Digital Accessibility Specialist

Company Overview:

When it comes to IT solution providers, there are a lot of choices. But when it comes to providers with innovative and differentiating end-to-end service offerings, there’s really only one: Zones – First Choice for IT.TM

Zones is a Global Solution Provider of end-to-end IT solutions with an unmatched supply chain. Positioned to be the IT partner you need, Zones, a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) in business for over 35 years, specializes in Digital Workplace, Cloud & Data Center, Networking, Security, and Managed/Professional/Staffing services. Operating in more than 120 countries, leveraging a robust portfolio, and utilizing the highest certification levels from key partners, including Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Lenovo, Adobe, and more, Zones has mastered the science of building digital infrastructures that change the way business does business ensuring whatever they need, they can Consider IT Done. Follow Zones, LLC on Twitter @Zones, and LinkedIn and Facebook.

Position Overview:

Term: 12-month Contract

Location: Hybrid role- must reside in Boston, MA

Pay: up to $55/hr

Hours: Standard Business

What you’ll do as the Digital Accessibility Specialist:

The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties and responsibilities of the position, and the duties and responsibilities may change without notice.

• Interact with individuals at all levels of government and with vendors in a professional manner and ensure that customer service is maintained at the highest level.
• Serves as a subject matter expert on accessibility; develops accessibility resources pertaining to accessibility initiatives and policies.
• Identifying relevant best practices and assisting in the development of strategies to enhance customer's ability to provide accessible digital information and services
• Providing audits of internal applications against the WCAG 2.1 A and AA standards
• Remediating complex documents prior to posting
• Assisting Manager with the establishment of web content accessibility standards to be used agency-wide
• The specialist may deliver accessibility training and technical support to employees.
• Collaborates with Digital Services team members to build and maintain a robust knowledge repository.
• Implements and leads the testing of digital assets. Coordinates testing and reporting on the accessibility of websites, forms, electronic documents, and applications to meet accessibility standards. Advise project teams on fixing issues identified in audit reports.
• Advises internal teams on implementing accessibility steps into their processes and addressing accessibility issues identified in manual and automated accessibility testing.
• Assists the Digital Accessibility Program Manager with efforts to establish and manage accessibility best practices, standards and guidelines, and policy within digital initiatives. Assists in establishing customer in a leadership position as it relates to accessibility and usability of information technology.
• Assist the Digital Accessibility Manager in developing and maintaining standards and policies that evolve along with the maturity of the digital accessibility program.
• Assists in implementing digital accessibility practices across the organization, including changes to the organization’s culture. Serves on workgroups, provides training, and assistance to plan, implement and monitor accessibility of digital resources.
• Promotes accessibility within the organization and advocates for accessibility as a vital part of the customer and employee experience.
• Assists in creating a communication plan to alert and engage employees of their role and responsibility for accessible digital content and services.
• Identify and/or develop appropriate checkpoints to allow oversight and governance activities that ensure that digital content and services procured, designed, built, tested, and maintained are meeting accessibility best practices, standards, and Commonwealth policies.
• Research and implement industry best practices, standards and guidelines, and legislation as it relates to accessibility. This includes, but is not limited to, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title II, and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• Maintain a solid knowledge of current developments in accessibility and technology including policies, procedures, standards, and objectives as they relate to legislation, Information Technology Policies, Executive Orders, and Memoranda of Understandings. Identify gaps or conflicts with such and make recommendations.
• Anticipate problems and identify and evaluate potential sources of information to generate alternatives and solve problems where precedents do not exist.
• Complete all work in a timely manner, following department standards and policies, to the satisfaction of the customer.
• Communicate, explain, and defend ideas and information clearly and adapt to the audience’s level of knowledge.
• Work cooperatively with team members.
• Perform other related duties as required.

What you will bring to the team:

• Working knowledge of the Web principals of accessibility, usability and user experience. Experience applying expertise in usability, user experience and accessibility to handle the day-to-day management, editing and quality control of text, images, and other content on an organization's website.
• Knowledge and understanding of state and national accessibility laws and standards for digital resources including Title II of the ADA, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) requirements and Plain Language laws.
• Thorough understanding of accessibility issues and standards to ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 A and AA standards and regulations.
• Experience using various testing software including the WAVE toolbar, ARC Toolkit, Accessibility Insights for Web, WebAIM Contrast Checker, and others. Experience testing with assistive technologies like NVDA, JAWS, Dragon Naturally Speaking and ZoomText.
• Ability to perform content/software/application audits and work with developers to resolve issues.
• Experience in researching industry practices and benchmark information. Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems; and to prepare concise reports.
• Skill in planning and facilitating meetings, working in teams, and group problem solving. Knowledge of the principles and practices of effective project leadership.
• Proven ability to build consensus and work effectively within a cross-departmental team.
• Exceptional written and oral communication and organizational skills. Ability to organize and present information in a clear, concise manner.
• Ability to prioritize, manage and complete multiple assignments in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent attention to detail; ability to review complex information from multiple sources and determine relevant information to a given situation.
• Ability to provide outstanding customer service by anticipating customer needs, identifying products and/or services to meet their needs, and resolving complex or non-routine problems, questions, or complaints
• Skill in applying principles/methods to ensure that policies, directives, and guidelines are followed.
• Ability to logically identify alternatives to solve complex or sensitive problems

Minimum Experience, Training, and Certifications:

Three years of experience that demonstrates:

• Ability to conduct accessibility audits and provide findings reports.
• Identifying and/or applying applicable leading organizational accessibility practices based on research or other approaches.
• Developing organizational accessibility policies, strategies, and/or guidance.
• Advising organizational management on opportunities to enhance areas of accessibility.

Training:

Completion of the W3C Digital Accessibility Foundations - Introduction to Web Accessibility online course or comparable training course is a plus.

Certifications:

Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS), Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA), and Accessible Document Specialist (ADS) certifications from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) are a plus.

Zones offers a comprehensive Benefits package

While we’re committed to providing top-tier solutions, we’re just as committed to supporting our own team. As a valued team member, you will be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical coverage, as well as state-mandated sick leave, along with other benefits designed to support your well-being and work-life balance. And as a Minority Business Enterprise, a Corporate Plus member of the Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council, and an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, our community is just as diverse.

At Zones, work is more than a job –with exciting careers with a global team who are client centric, have a passion for tech, who embrace change and lifelong learning in a collaborative culture. If you’re interested in working on the cutting edge of IT innovation, sales, engineering, operations, administration, and more, Zones is the place for you!

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status or on the basis of disability.

Zones participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a system that compares information from a team member’s Form I-9 to federal records to confirm their eligibility to work in the United States.