IT Accessibility Officer

Company: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Location: Boston
Posted on: February 1, 2025

Job Description:

An Official website of the Commonwealth of MassachusettsALERTEffective January 25, 2024, Executive Order #627 cements the Commonwealth's well-established practice of skills-based hiring, paving the way to a more equitable hiring process. The Commonwealth is committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel respected, valued, and empowered to serve our citizens. Join us today!Job Description - IT Accessibility Officer (24000APS)The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts' environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.Description:EEA is actively seeking a highly motivated and experienced Secretariat IT Accessibility Officer to develop and implement a plan and adoption program to ensure the accessibility, equity, and usability of digital programs and services for all agencies under EEA.As EEA's first Secretariat IT Accessibility Officer, you are charged with addressing these challenges and working to make our digital services more equitable and accessible through strategy and tactical implementation. You will lead the development and execution of a new Secretariat-wide digital accessibility and equity adoption program. This program will align with a statewide strategic plan being developed by the Commonwealth's Chief IT Accessibility Officer and the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) as part of Executive Order No. 614.You will report to the Secretariat Deputy CIO and work closely with the Executive and IT teams, as well as the Commonwealth's Chief IT Accessibility Officer, to align, develop and implement organizational accessibility strategies and agency roadmaps. You will collaborate with a complex network of stakeholders, including agency directors and chiefs of staff, IT application managers, legal and procurement experts, and external state contractors and vendors. You will streamline feedback loops and communication channels with the public. You will continuously evaluate our progress towards our goals and adapt.This role is well-suited for someone dedicated to helping large organizations develop accessible digital products that effectively serve their constituents.The primary work location for this role will be 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114. The work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM EST. This position would be expected to follow a hybrid model of reporting to work that combines in-office workdays and work from home days as needed.Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a Secretariat-wide digital accessibility and equity adoption program.
• Partner with key internal stakeholders to provide leadership and guidance toward implementing accessibility strategies in collaboration with the Chief IT Accessibility Officer and IT Accessibility Officers in other secretariats.
• Advise and partner with senior leadership on accessibility strategic efforts and enhancements.
• Track progress and milestones for internal and external digital assets to contribute to a statewide accessibility and equity dashboard and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with IT management to drive accessibility opportunities, resolve roadblocks and track accessibility metrics.
• Embed accessibility and equity requirements and tooling into software development processes including reviews, testing and definitions of ready and done.
• Collaborate with EOTSS and IT Accessibility Officers for each of the secretariats to identify training needs and adoption of a role-based training program.
• Embed accessibility requirements into all stages of the procurement process.
• Collaborate and work with accessibility stakeholders across other agencies to understand IT accessibility strategies, build strong relationships with accessibility stakeholders involved in overall strategy as well as stakeholders that have a direct influence on the development and implementation of digital services including development teams, content creators, procurement teams and legal teams to help advance accessibility plans.
• Advise organizational management on opportunities to enhance areas of digital accessibility and equity.
• Ensure that digital accessibility requirements are included in governance decisions and processes.
• Work in partnership with EEA ADA Coordinators and EEA Environmental Justice Coordinators.Preferred Qualifications:
  • 4-5 years of experience implementing technology accessibility.
  • Commitment to resolve accessibility and equity issues with digital programs and services.
  • Personal experience with the challenges we are working to address and the services and systems we are working to improve.
  • Experience identifying and/or applying applicable accessibility best practices based on research or other approaches.
  • Knowledge and understanding of state and national accessibility laws and standards for digital resources including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) requirements, WAI-ARIA and Section 508 standards.
  • Exposure to and understanding of design and development processes involving design prototype reviews, testing and incorporation of user research.
  • In-depth understanding and familiarity of automated, manual, and functional accessibility testing processes and tools.
  • Experience influencing leadership and stakeholders about the importance of digital accessibility and equity.
  • Ability to lead teams, develop excellent stakeholder relationships and help parties reach consensus.
  • Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to complex problems; and to prepare concise reports.
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to create executive level presentations for small or large audiences.MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.Substitutions:I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.Primary LocationJobJob: Environmental and EnergyAgencyAgency: Exec Office Of Energy and Environmental AffairsScheduleSchedule: Full-timeShiftShift: DayJob PostingJob Posting: Jan 15, 2025, 1:50:13 PMNumber of OpeningsNumber of Openings: 1Salary: 88,182.80 - 115,000.00 YearlyIf you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Melixza Esenyie - 6178723270Bargaining Unit : M99-Managers (EXE)Confidential : NoPotentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : Yes
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Keywords: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Cranston , IT Accessibility Officer, Other , Boston, Rhode Island