Alternate Format Specialist

🔍 Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Stanford, California, United States

📁: Communications

📅   : Aug 29, 2024 Post Date

📅   : 104438 Requisition #

JOB PURPOSE:

Stanford University has an immediate opening for an Alternate Format Specialist in the Office of Accessible Education (OAE). This position will be in the Division of Student Affairs, which supports many student experiences outside the classroom in our residences, community centers, student organizations, health center, career education center, and more.

The mission of the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) is to promote an accessible and inclusive environment for all students with disabilities. Through both academic and housing accommodations, we work to mitigate physical and attitudinal barriers that students might face. We are dedicated to supporting students with disabilities, so they have access to perform at their academic potential. We also strive to promote the inclusive environment they need to experience full membership in our diverse Stanford community.

The Alternate Format Specialist is responsible for remediating and designing educational documents to meet accessibility standards and students' needs. This includes managing projects from start to finish, ensuring the content is accurate, consistent, and functional across different platforms. The role requires remediation of complex STEM content, use of specialized software tools, and knowledge of accessibility standards. Additionally, the Alternate Format Specialist, coordinates and embosses braille materials and tactile graphics, and manages software and equipment to help the department achieve its goals.

Inclusion and diversity are integral to our commitment to excellence. We are interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience engaging with diversity through activities such as fostering an inclusive environment, working with students from diverse backgrounds, or incorporating diverse perspectives in their work. The ideal candidate will exhibit a high degree of autonomy and possess a self-motivated approach and strong team-oriented mindset, possess exceptional organizational skills, and superior communication skills that facilitate interactions within our diverse academic community.

In this role, you will:

Under direction of the AF Manager, take responsibility for remediation of documents used in student courses using pre-established specifications. These specifications may be by course, student, or industry (e.g., HTML), etc.
Determine the best strategy for remediation based on due date, student needs and content. Use established guidelines to prioritize tasks and ensure timely and accurate completion of projects.
Remediate documents, including some complex STEM documents. Provide image descriptions for images used in the document for all visual elements used in the documents to ensure accessibility and clarity. Approach each task with an emphasis on accuracy, ensuring that all elements are seamlessly integrated into the final document.
Remediate documents to a variety of output formats including but not limited to docx and html, based on output formats specified for the job and specific document requirements and due dates. This can involve creating and remediating each format, starting from source materials to ensure consistency and functionality across different platforms.
Apply job related software applications, such as MathPix, MathType, Abbyy Finereader to develop a variety of documents. This includes transforming and remediating complex content such as text, illustrations, images, and graphics, with a focus on STEM materials.
Apply these tools to ensure that each document meets defined requirements and adheres to high standards of accuracy and design. Start with an initial concept and use the software to create well-organized, accessible, and cohesive materials that fulfill the student’s specific needs and objectives.
Inspect remediated documents for accuracy and adherence to appropriate accessibility standards, including testing with assistive technology used by students.
Implement corrections and updates to the reviewed materials, as needed.
Coordinate workflow between braille text and tactile graphic development and production of embossed materials on-site.
Collaborate with braille specialists regarding the appropriate equipment for the highest quality embossed results.
Maintain knowledge of accessibility standards, trends in document remediation and new developments in job-specific software applications.
Establish and maintain relationships with VPSA IT and University IT to address any issues with software tools and technology used at Stanford.
Recommend software, hardware, and multimedia equipment.
Manage team software licenses and renewals; serve as the primary contact between the department and external vendors to address software limitations or challenges.
Manage and maintain job-specific equipment (e.g., embossers, etc).

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

A bachelor's degree in related field and three years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Demonstrated experience using formatting and editing tools in Microsoft Word.
Demonstrated experience and understanding of job-required software applications, including Windows 11 and Adobe Acrobat.
Experience with html code desired.
Ability to perform detailed work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities, deadlines, and student needs.
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong organizational and communication (both written and verbal) skills.
Strong knowledge in industry standards, trends, and technical knowledge.
Ability to work effectively with others as part of a team.

Certifications and Licenses:

None

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This is a hybrid position which requires 3-4 days of onsite work per week. Additional onsite days may be scheduled, as needed, to meet student and departmental needs
Able to work evenings and weekends, as needed.

WORK STANDARDS:

Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.

The expected pay range for this position is $70,000 to $94,000 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

HOW TO APPLY:

We invite you to apply by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button. To be considered, please submit your résumé and a one-page cover letter along with your online application.

Why Stanford is for You

Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:

Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or course auditing. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
A healthier you. Climb our rock wall or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information