Senior Director of AccessAbility Resource Center

University of Texas at Dallas; Richardson (TX); On-site; USD 1,138,000 - 1,540,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Dallas seeks a Senior Director of the AccessAbility Resources Center to lead university-wide accessibility services and ADA compliance efforts. This strategic role reports to the Vice Provost for Academic Success and Innovation and directs a dedicated team to enable students with disabilities to succeed.

The Senior Director partners with IT, Educational Technology Services, and academic leadership to advance WCAG standards, design inclusive workflows, and provide

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a related field.
• 10+ years of work experience in accessibility, higher education, or related areas.
• Strong leadership and change-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the ARC's strategy and align accessibility goals with institutional initiatives.
• Oversee accommodations processes, exams, and assistive technology.
• Ensure compliance with ADA, Section 504/508, and related laws.
• Partner with IT and teaching organizations to advance digital accessibility.
• Develop faculty training on accessible course design and universal design.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Collaboration

ADA Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Senior Director of AccessAbility Resource Center

Position Title Senior Director of AccessAbility Resource Center

Functional Title

Functional Title Senior Director of AccessAbility Resource Center

Department

Department 201080

Salary Range

Salary Range $120,000, Depending on Qualifications

Pay Basis

Pay Basis Monthly

Position Status

Position Status Regular full-time

Location

Position End Date (if temporary)

Posting Open Date

Posting Open Date 09/11/2026

Posting Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Desired Start Date

Desired Start Date 01/01/2027

Job Summary

Job Summary

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 Provost for Academic Success and 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 Education and Experience

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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

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.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Physical Activities

Working Conditions

Additional Information

• 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.

Special Instructions Summary

1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public.
2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment. The Universityis committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator . For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Helping all candidates find great careers is our goal. The information you provide here is secure and confidential.

We are now directing you to the original job posting. Please apply directly for this job at the employer’s website.