Accessibility Design Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Digital Accessibility Specialist

Department of Innovation and Technology

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $109,140

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND

1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago."

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59 pm CDT on 05/29/2026

Under general supervision, the class functions as a technical expert in digital accessibility for the City's websites and related technologies to ensure that persons with disabilities can access the City of Chicago digital information and resources, and performs related duties as required This class is assigned to the City's Design Information Technology Job Family which consists of design specialists that simplify the design and makeup of hardware, software devices and user interfaces for products

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Works on a team with project stakeholders (e.g., project managers, designers, engineers, etc.) to establish project goals and resources for accessibility in all phases of project work
• Participates in the design, evaluation and validation of digital products utilized and maintained within the City's digital structure
• Supports the implementation of digital accessibility on City digital platforms (e.g., websites, social media, software, etc.)
• Provides accessibility reviews of websites and digital resources and creates reports on identified issues along with recommendations for solutions to accessibility barriers based on applicable standards and mobile phone platform accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA per ADA Title II)
• Participates in the review of accessibility documentation (e.g., VPATs, ACRs) and provides technical findings to inform technology procurement decisions
• Conducts user research interviews regarding accessibility tests on websites and applications
• Conducts manual accessibility testing using assistive technologies
• Participates in community engagement around digital accessibility needs
• Advocates the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and universal design to internal and external stakeholders
• Serves as a resource in the development of digital accessibility policies, procedures, and standards across multiple platforms and application environments to meet compliance
• Keeps abreast of digital accessibility related technology, best practices, and regulations

Additional duties may be required for this position

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, plus two (2) years of experience in computer-assisted technology, information technology compliance, and/or accessibility design and development

Should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are acceptable:

o Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher, plus one (1) year of experience in computer-assisted technology, information technology compliance, and/or accessibility design and development

o Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree, plus four (4) years of experience in computer-assisted technology, information technology compliance, and/or accessibility design and development

o Six (6) years of experience in computer-assisted technology, information technology compliance, and/or accessibility design and development

Educational & Employment Verification:

Please be advised that if you are selected to be hired, you must provide, upon request, adequate information regarding your education and employment history as it relates to the qualifications of the position for which you are applying. If you received your degree internationally, all international transcripts/diplomas must be accompanied by a Foreign Credential Evaluation. If the City of Chicago cannot verify this information, any offer extended to you will be withdrawn, and you will not be hired.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to successfully complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) who possess the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

Abilities

* UNDERSTAND INFORMATION - Receive and interpret information and ideas communicated through verbal, visual, written, or other communication methods.

* COMMUNICATE INFORMATION- Share information and ideas clearly through verbal, visual, written, and other communication methods

* UNDERSTAND WRITTEN INFORMATION - Review and interpret information and ideas presented in written formats

* COMMUNICATE IN WRITING - Convey information and ideas clearly in written formats

* FOLLOW THROUGH WITH TASK COMPLETION - Manage assigned responsibilities and workflows in a timely and effective manner.

* IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ISSUES - Recognize when situations, processes, or outcomes may require attention, review, or corrective action.

For Information on our employees' benefits, please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure, visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/suppinfo/JobClassification/2025ClassificationandPay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview or employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances: 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates, to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices, click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor