Executive Director, Student Disability and Accessibility Services

Job Details

Purpose

The Executive Director for Student Disability and Accessibility Services provides senior leadership and oversight for the university’s disability services for students, ensuring student-centered delivery of accommodations, coaching, support, community-building, outreach/education, and accessibility programs. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Health and Well-being within the Division of Student Affairs, the Executive Director oversees a $3.5M operating budget and leads a team of 51 professional staff, 13 student employees, 7 graduate assistants, and 23 contract employees all dedicated to accessibility and the student experience. This position provides strategic leadership to Disability and Access (D&A), the Disability Cultural Center (DCC), and Longhorn TIES; manages the day-to-day operations of D&A; and serves as an authority on disability law, accommodation determinations, and accessibility policy for students. The ADA Coordinator, who provides accommodation assistance for faculty and staff, and the Campus Testing Center are not a part of the Executive Director’s portfolio of responsibilities.

• Disability and Access services include student accommodations, the Assistive Technology Education Center, and coordination of sign language interpreters/CART/TypeWell for students, faculty, and staff who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
• The Disability Cultural Center has dedicated space and staff to provide education, community, and advocacy for all members of the UT community.
• Longhorn TIES serves neurodivergent students through one-on-one student support and drop-in coaching and provides training and outreach to campus.

This position also serves as a key leader in the university’s Health and Well-being leadership as well as the Division of Student Affairs senior leadership. Through strategic planning, direct student support, and extensive collaboration with academic and administrative units, the Executive Director advances the university’s commitment to accessibility and student success.

Responsibilities

Administrative Leadership and Operations

• Provide administrative oversight for D&A, including staff supervision, developing student-centered systems, budget management, policy development, and day‑to‑day office operations.
• Foster a positive team environment and prioritize staff development.
• Oversee a collaborative leadership team to support the mission of the department.

Committee and Campus Representation

• Represent D&A on division, university, and systemwide committees such as the Behavior Assessment Team, Student Affairs Senior Team, Health and Well-being Council, UT’s ADA Committee, and disability services director groups.

Oversight of Related Units

• Provide strategic direction to the Disability Cultural Center (DCC) and Longhorn TIES programs.
• Support directors in budgeting, programming, operations, and strategic planning.

Direct Student Service

• Conduct intakes, follow-up appointments, and maintain a caseload of students.
• Determine reasonable accommodations and support faculty and staff in implementation.
• Provide crisis management, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
• Ensure accurate and confidential recordkeeping in accordance with FERPA, ADA, and university policies.

Strategic Planning, Compliance, and Trends

• Lead strategic planning for current and future accessibility initiatives.
• Monitor changes in disability law, clinical guidelines, and emerging student needs.
• Engage with appropriate local, state, regional, and national organizations to stay current with trends and best practices.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Coordination

• Collaborate with campus communication and access teams to manage D/HH services, including interpreter contracts, RFPs, staffing, and budget oversight.

Consultation with Legal Affairs and ADA Coordinator

• Collaborate on sensitive and complex cases involving the ADA Coordinator, the Vice President for Legal Affairs office, Human Resources, Department of Investigation and Adjudication, and other campus units.

Campus and Auxiliary Unit Accessibility Support

• Partner with university auxiliary units (University Extension Courses, Extended Education Ventures, Option III programs, boot camps, etc.) to address accessibility needs and resolve accommodation concerns.

Other Duties as Assigned

• This could include supervision of graduate students and interns from psychology, social work, and related fields; other divisional or university projects; or other assignments from the Associate Vice President for Health and Well-being.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, education, social work, psychology, higher education administration, or related field.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in disability services, student affairs, counseling, or related functional area.
• Deep commitment to creating systems, programs, and services that foster accessibility.
• Demonstrated success working with high‑risk situations, crisis intervention, and cross-unit collaboration.
• Demonstrated expertise in ADA, Section 504, FERPA, and disability-related compliance and legal standards.
• Experience effectively supervising full-time staff and managing departmental budgets.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, problem solving skills, political acumen, and the ability to navigate a complex environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field, Juris Doctor, or other relevant terminal degree.
• Demonstrated success in a large, complex higher education environment.
• Experience overseeing multiple related programs or centers.
• Knowledge of Deaf/Hard of Hearing access services, including interpreter services and contract management.

Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.
• Work may require extended periods at a computer workstation.
• Occasional evening or weekend commitments to support departmental or campus events.

Salary Range

• $150k+ depending on qualifications
• Competitive and commensurate with experience. UT Austin provides an excellent benefits package, including comprehensive health insurance, retirement plans, employee tuition assistance, paid leave, and paid professional development.

Required Materials

To apply, please submit the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• List of three professional references