Job no: 550896
Work type: Staff
Location: Chancellor’s Office
Categories: Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services, Administrative, Probationary, Full Time

CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE STATEMENT

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of Accessible IT Procurement Specialist. The CSU Chancellor’s Office, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach, is the headquarters for the nation’s largest and most diverse system of higher education. The CSU Chancellor’s Office offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.

POSITION INFORMATION

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking an Accessible IT Procurement Specialist to support strategic initiatives in IT accessible procurement to ensure systemwide compliance with state and federal regulations. This position provides expertise in IT procurement accessibility, ensuring strategic alignment with federal and state compliance requirements and advancing digital accessibility at scale.
Serves as the primary liaison between IT, Procurement, and CSU campuses to coordinate procurement accessibility reviews for the CSU Chancellor’s Office, ensuring the accessibility of ICT platforms with systemwide impact. The role involves performing thorough due diligence, coordinating with campuses on shared technologies, critically reviewing accessibility conformance reports, scheduling and leading vendor accessibility demonstrations, developing Temporary Alternate Access Plans (formerly Equally Effective Alternate Access Plans [EEAAPs]), and maintaining a comprehensive documentation repository accessible across the 23-campus CSU system.
This position contributes to the enhancement of the systemwide adoption of ATI-accessible procurement best practices, including organizing monthly meetings with accessible procurement stakeholders to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing. Combining technical expertise, knowledge of accessibility laws and regulations, and consultation with the Director of Digital Accessibility, the role requires strong communication skills, independent judgment, and the ability to work collaboratively on complex projects that may involve multiple stakeholders.
The incumbent supports compliance with legal accessibility standards and exercises discretion across all aspects of accessible procurement, including training and mentorship, to foster ICT acquisitions that meet or exceed accessibility standards. By championing systemwide adherence and continuous improvement, this position is critical in supporting the advancement of the CSU’s commitment to digital accessibility and the Accessible Technology Initiative’s procurement priority.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience is required.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in IT procurement accessibility, including policy development and strategic planning.
• Proven expertise with automated testing tools and manual testing methodologies for evaluating accessibility.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act, and related accessibility laws and regulations.
• Advanced expertise in interpreting and applying WCAG 2.1 AA standards, Section 508, and the ADA in procurement workflows.
• Strong proficiency in applying WCAG principles, success criteria, and techniques to assess and ensure accessibility compliance for digital interfaces.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously, maintaining a high-quality standard while organizing, monitoring, and guiding diverse stakeholders, including third-party vendors and representatives from the public and private sectors.
• Extensive experience with project management tools, advanced assistive technologies, and overseeing large-scale projects involving collaboration across multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to remain composed and make decisive judgments in high-pressure situations while maintaining effective communication with supervisors and stakeholders.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, coupled with active listening and constructive engagement abilities to foster collaboration and understanding.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide accessibility audits and risk assessments in IT procurement is required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Master’s degree or equivalent expertise in accessibility technology, with demonstrated leadership in implementing large-scale accessibility programs, is strongly preferred.
• Certification as an IAAP CPACC, WAS, or DHS Trusted Tester is highly preferred.
• Five to seven years of direct experience in accessible IT procurement, with a proven track record of ensuring compliance and driving accessibility initiatives.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Tester certification is preferred, showcasing expertise in accessibility testing and evaluation.
• Advanced proficiency in conducting usability testing with individuals with disabilities and a deep understanding of how assistive technologies interact with web content and user workflows.
• Extensive knowledge of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act, and related accessibility laws and regulations as they apply to ICT acquisitions in state and federally funded higher education institutions.
• Strong technical skills, a comprehensive understanding of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) procurement processes, and a working knowledge of WCAG guidelines to ensure compliance and usability.
• Hands-on experience with assistive technologies across desktop and mobile platforms, particularly screen-reading tools like JAWS and NVDA, enabling the ability to provide expert insights during vendor-led product accessibility demonstrations.

