leadership on ADA, Section 504, and related legal and regulatory requirements, emerging issues, institutional risk, and best practices in delivery of student accessibility.
• Collaborate with the Office of Equal Opportunity, General Counsel, Shared Governance leaders, Inclusive Higher Education Solutions, The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Design, Faculty Affairs, and campus partners to support policy development, resolve complex issues, and improve student accessibility practices and procedures.
• Provide guidance related to legislative and regulatory developments impacting student accessibility and disability services.
• Oversee the daily administration and delivery of Access Center programs and services, including the interactive process for determining and implementing reasonable accommodations, testing accommodations, assistive technology, alternative format materials, and related support services.
• Establish and maintain consistent standards and procedures for documentation review, accommodation determinations, and service delivery.
• Manage escalated student situations, including student grievances and complex accommodation cases requiring advanced judgment and institutional coordination.
• Oversee the operational management of testing services, including scheduling, proctoring, and coordination of appropriate testing environments.
• Ensure timely provision of accessible instructional materials and accommodations while balancing student access, institutional obligations, and operational effectiveness.
• Provide direct supervision, leadership, coaching, and performance management for professional staff within the Access Center, including direct supervision of three professional staff members and indirect supervision of five staff members.
• Foster a team culture grounded in accountability, inclusion, collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Oversee departmental operations, budget management, and allocation of financial and operational resources associated with approved accommodations and departmental services.
• Support staff development, operational effectiveness, succession planning, and continuous process improvement efforts to ensure high‑quality service delivery and organizational sustainability.
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships across Academic Affairs, Enrollment & Student Affairs, Information Technology, Auraria Campus partners, and external stakeholders to advance accessibility and inclusive practices.
• Participate in orientation, transition, and student success initiatives to support prospective, incoming, and current students with disabilities.
• Develop outreach and marketing strategies that increase awareness, understanding, and utilization of Access Center services and resources across the campus community.
• Support coordination of accessibility efforts related to student housing, instructional materials, and technology integration across campus systems.
• Lead campus wide efforts in identifying barriers for students with disabilities to engage on campus.
• Foster a sense of belonging for students with disabilities by focusing on creating an accessible campus and learning environment.
• Develop and implement assessment strategies to evaluate program effectiveness, operational efficiency, student outcomes, and campus climate related to disability access and inclusion.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to inform strategic planning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, and institutional updates regarding Access Center operations, student trends, compliance considerations, and service outcomes.
• Establish mechanisms for ongoing feedback from students and campus stakeholders to ensure services remain responsive, effective, and aligned with institutional needs and national best practices.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People management

Policy and compliance

Stakeholder collaboration

Budget management

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

AIM

Accommodate

ClockWork

Job description

Director of Disability Services – Access Center

The Director of Disability Services oversees the Access Center and institutional accessibility initiatives and provides strategic, operational, and compliance leadership for disability resources, access, and inclusive design at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Health & Well‑being and sitting on the Student Engagement & Well‑being leadership team, the Director is responsible for ensuring equitable access to all institutional programs, services, and activities for students with disabilities in accordance with federal and state law.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership, Institutional Accessibility, and Compliance – 30%

• Provide strategic leadership for the development and implementation of a comprehensive, institution‑wide approach to student disability accessibility that aligns with the University’s mission, values, and student success priorities.
• Advance institutional efforts beyond accommodation delivery by proactively identifying and addressing systemic barriers through universal design, inclusive practices, and accessibility planning.
• Serve as a primary institutional subject matter expert on student disability access, accessibility compliance, and inclusive design.
• Advise University leadership on ADA, Section 504, and related legal and regulatory requirements, emerging issues, institutional risk, and best practices in delivery of student accessibility.
• Collaborate with the Office of Equal Opportunity, General Counsel, Shared Governance leaders, Inclusive Higher Education Solutions, The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Design, Faculty Affairs, and campus partners to support policy development, resolve complex issues, and improve student accessibility practices and procedures.
• Provide guidance related to legislative and regulatory developments impacting student accessibility and disability services.

Access Center Operations, Accommodation Services, and Case Management – 25%

• Oversee the daily administration and delivery of Access Center programs and services, including the interactive process for determining and implementing reasonable accommodations, testing accommodations, assistive technology, alternative format materials, and related support services.
• Establish and maintain consistent standards and procedures for documentation review, accommodation determinations, and service delivery.
• Manage escalated student situations, including student grievances and complex accommodation cases requiring advanced judgment and institutional coordination.
• Oversee the operational management of testing services, including scheduling, proctoring, and coordination of appropriate testing environments.
• Ensure timely provision of accessible instructional materials and accommodations while balancing student access, institutional obligations, and operational effectiveness.

Personnel Leadership, Supervision, and Resource Management – 15%

• Provide direct supervision, leadership, coaching, and performance management for professional staff within the Access Center, including direct supervision of three professional staff members and indirect supervision of five staff members.
• Foster a team culture grounded in accountability, inclusion, collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Oversee departmental operations, budget management, and allocation of financial and operational resources associated with approved accommodations and departmental services.
• Support staff development, operational effectiveness, succession planning, and continuous process improvement efforts to ensure high‑quality service delivery and organizational sustainability.

Campus Partnerships, Outreach, Training, and Student Engagement – 15%

• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships across Academic Affairs, Enrollment & Student Affairs, Information Technology, Auraria Campus partners, and external stakeholders to advance accessibility and inclusive practices.
• Participate in orientation, transition, and student success initiatives to support prospective, incoming, and current students with disabilities.
• Develop outreach and marketing strategies that increase awareness, understanding, and utilization of Access Center services and resources across the campus community.
• Support coordination of accessibility efforts related to student housing, instructional materials, and technology integration across campus systems.
• Lead campus wide efforts in identifying barriers for students with disabilities to engage on campus.
• Foster a sense of belonging for students with disabilities by focusing on creating an accessible campus and learning environment.

Assessment, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement – 15%

• Develop and implement assessment strategies to evaluate program effectiveness, operational efficiency, student outcomes, and campus climate related to disability access and inclusion.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to inform strategic planning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, and institutional updates regarding Access Center operations, student trends, compliance considerations, and service outcomes.
• Establish mechanisms for ongoing feedback from students and campus stakeholders to ensure services remain responsive, effective, and aligned with institutional needs and national best practices.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five (5) years of experience in disability services within post‑secondary education.
• Experience interpreting and applying ADA and Section 504 requirements.
• Experience administering disability accommodations and related support services.
• Experience leading disability services or accessibility programs.
• Three (3) years of direct supervisory experience.
• Experience managing departmental budgets or financial resources.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Disability Studies, Education, Student Affairs, Social Work, Psychology, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience with disability services management systems (e.g., AIM, Accommodate, ClockWork, or similar platforms).

Work Hours, Arrangement, and Travel

• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00AM–5:00PM.
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid.
• Evening/Weekend Availability: As needed.
• Travel: As needed.

Compensation

• Salary Range: $83,836 to $112,000, subject to internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, life and supplemental insurance, retirement plans, LTD plan, and other programs.

EEO Statement

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [e-mail].

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver conducts background checks on all finalists for positions prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access‑oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our student population is nearly 58% first‑generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver. We embrace a culture of belonging and commit to equity and inclusion across all campus activities.