Accessibility Testing Product Owner
The Accessibility Testing Product Owner is responsible for coordinating the execution of the Section 508 oversight program. This role ensures that all of the Clientโs Web and Emerging Technologies Group (WETG) digital products are fully compliant with federal accessibility standards and the Clientโs policy. The Product Owner serves as a bridge between development teams and the 508 Clearance Officer, managing the end-to-end lifecycle of accessibility validation.
Mandatory Requirements
Certifications:
Professional Testing Certification: Must possess at least one of the following:
- Certified Software Tester (CSTE)
- American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB) (Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced, Agile, or Expert)
- Test Maturity Model integration (TMMi) Professional Certification
- Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP)
Experience & Expertise
- Technical Standards: Expert knowledge of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards.
- CMS Processes: Demonstrated experience managing products through the CMS 508 clearance process.
- Testing Methodologies: Proficiency in the DHS Trusted Tester methodology for 508 testing.
- Tools: Experience with JAWS and NVDA screen readers, SiteImprove, ANDI, axe DevTools, and WAVE .
- Agile Environments: Experience supporting agile delivery and quality engineering in complex, multi-team digital environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Program Coordination: Lead operations, maintenance, and continuous improvements for the WETG Section 508 oversight program.
- VPAT/ACR Management: Coordinate with vendors to obtain templates, execute manual and automated testing, and document findings in Voluntary Product Assessment Templates (VPAT) and Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACR) .
- Compliance Clearance: Support the WETG 508 Clearance Officer in reviewing submissions and coordinate with the CMS 508 Test Lab for independent validation.
- Defect Oversight: Document accessibility barriers in Jira, including specific WCAG criteria violations, severity levels, and remediation recommendations.
- Continuous Monitoring: Maintain continuous accessibility scanning and monitoring of production and test environments to detect regressions.
- Training & Guidance: Provide code-level guidance and training to Application Development and Operations (ADO) teams on accessible design and "shift-left" accessibility practices.
- Inventory Maintenance: Manage the WETG VPAT-ACR Inventory in Confluence and track biennial renewal requirements.
Position Details
- Location: Remote ("Off-site"), with occasional meetings required at CMS facilities in the Baltimore/Washington area.
- Security Clearance: Must obtain a background investigation commensurate with the position sensitivity designation.
- Citizenship/Work Authorization: Must perform all work within the Continental United States (CONUS).
Company Description
Our mission is to empower our clients to achieve sustainable success through efficient, cost-effective, and scalable solutions that drive significant performance improvements. We believe in delivering value-driven results and fostering a culture that attracts and retains top talent to provide scalable, adaptable services.