Lead Disability Specialist and Supervisor (4560U), Disabled Students Program

Position Summary

The Lead Disability Specialist and Supervisor position focuses on supervising professional career staff, staff development, and the planning, coordination, and implementation of services and processes that ensure students with disabilities have equitable access to the academic and campus environment in compliance with federal and state disability law.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: June 26, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Supervision, Leadership, and Unit Oversight

• Provides direct supervision, mentorship, and professional development to a team of Disability Specialists.
• Oversees workload distribution, performance evaluations, and supporting staff in meeting expectations related to case management, service quality, timeliness, and professional conduct.
• Works with managers in recruitment and hiring efforts for the DSP Disability Specialist unit.
• Leads internal training and onboarding for new and continuing Disability Specialists to ensure consistency in practices, procedures, legal compliance, and evolving campus standards.
• Identifies training needs and collaborates with the DSP Senior Policy Analyst to design or coordinate learning opportunities to support team growth and service quality.
• Responds to and resolves student and faculty complaints, escalating complex matters to DSP leadership as needed.
• Collaborates with DSP managers and auxiliary services (Alternative Media, Communications Access, Note Taking, and Proctoring) to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Partners with academic departments and faculty to address accommodation challenges and continuously works towards a consistent campus-wide approach to disability compliance and support.
• Works closely with the DSP Business Admin team and demonstrates understanding of campus processes and guidelines related to HR, recruitment, purchasing, facilities, and other operational needs that align with university policy and smooth day-to-day operations.
• Leads case review meetings, contributes to policy development, and helps shape strategic planning efforts for the specialist unit.

Strategic Partnerships and Campus Collaboration

• Serves as a key liaison with academic departments, deans' offices, and student affairs.
• Responds promptly to sensitive or high-level faculty complaints regarding accommodations.
• Represents DSP in campus initiatives, particularly those involving academic access, student experience, or instructional access.
• Collaborates with the DSP Senior Policy Analyst to deliver or coordinate campus-wide training efforts that promote awareness of disability, accessibility, and inclusive teaching practices in higher education.

Systems Leadership and Process Improvement

• Oversees the integration and functionality of case management systems (e.g., AIM) for the specialist unit.
• Provides leadership on system-related needs in partnership with the Auxiliary Services units, helping shape improvements and enhance staff efficiency and student support.

Caseload Management/Other Duties as Assigned

• Maintains a small caseload of students with complex or high-stakes accommodation needs.
• Provides consultation on escalated student cases brought forward by Disability Specialists, Auxiliary Services supervisors, or DSP management.
• Ensures the consistent application of accommodation policies across the team.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 3-5 years of direct experience supervising career/ professional/ represented staff in a service-oriented, compliance-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict, address performance concerns, and lead team change management efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to interface with faculty and campus leadership around sensitive, high-stakes accessibility issues and concerns.
• Demonstrated success in working closely with departmental managers, unit supervisors, and administrative leads to support coordinated service delivery, resolve operational issues, and implement programmatic improvements.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels.
• Experience in mediating, managing, and resolving conflicts and employing open and clear decision-making processes.
• Demonstrated proficiency and political acumen in working with a broad range of students, faculty, staff, senior administrators, and community leaders.
• Demonstrated skills in problem identification, sound judgment, transparent decision making, critical thinking, and creative problem solving.
• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage competing time and resource demands.

Education / Training

• Masters degree or higher in education, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field with a strong focus on disability, student affairs, or higher education and/or equivalent experience/training.
• A combination of advanced education and relevant experience in disability services within postsecondary settings may also be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience working directly with students with disabilities as an accommodations specialist in a university setting.
• Advanced knowledge and content experience in disability documentation, academic accommodations and adjustments, auxiliary services, and student service delivery.
• Thorough knowledge of the legal framework involving accommodations for students with disabilities through state and federal laws and regulations, and the determination of accommodations, within the current legal framework.