Senior Accessibility Consultant, Campus Built Environment

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

University Disability Resources (UDR) provides leadership to university efforts to ensure an accessible, welcoming working and learning environment for individuals with disabilities while ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. UDR serves as a central resource on disability-related information, procedures and services for the University community and provides expertise in the development, implementation, and acquisition of standard disability-related University practices, procedures, and resources.

Reporting to the Sr. Director of UDR, the Senior Accessibility Consultant, Campus Built Environment, is a subject matter expert on programmatic and physical accessibility, as related to the built environment. The Senior Accessibility Consultant, Campus Built Environment, leads University efforts on compliance as well as best practices and promoting inclusive design.  

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

The Senior Accessibility Consultant, Campus Built Environment, plays a pivotal role in the design, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the University-wide Barrier Removal Framework Plan, driving multi-year, campus-wide strategies to identify, prioritize, and remove physical accessibility barriers. The position provides expert guidance to planners, designers, and facilities staff to support a campus environment compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments (the “ADA”), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”), and the regulations issued by the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (“MAAB”). The Senior Accessibility Consultant, Campus Built Environment, may also consult on various topics, including accessibility of furniture and equipment, and developing and delivering disability related training. The person in this position will inform work by Accessibility Consultants as they facilitate accommodation requests and consult related to the built environment, including for events.

The Senior Accessibility Consultant, Campus Built Environment also applies their expertise in inclusive design/universal design and promotes its use University-wide. The Senior Accessibility Consultant, Campus Built Environment, consults with other subject matter experts to make recommendations regarding practice, process, and strategies supporting the mission of UDR. 

Additional job-specific responsibilities include:

• Plays a critical leadership role in the University’s campus-wide accessibility audit data management efforts; evaluation and assessment of barrier removal targets; oversight of plan implementation; and oversight of tracking progress towards a barrier-free campus. Defines data standards and workflows that enable consistent documentation, tracking, and reporting of barrier removal efforts. 
• Engages with campus partners whose roles are critical in supporting physical accessibility, with the goal of designing and advancing a multi-year, University-wide strategy for barrier removal. This includes Harvard University Planning and Design, Capital Projects, and administrative staff whose work focuses on planning, operations and facilities at each of the University’s schools and units. 
• Supports periodic evaluation of the Barrier Removal Framework Plan (e.g., at the end of initial implementation phases), recommending adjustments to targets, methodologies, and processes based on data and stakeholder feedback.
• Is a core member of the Harvard Capital Projects Review Committee (CPRC), supporting reviews of capital projects to assure accessibility is a prioritized consideration in new construction and major renovation. 
• Is a core member of the University Accessibility Committee’s Facilities Working Group, that seeks to promote physical accessibility across the University. 
• Guides Accessibility Consultants in their engagement with built environment accessibility consultations, including (but not limited to) academic facilities; residential facilities; commercial facilities; athletic venues; entertainment spaces; libraries; museums; recreational spaces; research laboratories; dining spaces; offices; and places of assembly.
• Conducts site visits as appropriate.
• Assesses training/educational needs for internal partners and develops training materials and customized curricula related to barrier removal and accessibility in the built environment.
• Tracks and synthesizes changes to relevant federal, state, and local accessibility regulations and standards and advises on implications for University projects.
• Conduct continuous research to remain current in technology, tools, and design solutions that increase accessibility in built environments and advance the principles of inclusive design/universal design.
• Provides other related services, as needed.

Basic Qualifications are the minimum requirements a candidate must meet to be considered for this role.

• Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of progressive experience with accessibility in the built environment
• Current knowledge of the ADA and MAAB requirements for accessibility in the built environment

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Degree in Facilities Management, Architecture or related field is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with facilities data systems, capital planning platforms, or similar tools; ability to interpret and communicate data and metrics to nontechnical stakeholders.
• Ability to read and correctly interpret construction documents.
• Familiarity with the planning, design, and construction process.
• Understanding of inclusive/universal design principles.
• Ability to perform site reviews at various buildings and in various spaces, including climbing steps, grasping, bending, viewing, and lifting.
• Superior communication skills; that is, the ability to write, speak, and present information effectively and persuasively to various audiences. 
• Able to manage competing priorities and timelines while bringing initiatives to completion. 
• Ability to navigate in a decentralized environment.  
• Familiarity with assistive technology, resources, and indications for utilization.

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Harvard University requires pre-employment reference and background screenings: Identity and Education
• Other Information:
  • This position will have a 3-month orientation and review period. 

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.