Specialist - Advisor-Continuing

Michigan State University; East Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Michigan State University seeks an Access Specialist Supervisor (Assistant Director) to advance disability access within Graduate and Professional Schools. You will oversee a team of access specialists, provide expert advising and direct services, and collaborate with faculty, staff, and partner programs to strengthen accommodations, inclusion, and student success.

The role emphasizes leadership, program development, and cross-campus collaboration, with a hybrid work arrangement in East Lansing,

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of professional experience in disability or accessibility services or a closely related field, including direct advising and case management for individuals with disabilities
• demonstrated experience interpreting disability documentation and determining reasonable accommodations in accordance with ADA and related regulations
• experience consulting with faculty, staff, or organizational partners on accessibility and inclusion practices
• prior experience supervising or leading professional staff
• a record of developing trainings, outreach, or program initiatives in a higher education or similarly complex organizational setting

Responsibilities

• Provide advising, direct services, consultation, and referrals to persons with disabilities to facilitate full participation in university programs and services
• Provide outreach, consulting, and presentations to university faculty and staff to facilitate accessibility and inclusion
• Supervise team of access specialists and oversee their work, serving as the first level of support for the specialists
• Under direction of Associate Director, lead area of work for access specialist team
• Develop and administer programs and services to increase engagement in MSU's mission and programs, fostering student success and career/life advancement

Skills

Advising

Team leadership

Public speaking

Interpersonal skills

Project coordination

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Working/Functional Title

Access Specialist Supervisor (Assistant Director)

Position Summary

Michigan State University has earned a reputation for excellence in facilitating inclusion of persons with disabilities in a range of educational and work-related opportunities. Access Specialists maintain and employ cutting edge knowledge in their specialty area to provide outstanding advising, outreach, and direct services related to the specialization at hand.

This role serves as a subject matter expert who supports timely, informed interactions and solutions that advance disability access within Graduate and Professional Schools. The position maintains comprehensive knowledge of program requirements, technical standards, and curriculum, and provides leadership to strengthen coordination among academic and clinical programs, internship and clerkship sites, students, and RCPD Access Specialists.

This Position

• Provides advising, direct services, consultation, and referrals to persons with disabilities to facilitate full participation in university programs and services
• Provides outreach, consulting, and presentations to university faculty and staff to facilitate an environment of accessibility and inclusion
• Supervises team of access specialists and oversees their work, serving as the first level of support for the specialists
• Under direction of Associate Director, leads area of work for access specialist team.
• Develops and administers programs and services intent on increasing engagement in the mission and programs of Michigan State University, fostering student success, and ultimately advancing career and life success

This is a hybrid position located in East Lansing, MI with the expectation of two non-consecutive remote days per week.

Illustration of Duties

• Provision of direct services to persons with disabilities (40%): (Specialist- Advising)
  • Interact with students and employees to assess program eligibility, conduct needs assessments, and determine reasonable accommodations
  • Review, recommend, and implement auxiliary aids/services and reasonable accommodations
  • Facilitate full participation in academic, workplace, and extracurricular life through advising, service coordination, and networking
  • Utilize disability documentation and data from needs assessments to implement effective accommodation strategies that enable students and employees to meet essential functions in academic and workplace settings
  • Read, interpret, and critically analyze medical and functional capacity documentation to determine when conditions represent ADA qualified disabilities
  • Monitor academic progress and assist with academic advising
  • Assist with selection and usage of appropriate compensatory strategies and assistive technology where relevant
  • Facilitate positive peer contacts and interactions among persons with disabilities
• Supervision of Access Specialists (20%) (Specialist- Other- Administrative Responsibilities)
  • Serve as first-line support to Access Specialists, in partnership with the Associate Director, as they address unique dynamics faced by students and faculty to facilitate legal compliance while emphasizing student development and career readiness.
  • Assist the Associate Director in developing opportunities for professional development to advance staff skills, address emerging program needs, and maintain an exemplary work environment characterized by team cohesion, topical expertise, and leadership.
  • Assist staff in determining priorities, aligning resources, effective case notation, and delegating tasks where appropriate.
• Presentations, in-services and consultation with faculty, staff, and departments (20%): (Specialist- Other (Outreach))
  • Provide consultation and advocacy with faculty and staff regarding individual accommodation needs
  • Make referrals to appropriate campus and community resources
  • Produce and present workshops and presentations on disability and accommodations
• Leadership of critical focus area (15%) (Specialist- Other (Administrative Responsibilities))
  • Under the direction of Associate Director, serve as principal organizer of a critical mission area of RCPD Accommodation work and ensure effective and efficient communication and practices.
  • Work with RCPD Leadership and staff to develop, implement and uphold policies and procedures.
  • Serve as content expert and maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices and current legal trends
  • Work with Director and Associate Director to explore strategic direction of RCPD.
  • Will serve as a representative of RCPD on internal and external committees, contributing expertise, collaboration, and leadership in support of organizational and campus-wide initiatives.
• Coordination of programs providing services to persons with disabilities (5%)
  • Support innovative programs to address student needs
  • Annual reporting of programmatic needs, progress, and strengths/weaknesses
  • Maintain knowledge/expertise regarding the issues, resources, and concerns for disabled individuals
  • Collaborate on proposals that facilitate new or expanded programmatic efforts
• Other duties as assigned

Supervision Received

Reports to the Associate Director of the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities for general direction and specific projects.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Education, Student Affairs, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, or related area of disability study.

Minimum Requirements

• 3–5 years of professional experience in disability or accessibility services or a closely related field, including direct advising and case management for individuals with disabilities;
• demonstrated experience interpreting disability documentation and determining reasonable accommodations in accordance with ADA and related regulations;
• experience consulting with faculty, staff, or organizational partners on accessibility and inclusion practices;
• prior experience supervising or leading professional staff;
• a record of developing trainings, outreach, or program initiatives in a higher education or similarly complex organizational setting.

Required Application Materials

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

https://uhw.msu.edu/health-and-wellbeing-services/accessibility-and-accommodations/rcpd

Department Statement

Spartans lead in ways practical and profound. We create opportunity through study and research, developing solutions for some of the world's most challenging needs. Education expands opportunity and for those experiencing disabilities, education is a most empowering choice. This is why Team RCPD works diligently to engage MSU traditions of quality, inclusiveness and connectivity for the benefit of all.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.