Accessibility Leader

Job Description

At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers. We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome products and tools. Instructure is seeking a passionate and experienced Accessibility Leader to champion our accessibility initiatives, ensuring our products are inclusive and usable for all individuals, including those with disabilities. As the Accessibility Leader, you will be integral in integrating accessibility into our engineering processes, steering the development of accessible technologies, and advocating for best practices across our organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Accessibility Strategy and Leadership:
• Develop and implement a comprehensive accessibility strategy aligned with the company’s mission and goals.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert on accessibility within the engineering team and across the organization.
• Advocate for accessibility and inclusive design principles in all aspects of product development.
Technical Guidance and Support:
• Provide technical guidance and support to engineering teams to ensure accessibility is considered and implemented at every stage of the development lifecycle.
• Conduct accessibility audits and assessments of existing products and platforms to identify areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with UX/UI designers, product managers, and developers to create accessible design solutions and ensure compliance with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1, ARIA, ADA).
Training and Education:
• Develop and deliver training programs and resources to educate employees about accessibility best practices and guidelines.
• Stay current with accessibility trends, technologies, and regulatory requirements, and disseminate this knowledge throughout the organization.
Compliance and Monitoring:
• Ensure that all digital products meet or exceed accessibility standards and legal requirements.
• Establish and maintain processes for continuous monitoring and testing of accessibility features.
• Work with quality assurance teams to integrate accessibility testing into the overall testing strategy.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure a cohesive approach to accessibility.
• Engage with external accessibility consultants, advocacy groups, and users with disabilities to gather feedback and insights.
• Have a delivery mindset. Take ownership of certain initiatives (like getting VPAT certifications) ensuring that all business needs are met and that there is a clear understanding of schedule across product portfolio.
Innovation and Improvement:
• Identify opportunities for innovation in accessibility and inclusive design.
• Lead initiatives to incorporate emerging accessibility technologies and practices into the engineering workflow.

• Proven experience in accessibility engineering and inclusive design, with a strong understanding of accessibility standards and guidelines (e.g., WCAG, ARIA, ADA).
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in front-end development technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and accessibility testing tools (e.g., Axe, WAVE, JAWS).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to advocate for accessibility and educate others effectively.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Experience working with diverse user groups, including individuals with disabilities, is a plus.
• Trusted Tester Certification is desirable.

Get in on all the awesome at Instructure:

• Competitive salary, equity and 401k.
• Medical, dental, disability, and life insurance.
• HSA program, vision, voluntary life, and AD&D.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and flexible work schedules.
• LifeStyle Spending Account.

$85,000 - $110,000 a year We’ve always believed in hiring the most awesome people and treating them right. We know that the more diverse we are, the more diverse our ideas will be and when we openly welcome those ideas, our environment is better and our business is stronger. At Instructure we participate in E-Verify and yes, in case you didn't catch it from the above, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All Instructure employees are required to successfully pass a background check upon being hired. Apply for this job