Director of Accessibility & Inclusion

This position works remotely requiring a telecommuting agreement and adherence to the UCSC Telecommuting/Remote Work Guidelines. The employee shall be available in a full-time capacity during assigned telecommuting work hours (specific hours to be discussed with supervisor). While telecommuting/remote working, the employee is responsible for ensuring a worksite environment suitable for accomplishing their regular job duties during scheduled hours of work and, if applicable, arranging for dependent care just as they would if they were working at the regular UCSC worksite.

NO VISA SPONSORSHIP IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our Talent Acquisition website. 

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. Materials submitted after the IRD will ONLY be forwarded at the request of the hiring unit. To ensure your application is routed for consideration, submit your materials before 11:59 p.m. on the IRD.  Talent Acquisition cannot accept application materials outside of the jobs portal, and is unable to update submitted applications on an applicant's behalf, or forward communications to the hiring units. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link .

The IRD for this job is: 04-17-2024

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) is a public agency supported by 13 members (states and territories). Through the work of thousands of educators, Smarter Balanced created an online assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), as well as tools for educators to improve teaching and learning. Smarter Balanced is housed at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Silicon Valley Extension.

Smarter Balanced's work is guided by the belief that a high-quality assessment system can provide information and tools for teachers and schools to improve instruction and help students succeed - regardless of disability, language, or subgroup. Smarter Balanced involves experienced educators, researchers, state and local policymakers, and community groups working together in a transparent and consensus-driven process.

Smarter Balanced staff have a profound commitment to UCSC's Principles of Community including embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

UCSC Extension provides professional training that reflects the academic rigor of the University of California and the hands-on, roll-up-your-shirtsleeves practicality of Silicon Valley culture. Developed with guidance from key industry leaders and academic experts, Extension's certificate programs match the economic demands of industry, from engineering to business, education to bioscience. The University of California reviews and approves UCSC Extension courses and programs for academic content, merit, and instructor qualifications. Many courses can be applied toward degree programs or may be eligible for professional certificates and licenses.

More information can be found at https://smarterbalanced.org/

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Accessibility & Inclusion independently uses and applies in-depth knowledge and experience in the specific policy field on projects that typically impact the entire organization or programs external to the organization. The incumbent operates in a highly visible, politically sensitive, legally complex, and evolving arena. The Director uses advanced professional concepts and objectives to address and resolve complex policy or program issues and works on significant, strategic issues and problems requiring political sensitivity, where analysis of circumstances and information requires an in-depth evaluation of factors.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $101,100 - $139,545/year.  Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment 

Job End Date: None

Work Location: Remote

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 000378 (ACAD PRG MGT OFCR 4)

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

JOB DUTIES

30% - Accessibility and Inclusion (A&I) and Program Strategy

• Serves as the organization expert on Accessibility & Inclusion (A&I) within Smarter Balanced, keeping abreast of A&I educational research, policy and practice.
• Represents Smarter Balanced A&I viewpoint and initiatives to educators and policy-makers at meetings, conferences, and in marketing materials. Establishes Smarter Balanced as a thought leader in A&I.
• Develops guidelines and recommendations to guide and support a broader strategic direction for A&I within Smarter Balanced.
• Leads membership policy and planning committees and documentation relating to areas within A&I, such as Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines and Bias and Sensitivity Guidelines.
• Uses political acumen, expertise in A&I, and project management skills to address and resolve conflicting requests among members as well as internal timeline and resource constraints.
• Partners with product management in upgrading and designing features and functionality of assessments and resources.
• Identifies and recruits experts to serve as Smarter Balanced advisors.
• Reviews and evaluates existing and emerging innovations in educational research, evaluation, assessment, instruction, and technology to identify promising avenues for academic and educational research and development in the area of A&I.
• Collaborates with the psychometrics and research team on research that explores the role of social justice in our item development, focusing initially on design and analysis of data that moves the field forward.
• Maintains and enhances a pool of contractors that can develop accessibility resources based on Smarter Balanced established processes.

40% - Content Development Management

• Hires, leads, and supervises the A&I team, including one or more direct reports, providing coaching support and professional growth opportunities to staff.
• Creates team processes and work plans to address the body of A&I work, including supervisory review and coaching of work products.
• Leads members of the program team through influence and thoughtful processes to increase understanding of A&I principles, follows A&I guidelines, and participates in review processes that increase the ability of our assessments to positively impact all learners.
• Identifies resources necessary for content development and review processes regarding A&I across content, product management, psychometrics, and research.
• Provides leadership to the A&I department and other program team departments on accessibility, inclusion, diversity, and best practices in pedagogy for special populations.
• Builds and refine processes that achieve the twin goals of building efficiencies that sustain the organization and more effectively meet the A&I needs of educators and students.
• Provides expertise regarding guidelines for A&I item pool selection/maintenance, step-by-step accessibility resource development by resource type, and the role of A&I participation in sensitivity, bias, educator reviews, and data reviews.
• Documents process and guidelines for A&I product development thoughtfully, ensuring team and vendor compliance to common A&I development practices that reflect industry best practices and support data governance, replicable findings, and consistency over time.
• Provides guidelines for the role of A&I in educational resources, including lesson plans, professional development, and formative assessment.
• Collaborates with DEPO Psychometrics & Research on efficacy research in A&I with our products.

30% - Planning and Operations

• Drives process efficiencies in A&I test production, including using AI and other automation strategies to streamline workflow, combining human + machine learning processes in innovative ways.
• Collaborates with the Test Production and Psychometrics team to quickly and effectively resolve all quality flags raised by the gap analysis and create a long-term plan for minimizing quality flags over time.
• Directs the work of teachers, faculty, state members, service providers, vendors, and contractors who develop and review content, to ensure Smarter Balanced provides research-based accessible, quality, on-time deliverables that address the needs of states and their stakeholders.
• Plans, oversees, and provides as necessary systems that include teacher and faculty participation in the development and review of the A&I strategies of Smarter Balanced technology and content.
• Establishes contracts with A&I resource developers based on UC policies and Smarter Balanced processes that incorporate clear language, clear identification of roles and responsibilities, and clear timelines so that resources are delivered on time and with a high degree of quality.
• Oversees contracts with A&I resources developers to ensure that contractors use established processes and provide high-quality deliverables in a timely manner.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Expert knowledge of Accessibility & Inclusion.
• Highly skilled communication and interpersonal skills to communicate with and influence others, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
• Highly skilled in all levels of item development, resource development, process development, and project management.
• Expert knowledge of instructional materials development processes, protocols and procedures with regards to A&I.
• Experience leading a project team to address complex tasks.
• Ability to use project management and delegation strategies to multi-task and prioritize work within demanding timeframes.
• Expert analytical / problem-solving skills.
• Ability to contribute meaningful to organizational and department strategic thinking.
• Ability to articulate the workflow of an educator’s and administrators day across K-12 grade levels and to define user needs for A&I products, resources, and training.
• Expert ability to define and document complex processes that incorporate plain language, structured to ensure fidelity of implementation, and embed quality controls.
• Experience ensuring that organizational practices, services, and behaviors support and promote diversity among staff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Within the past 12 months, provided services or deliverables in support of a contract.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• This is a fully remote position, and the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work overtime including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays to meet operational needs, and work an alternate work schedule shift as required.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to travel nationally.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination