Senior-Digital Accessible Document Specialist (Local Candidates Only)

We are currently seeking a highly skilled and experienced Digital Accessible Document Specialist responsible for hands-on remediation, creation, and quality assurance of accessible digital documents across City departments. This role involves auditing and updating a range of document types—including PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and forms—to meet WCAG 2.1 AA and PDF/UA standards. The specialist also collaborates with digital and creative services teams to develop accessible templates, establish best practices, and support staff in creating compliant documents independently. Working closely with the Accessibility Architect and the Client Digital Services team, the position ensures alignment with the City''s broader accessibility governance framework.

Responsibilities

• Identify, remediate, and validate existing City digital documents (PDFs, forms, reports, spreadsheets) for compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA, PDF/UA, and Section 508 standards using tools such as Adobe Acrobat Pro, CommonLook, and Client.
• Expand the accessible document style guide and authoring standards, including step-by-step remediation workflows, tagging conventions, and quality assurance checklists to ensure compliance.
• Conduct ongoing quality assurance reviews of departmental document output, track remediation progress against the prioritized backlog, and report on compliance to the Accessibility Architect and project leadership.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in digital document accessibility remediation, including PDF tagging, form accessibility, and document structure optimization.
• Expert-level proficiency with Adobe Acrobat Pro accessibility tools (tags panel, reading order, accessibility checker) and familiarity with complementary tools such as CommonLook PDF Validator, Client (PDF Accessibility Checker).
• Strong working knowledge of WCAG 2.1 AA, PDF/UA (ISO 14289), Section 508, and ADA Title II requirements as they apply to electronic documents and forms.
• Experience creating accessible templates and authoring guidelines in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PDF), with an understanding of how source document structure affects downstream PDF accessibility.
• Strong understanding of the intricacies of Screen Reader behavior across operating systems and applications.

Highly Desired/Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in or with government agencies on large-scale document remediation or digital accessibility compliance projects.
• Familiarity with assistive technologies (JAWS, NVDA) and the ability to test documents from an end-user perspective.
• Client Trusted Tester certification, IAAP document accessibility credential (ADS), or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience with document management systems, batch remediation workflows, and accessible forms.

Additional Details:

• Hybrid; minimum 2 days per week onsite at City offices, with flexibility for remote work.
• Expected duration: 12 months.
• Physical office location: Philadelphia, PA.