Senior Director of AccessAbility Resource Center

Posting Details

Posting Details

Posting Number S07238P Position Title Senior Director of AccessAbility Resource Center Functional Title Senior Director of AccessAbility Resource Center Department AccessAbility Resource Center Salary Range $120,000, Depending on Qualifications Pay Basis Monthly Position Status Regular full-time Location Richardson Position End Date (if temporary) Posting Open Date 09/11/2026 Posting Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Desired Start Date 01/01/2027 Job Summary

Job Summary

The Senior Director of the AccessAbility Resources Center (ARC) is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing university-wide accessibility services for students and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Success & Innovation, this position serves as the University's primary subject matter expert on ADA compliance, leading a dedicated team to provide comprehensive accommodations that enable students with disabilities to meet their academic potential.

The Senior Director balances operational efficiency with long-term planning, focusing on removing barriers to education, modernizing accommodation workflows, and partnering with the Office of Information Technology, Educational Technology Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning to advance digital accessibility standards. In addition to managing operations, the Senior Director works closely with faculty and academic leadership to provide professional development and advocate for student needs.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional collaboration skills and advanced communication acumen, enabling them to build trust across a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and senior leadership, while navigating complex and sensitive conversations with empathy and clarity. The candidate will skillfully cultivate collaborative partnerships, promote a campus-wide culture grounded in respect, shared accountability, and drive strategic initiatives that meaningfully strengthen student engagement, access, and belonging.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree with ten years of work experience in related field.

Preferred Education and Experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Fourteen or more years of progressively responsible experience in a related field.
• Prior experience supervising and leading a complex team.
• Five years or more of experience in higher education.

Other Qualifications

To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and execution of a strategic vision for the ARC, aligning accessibility goals directly with major institutional initiatives for student success.
• Use assessment data to evaluate the impact of services on student success and graduation rates, ensuring continuous improvement and responsiveness to student needs, while identifying campus-wide bottlenecks and forecasting future resource requirements.
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert on federal and state regulations (ADA, Section 504/508, Fair Housing Act). Partner with Legal Counsel and Risk Management to interpret legislation, mitigate institutional liability, and guide leadership on best practices.
• Direct the daily operations of the ARC, including the intake process, exam administration, and assistive technology. Oversee the departmental budget and personnel, ensuring scalable workflows to handle increasing caseloads.
• Collaborate with academic leadership to transition the university from a retroactive accommodation model to a proactive Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Develop and deliver training for faculty on accessible course design and navigating complex accommodation scenarios while maintaining academic integrity and respecting academic freedom.
• Partner with the Office of Information Technology (OIT) and Educational Technology Services to ensure digital assets meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Consult with Facilities Management on capital projects to ensure physical environments exceed minimum code requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate a diverse team of accessibility professionals. Foster a high-performance culture grounded in empathy, professional growth, and operational excellence.
• Work closely with students to ensure their feedback informs the development of ARC services, ensuring a consistent and inclusive experience across all aspects of university life, while actively fostering their self-advocacy skills and managing expectations around reasonable accommodations.
• Mediate complex situations between students and faculty, utilizing diplomatic persuasion to build buy-in for accessibility as a shared campus responsibility rather than solely a legal mandate.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions Physical Activities Working Conditions Additional Information

Required Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated understanding of best practices for supporting student success, retention, and access in a research university setting.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop professional staff, encouraging growth and fostering a collaborative, high-performance team culture.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, with the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders-including students, faculty, and executive leadership-to foster an environment of respect.
• Deep understanding of recent and emerging laws governing accessibility in higher education (ADA, Section 504/508).
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, tact, discretion, and integrity when handling confidential information and sensitive conversations, backed by strong conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.
• Connection to national initiatives and trends related to accessibility, inclusive educational technologies, and Universal Design.
• Experience relating to budget oversight and resource allocation.
• Ability to act as a change agent, anticipating demographic and technological shifts, and leading without direct authority to drive proactive practices across academic micro-cultures.

What We Can Offer

UT Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer with an employee-friendly and supportive work environment. Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package that is effective as of your hire date includes:

• Competitive Salary
• Tuition Benefits
• Internal Training
• BCBS PPO Medical insurance - 100% paid for full-time employees
• Vision Insurance
• Long and short-term disability
• TRS Retirement Plan
• Dental/Vision/AD&D
• Paid Time off
• Fertility Benefits

About Us

UT Dallas is a top public research university located in one of the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan regions. Our seven schools offer more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs, plus professional certificates and fast-track programs. Our student body is 31,000 strong, reflecting students from over 100 countries and a multiplicity of identities and experiences. UT Dallas is committed to graduating well-rounded members of the global community whose education has prepared them for rewarding lives and productive careers in a constantly changing world.

All UT Dallas employees have access to various professional development opportunities, including a membership to Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, and UT Dallas Bright Leaders Program.

Visit https://hr.utdallas.edu/employees/benefits/ for more information.

Special Instructions Summary Important Message

1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public.

2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• Official Transcripts

Optional Documents

• Veteran Employment Preference - Form DD-214