ADA Compliance Officer

Accepting Applications for this posting through 3/24/2023

Another Source, a recruiting agency, is assisting UC Santa Cruz in this search. Please apply directly to Another Source via this link. Even with the use of an external search firm, all applications must also be submitted directly through the UC Santa Cruz Staff Employment Opportunities page. For full consideration, all applicants should include a resume and cover letter, and apply by the initial review date listed below.

NOTIFICATIONS

UC Vaccination Policy: With limited exceptions, COVID-19 vaccinations are required for Covered Individuals under the Policy. Covered Individuals include all employees, students, or trainees who physically access a University facility or program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training.

Covered Individuals do NOT include employees who work 100% remotely with NO expectation that they will physically access any University location or program at ANY time. If 100% remote work ends, the employee is subject to policy.

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz staff jobs are posted until filled. Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. NOTE: Materials submitted after the IRD will be forwarded only at the request of the hiring unit. Submit your materials before the IRD to ensure consideration by the hiring unit.

The IRD for this job is: 03-13-2023

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 Office of Equity & Equal Protection (EEP) is responsible for administration of University of California (UC) and/or UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) policies, procedures and programs regarding discrimination and harassment on the basis of all protected classes outlined in the UC Discrimination, Harassment and Affirmative Action in the Workplace Policy, UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy, UC Nondiscrimination Statement-Student Related Matters and other related UC policies. EEP also oversees Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and serves as the campus investigative unit supporting UC whistleblower policies and other programs. EEP is comprised of the following units and functions: Title IX Office, Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Office and the UCSC ADA and Whistleblower compliance programs.

JOB SUMMARY

Under general direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Equity and Equal Protection, the ADA Compliance Officer provides expert-level knowledge and is responsible for developing and administering policies and practices to assure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act, Sections of 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to access and accommodations of persons with disabilities. The ADA Compliance Officer is also responsible for coordinating assessments of the university's physical, digital, employment and programmatic access for individuals with disabilities; providing outreach efforts to disseminate information across the enterprise regarding the ADA and the university's responsibilities, policies, procedures, and resources for disability accommodation and access; and serves as the primary university point of contact regarding the ADA and liaison with relevant state and federal agencies and ADA coordinators at other institutions and associations. The ADA Compliance Officer works on the most complex issues with limited or no precedence, where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. The ADA Compliance Officer ensures comprehensive processes for investigations, resolution, and coordinated response for complaints about access to programs, harassment, discrimination based on disability; pregnancy and disability issues intersecting with Title IX.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Salary Information: Salary Range: $127,000 - $175,000/annually. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary above the posted range. The salary shown above is the budgeted range the University reasonably expects to pay.

No. of Positions: 1

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: This is a Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: ETHICS AND CMPLNC PROFL 5 (006060)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

35% - COMPLIANCE

• Serves as the primary university point of contact regarding the ADA and liaison with relevant state and federal agencies and ADA coordinators at other institutions and associations.
• Monitors and evaluates university compliance with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, to include coverage of students, faculty, staff and visitors.
• Ensures that appropriate processes are in place to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and inquiries from faculty, students and staff, as well as the public, regarding compliance with the ADA and other applicable federal and state laws regarding discrimination on the basis of disability.
• Maintains a record of all disability access and accommodation issues and the resolution of each. Develops metrics and monitors outcomes for themes and patterns. Facilitates discussion on related risks and prioritization of resolution.
• Ensures management corrective actions are in place following complex and/or politically sensitive investigations. Confirms appropriate monitoring controls are utilized. Responsible for the most sensitive of investigation subjects.
• Coordinates development and implementation efforts to provide persons with disabilities access to university programs, facilities and services and develops benchmarks/training for complex topics.
• In collaboration with Facilities Access Manager, Student Programs Access Manager, Public Access Manager, Employment Access Manager, and Electronic Access Manager, and other university entities, develop recommendations for procedures and practices that will facilitate ADA and 504 compliance efforts across the enterprise.
• At the request of university constituents, consults with departments in the implementation of methods to ensure equal opportunity in policies and practices as required by federal, state, and local disability laws and regulations.
• Provide regular updates to the ADA Coordinator regarding trends/concerns pertaining to accessibility, complicated accommodation requests, and other highly sensitive and confidential matters.

