17 Apr
|
City of Vaughan
|
Vaughan
17 Apr
City of Vaughan
Vaughan
Apply on Kit Job: kitjob.ca/job/2fqbgq
CITIZENS FIRST THROUGH SERVICE EXCELLENCE
We have an exciting Permanent, Full-Time, Non-Unionize opportunity in the Inclusion and Community Outreach Department for an experienced and motivated individual.
Specialist, Digital Accessibility
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Vaughan is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. Its emerging downtown, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre; Canada’s first smart hospital, the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital; and the 900‑acre North Maple Regional Park continue to generate momentum and excitement. Be part of something amazing and build your career at the City of Vaughan!
The City is an equal-opportunity employer and a forward-looking municipality that is committed to fostering a dynamic workplace that is diverse, inclusive and welcoming. As an award‑winning organization for its employment and diversity and inclusivity practices, the City is focused on providing its employees with a thriving professional setting that leverages flexible work arrangements, a family‑focused benefits package emphasizing work‑life balance, learning and growth opportunities, and a place where collaboration and teamwork are valued.
Excellence demands brilliant personalities, visionary thinking and a passion for public service. Vaughan is your place to grow.
Position Overview
Reporting to the Manager, Inclusion and Community Outreach (ICO), the Specialist, Digital Accessibility provides senior‑level accessibility‑related support for the delivery, coordination and ongoing implementation of the City’s digital accessibility initiatives. The role leads training, guidance, and technical support to departments; provides advice and assists staff in creating accessible digital content; and contributes to the City’s compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 AA). The position also supports other accessibility‑related initiatives across the City.
Responsibilities
Training and Staff Support
- Develops and delivers a robust digital accessibility training program in a variety of formats (workshops, drop‑in sessions, one‑on‑one support), including tracking participation rates and other KPIs.
- Assists staff in applying accessibility features and techniques during and after training, including real‑world application of their own content.
- Liaises with appropriate departments to clarify digital accessibility requirements and support consistent implementation across platforms.
- Develops and updates guidance materials, quick reference tools, checklists, and training resources.
- Supports implementation of the City’s digital accessibility training framework.
- Facilitates the Digital Accessibility Champions Framework by coordinating activities, supporting peer‑to‑peer learning, and maintaining a community of practice that builds organizational capacity in digital accessibility.
- Provides ongoing accessibility‑related guidance to all departments.
- Provides recommendations to support updates to City accessibility guidelines, standards, and internal resources based on emerging tools, techniques, and best practices.
Document Accessibility and Remediation Support
- Provides hands‑on document remediation primarily for demonstration and coaching.
- Reviews draft digital materials for accessibility barriers and provides recommendations to improve usability and compliance.
- Responds to and supports remediation escalation requests, including intake, classification, assessment, and prioritization.
- Coordinates accessible document remediation activities with departments and external vendors.
- Maintains and supports the City’s preferred vendor(s) for PDF remediation services.
- Assists departments in developing accessible templates and standard formats.
- Responds to accessible/alternate format requests and guides staff in fulfilling them.
- Provides guidance and support to departments to ensure City websites and online content comply with AODA and WCAG 2.1.
- Applies foundational HTML/CSS and CMS accessibility knowledge to troubleshoot or advise on basic web accessibility issues.
Accessibility Monitoring and Compliance
- Supports monitoring of digital content – including web pages, documents, and media – for AODA and WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
- Conducts basic manual and automated accessibility tests on digital content and platforms to identify potential WCAG issues and support remediation efforts.
- Tracks digital accessibility issues, remediation status and trends across the organization to support compliance reporting.
- Supports departmental and centralized accessibility review processes by documenting findings and follow‑up actions.
- Coordinates accessibility‑related reporting requirements.
- Works with relevant departments to identify, troubleshoot, and elevate accessibility issues when needed.
- Assists in reviewing accessibility of vendor‑produced digital content to ensure that it meets City requirements before publication.
- Conducts research and analysis of accessibility legislation, standards, and updates, and interprets their implications.
- Monitors provincial developments specific to accessibility requirements and coordinates the City’s response to changes.
- Supports accessible procurement by reviewing digital tools and platforms and evaluating vendor accessibility documentation (e.g., VPATs, accessibility statements).
- Analyzes and reports on digital accessibility performance metrics, user experience trends, and training outcomes to support evidence‑based planning and continuous improvement.
- Leads the review and maintenance of accessibility‑related policies, procedures, and corporate standards.
- Participates in provincial and municipal digital accessibility networks as a technical representative to share information, exchange best practices, and respond to accessibility‑related requests.
Qualifications and Experience
- University Degree in Digital Media, Web Design and Development, Public Administration, Communications, Accessibility Studies, or a related field.
- Minimum of five (5)
years of experience in digital content accessibility, including document remediation using accessibility tools and standards (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Pro, Microsoft Accessibility Checker), or equivalent applied experience through education, internship or co‑op placements.
- Experience with accessibility‑related initiatives, policies, procedures, and corporate standards.
- IAAP Certifications (CPAAC, WAS, and/or ADS) or Equivalent advanced certifications or coursework demonstrating technical proficiency in creating and evaluating accessible content.
- Expert knowledge of the AODA, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and related accessibility legislation, policies, and procedures.
- Advanced understanding of WCAG 2.1/2.2 success criteria and digital accessibility principles for documents, multimedia, and web content.
- Ability to interpret digital accessibility legislation and standards and represent the organization in sector networks focused on digital accessibility practices.
- Expert proficiency with accessibility features and tools within Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and common content‑creation platforms.
- Strong experience with digital document remediation tools and accessibility software.
- Knowledge of assistive technologies (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver) and accessibility evaluation tools (e.g., PAC, Axe, WAVE).
- Demonstrated skill in reviewing, remediating, and improving digital content for accessibility.
- Ability to assess digital content for AODA/WCAG compliance, track issues, maintain documentation, and support organizational monitoring and reporting.
- Ability to translate accessibility standards into practical, repeatable workflows for staff.
- Experience developing and delivering digital accessibility training, workshops, and practical guides.
- Ability to create user‑friendly training materials, reference guides, and checklists.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate across departments, support change management, and provide guidance to staff with varying levels of accessibility expertise.
- Ability to coordinate projects, prioritize competing tasks, and manage compliance‑related timelines.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving abilities with capacity to manage multiple requests in a matrixed environment.
- Ability to adapt to evolving accessibility tools, standards, and technologies.
- Knowledge of digital communications technologies, user experience (UX) considerations, and data analysis practices that enhance the effectiveness of accessibility initiatives.
- Knowledge of, and demonstrated ability in, the City’s core competencies and relevant functional competencies.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please be advised, the City of Vaughan uses email to communicate with applicants for open job competitions.
The City of Vaughan is committed to diversity and inclusivity in employment and welcomes applications from qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds. The City of Vaughan is also committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.
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Apply on Kit Job: kitjob.ca/job/2fqbgq
📌 Specialist, Digital Accessibility (Vaughan)
🏢 City of Vaughan
📍 Vaughan