Under the general direction of the Director of Digital Accessibility and Equity, the Accessible IT Procurement Specialist will perform duties as outlined below:

Review Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Acquisitions

• Support and engage vendors for accessibility conformance and conduct Chancellor’s Office due diligence for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) acquisition requests submitted via CSUBuy or from Procurement and Contract buyers, determine the impact, and critically review accessibility conformance documentation provided by the requestor and third-party vendors as appropriate.
• Lead expert-level analysis of ICT acquisitions using automated and manual testing methodologies.
• Provide high-level risk assessments and remediation strategies for accessibility compliance gaps.
• Coordinate and conduct the appropriate review and catalog in the ACR repository accessibility conformance documentation provided by the vendor, which can include VPATs, Roadmaps, and accessibility statements, to determine the accessibility level of the product.
• Critically review accessibility conformance documentation per framework guidelines and ask vendor follow-up questions on incorrect or ambiguous criterion statements, lacking supporting remarks, or contradicting information.
• Coordinate vendor accessibility demonstrations to provide high-quality barrier information.
• Use accessibility barrier information and consultation with requesters to develop Equally Effective Alternate Access Plans (EEAAPs) that address barriers for groups of affected users. Distribute EEAAPs via the systemwide ACR repository.
• Maintain timely communication and follow-up at regular intervals with all parties to ensure vendor responsiveness, updated documentation, and requester transparency. Continue to engage vendors until they supply the requested information to ensure timely vendor requests.
• Continually analyze, optimize, and revise accessible procurement framework procedures to increase CO and systemwide adherence and meet legal obligations and due diligence.

Consultation, Collaboration & Training

• Lead and mentor a network of CSU accessibility procurement specialists, establishing best practices and knowledge-sharing forums.
• Act as the CSU systemwide expert advising campus leadership on accessibility compliance risks specifically with procurement contracts.
• Provides expertise to the Director of Digital Accessibility when developing and refining systemwide accessible procurement policies and best practices and collaborates with other key CSU leadership positions, at the direction of the Director of Digital Accessibility, to refine accessibility frameworks to reflect legal changes.
• Serve as knowledge expert to improve CSUBuy workflow as it pertains to accessible procurement of ITC.
• Participate in developing resources to educate campus stakeholders on accessible procurement principles within the Chancellor’s Office, lead systemwide training programs for CSU campuses, and mentor campus teams on advanced accessibility evaluation methods.
• Work with Procurement and Contracts, vendors, requestors, and other stakeholders to critically review ICT acquisitions for accessibility conformance and provide expert-level consultations on complex accessibility issues to stakeholders, including procurement officers and vendors.
• Participate in the accessible procurement CoP, including developing agendas and topics related to ICT accessibility conformance.
• Integrate accessibility and information security compliance workflows, identifying opportunities to streamline processes, eliminate redundancies, and create unified, efficient compliance frameworks that maximize impact and effectiveness.
• Effectively promote accessible procurement principles with a diverse group of stakeholders at all levels by establishing, encouraging, and maintaining cooperative and productive relationships with others and as a member of a team or unit.

Reporting and Administration

• Contribute to CSU ATI systemwide reporting initiatives, ensuring accurate and timely submission of data and insights related to the procurement priority.
• Assists the Director of Digital Accessibility in developing systemwide accessibility procurement policies and oversees compliance reporting for CSU leadership.
• Prepares strategic reports analyzing CSU-wide procurement accessibility trends and recommend policy improvements.
• Deliver comprehensive statistics on demand related to accessible procurement activities to the Director of Accessibility and Equity, supporting data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
• Evaluate existing and emerging technologies for compliance with accessibility standards, providing expert analysis to inform procurement decisions and advance systemwide accessibility initiatives.
• Provides expertise to the Director of Digital Accessibility to further develop, document, and refine internal and systemwide procedures and policies, ensuring alignment with best practices and accessibility compliance requirements.

Standards and Practices

• Stay informed about industry trends, legal requirements, and emerging technologies related to accessible procurement.

-Effectively organize multiple ongoing vendor requests simultaneously by utilizing time- management tools, working independently on task assignments, investigating and troubleshooting complex problems, and performing daily responsibilities.

• Stays informed on emerging technologies and evaluates their impact on accessibility.