35% - ACCESSIBILITY

• Ensures current assessments of accessibility needs are conducted.
• Principal steward of the interactive process. Receives, reviews, and determines validity of all complaints and proposals regarding accessibility. Determines needs for barrier removal, modification, accommodation, or substitution of alternate routes, applying appropriate regulations and current best practices.
• Assists departments in evaluation of need, applying legal requirements and tests of reasonableness and feasibility and prioritizing urgency.
• Responds to university departments and administrators on requests for support for facilitating access and barrier removal.
• Works with appropriate university personnel to solicit expert opinions on construction, alteration, demolition and removal of accessibility barriers according to law and rules of reason.
• Provides consultation to appropriate university personnel on site visits and shares professional knowledge applicable to the evaluation of disability-related access in proposed projects.
• In consultation with appropriate university departments, develops priorities for disability-related access corrections and accommodations and makes recommendations based on the best obtainable advice on costs, time needed for completion, efficacy and priority of projects.
• Serves as the Public Access Manager, responsible for receipt and response to requests for public access and providing consultation on, oversees and assists in the implementation of disability-related access requirements for university events and conferences and other public events and services.

20% - OUTREACH & STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT

• Responsible for the education, training and guidance on the rights of persons with disabilities and the University's responsibilities pertaining to the ADA and other disability laws and regulations.
• Provides leadership and oversight for all ADA-related programming initiatives for faculty, staff and students.
• Develops and maintains written materials and other information pieces to broadly disseminate information regarding the ADA and other disability laws and regulations, including University policies and procedures.
• Designs and participates in the development of presentations for students, faculty and staff on the provision of equal opportunity for persons with disabilities.
• Collaborates with the Affirmative Action Officer and university partners to identify and institute outreach efforts that support the university's affirmative action efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities, in alignment with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Facilitates meetings of work groups and committees focused on disability issues, as assigned.

10% - RESEARCH, ANALYSIS & OTHER DUTIES

• Maintains current information regarding state and federal disability laws and regulations and various ways of providing access and accommodation.
• Reviews UCSC policies and recommends appropriate updates and revisions.
• Assesses the effectiveness of the existing programs designed and implemented to support the University's compliance with federal and state disability laws and regulations and with University policy.
• Provides information and assistance to the Affirmative Action Specialist with regard to the University's Affirmative Action Plan for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Researches, develops and collaboratively implements best practices for creating an inclusive and accessible environment at the university for individuals with disabilities.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and /or equivalent experience and / or training.
• Expert knowledge of the the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act, Sections of 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to access and accommodations of persons with disabilities.
• Demonstrated expertise facilitating and leading the interactive process to develop and implement accommodations, modification, etc. which may be employed to provide accessibility and reasonable accommodations to employees, students and the public.
• Demonstrated expert caseload and project management skills to track and report on progress of multiple cases and projects and resolution of issues, develop timelines and plans of action, and identify and communicate with appropriate units responsible for various aspects of new and ongoing.
• Applies sound principles and standards in completing highly complex and technical assignments.
• Ability to gather, organize, analyze, document and report on issues and recommendations that are complex in nature.
• Demonstrated ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential matters that require independent judgment and strict discretion, and maintain strict confidentiality of privileged information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work independently with all levels of University personnel, including management and faculty, and to facilitate agreement on issues and corrective actions.
• Ability to communicate complex information to all levels of management and administrators in a clear and concise manner both written and verbal.
• Excellent skills in complex decision making on critical issues. Ability to anticipate problems and issues, and resourcefulness and diplomacy to determine appropriate solutions and take action to mitigate potential negative effects in unplanned situations.
• Excellent skills in presenting information in a thorough and complete manner using plain language.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills with an emphasis on educating diverse constituencies and building consensus and a sense of shared responsibility.
• Expert ability to apply policy and legal analysis on issues involving ADA accommodations and discrimination based on disability.
• Demonstrated experience providing expert guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act in a complex institutional environment including intersections with Title IX compliance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advance degree (Master's, EDD, J.D.) in related area and / or equivalent experience and / or training
• Professional certification(s) applicable to job responsibilities
• Expert knowledge of University ethics and compliance policies, procedures and programs
• Knowledge of UC governance, organizational structure, and policies and procedures
• Demonstrated experience facilitating ADA accommodations in relation to overlapping requirements of Title IX
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

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.
• Ability to perform essential physical job functions.
• Will be required to work a hybrid work schedule, days of the week and number of days to be determined, and be able to fulfill requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work a variable schedule.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Clery Act : This position has been identified as a Campus Security Authority (CSA); required to report crimes, incidents, and disciplinary referral statistics as required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 USC * 1092(f)).
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to travel nationally.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• The University of California has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy covering all employees. To be compliant with the policy, covered employees must submit proof of vaccination or have an approved exception or deferral, eight (8) weeks from date of hire.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

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.

HOW TO APPLY

Attach your resume and cover letter when applying for this job opening. Do not attach any documents to 'My Activities'. Visit our How to Apply tutorial for detailed instructions on our applicant process.

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.