Accessibility Procurement Specialist

About EOTSS and Massachusetts Digital Service :

The Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) is the state’s leading office for information technology.

We provide enterprise level information technology services including network management and security; computer operations;

application hosting; desktop provisioning and management; and modern and responsive digital services to 40,000 internal stakeholders plus the residents, business owners and visitors to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

This role will sit within the Massachusetts Digital Service (Mass Digital) Team within EOTSS and report to the Chief IT Accessibility Officer.

Mass Digital helps organizations across state government use the best technology, design, and data to make people’s interactions with state services simpler, faster, and more meaningful.

About Our Work :

EOTSS and Mass Digital have a vital mission to ensure that the state’s digital services and information are accessible, reliable, and available to everyone we serve.

Massachusetts is a diverse state, and people that access our services have diverse needs. Approximately 26.5% of adults in the state have a disability, which can make it difficult to use state websites, digital content, and other information technologies.

Factors such as cultural and linguistic diversity and technology access and literacy also affect people’s ability to meaningfully access state services.

Today, many people interact with state services online. However, state web properties are managed by many different state organizations.

The accessibility of these digital tools varies, as does the capacity of each organization to make them more accessible.

To address these challenges, we are developing a statewide Digital Accessibility and Equity Program under the leadership of the state’s first Chief IT Accessibility Officer, and building a team to support the program.

About This Role :

We are seeking a highly collaborative and passionate Accessibility Procurement Specialist to join us on the ground floor of bringing this important program to life.

As an Accessibility Procurement Specialist, you will partner within EOTSS and across state government developing and refining accessibility procurement requirements.

This position is a contract opportunity. The work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 9 : 00AM to 5 : 00PM EST, in a hybrid remote arrangement with 2 - 4 days per month spent at the primary work location : One Ashburton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02108.

Applicants should be located within reasonable commuting distance from the primary work location.

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Develop and refine accessibility auditing processes for reviewing and evaluating software and tools.
• Develop and provide training related to the procurement process and imbedding accessibility requirements in all stages of the contract lifecycle.
• Collaborate with EOTSS internal and external executive offices, agencies, and vendors to resolve stakeholder reported accessibility issues.
• Work with ADA Coordinators to come up with alternative workaround solutions for inaccessible software and tools for employees with disabilities.
• Work with the central accessibility team and accessibility partners external to EOTSS to create how-to documents and checklists related to accessibility and the procurement process.
• Assist with the procurement process for statewide contracts to ensure that accessibility is included in all contract phases.
• Analyze and provide accessibility metrics to identify trends and gaps involving the procurement process for reporting and training purposes.
• Collaborate with accessibility and legal partners to update contractual language for accessibility and additional supplemental materials.
• Assist with testing vendor software, hardware, and tools for accessibility compliance in accordance with the Commonwealth’s accessibility procurement policies and enterprise IT accessibility policy.
• Collaborate with the Chief IT Accessibility Officer to work on additional projects as assigned.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Deep understanding of the procurement lifecycle and accessibility requirements for each stage.
• Deep understanding of accessibility audit processes with external vendors.
• Deep understanding of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template creation process and how to review a completed Accessibility Report for compliance with Commonwealth accessibility policies and standards.
• Knowledge of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Section 508 Standards and Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Knowledge of assistive technologies and how these software and tools are used by individuals with disabilities.
• Knowledge and experience testing for accessibility to validate conformance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and Section 508 Standards.
• Familiarity with legal terminology relevant to procurement and contracts is preferred.

Qualifications :

• Minimum of three (3) plus years of experience imbedding accessibility into procurement processes and contract lifecycles.
• Minimum of three (3) plus years of experience working with / reviewing accessibility conformance report reviews for vendor accessibility validity and conformance.
• Enthusiastic about solving problems facing public-sector agencies and promoting equitable access to public digital services.

Certification(s) :

• IAAP certification(s) such as Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) are desired, but not required.
• Relevant Contract Management certification(s) are desired, but not required.
23 days ago