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Universal Design Consultant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summit K12

Design Lead

Austin, TX · On-site

$109K - $142K/yr

Act as a design consultant and force multiplier to Product Managers -- in a world where a PM can ... Integrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into the design system so interaction ...

Summit K12

$114K - $140K/yr

Act as a design consultant and force multiplier to Product Managers -- in a world where a PM can ... Integrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into the design system so interaction ...

Summit K12

Design Lead

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$153K - $188K/yr

Act as a design consultant and force multiplier to Product Managers - in a world where a PM can ... Integrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into the design system so interaction ...

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Universal Design Consultant information

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How much do universal design consultant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for universal design consultant in the United States is $29.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $31.25 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a universal design consultant?

A Universal Design Consultant is a professional who specializes in creating environments, products, or systems that are accessible and usable by people of all ages and abilities. They assess spaces or services and recommend modifications to ensure inclusivity, often working with architects, businesses, or organizations to improve accessibility. Their expertise helps to remove barriers and create solutions that benefit everyone, including people with disabilities, older adults, and families with young children. Universal Design Consultants may also provide training, policy advice, and compliance guidance related to accessibility standards.

What types of projects do universal design consultants typically work on, and how do they collaborate with clients and other professionals?

Universal Design Consultants often work on a wide range of projects, including residential, commercial, educational, and public spaces, to ensure environments are accessible and usable by people of all abilities. They regularly collaborate with architects, interior designers, engineers, and clients to integrate universal design principles from the early stages of planning through implementation. Consultants may conduct site assessments, provide recommendations, and review design plans to identify accessibility improvements. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as they must balance client preferences, regulatory requirements, and best practices for inclusivity throughout the project lifecycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a universal design consultant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Universal Design Consultant, you need expertise in accessibility standards, architecture or design, and a relevant degree such as architecture, interior design, or occupational therapy. Familiarity with tools like AutoCAD, Revit, and accessibility guidelines such as ADA and WCAG is typically required. Strong communication, problem-solving, and client collaboration skills set top consultants apart. These skills ensure the creation of inclusive spaces that meet regulatory requirements and enhance usability for all individuals.

What is the difference between Universal Design Consultant vs Accessibility Specialist?

AspectUniversal Design ConsultantAccessibility Specialist
CredentialsTypically requires certifications in universal design, architecture, or related fieldsOften holds certifications in accessibility standards (e.g., ADA compliance, ISO standards)
Work EnvironmentDesigning inclusive spaces in architecture, product design, or urban planningAssessing and ensuring accessibility in buildings, websites, or products
Employer & IndustryArchitectural firms, urban planning agencies, product design companiesGovernment agencies, construction firms, tech companies
Search & Comparison IntentFocuses on creating universally accessible environments and productsFocuses on compliance and improving accessibility for specific disabilities

While both roles aim to improve accessibility, a Universal Design Consultant focuses on creating inclusive designs that benefit all users, whereas an Accessibility Specialist concentrates on ensuring compliance with accessibility standards and regulations.

What are popular job titles related to Universal Design Consultant jobs?

For Universal Design Consultant jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Universal Design Consultant job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,236 per year, or $29.4 per hour.

Design Lead

Austin, TX • On-site

Summit K12
E-Learning • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Summit K12external

$109K - $142K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Description
Summit K12 is building a lean, modern design function — and you'll be at the center of it. As a Design Lead, you own the user experience for your product area and co-steward our shared design system, while staying hands-on in Figma every day. This is a player-coach role: you will design, lead our design efforts, and partner closely with Product Managers as a trusted consultant, helping bridge the gap between our design and product teams to ensure cohesive, high-quality outcomes.
We're a customer-driven, growing company — many of us came from the classrooms and districts we serve, so deep user knowledge lives in-house. We move fast: rather than lengthy research cycles, we validate with the educator expertise on our own team and quick feedback from real users. We're looking for someone who ships confidently without waiting for perfect data, uses AI tools to multiply their output, and earns influence through craft and judgment rather than title or process.

Key Responsibilities
  • Maintain and evolve the Summit K12 design system — components, patterns, typography, color, accessibility standards, and interaction behaviors
  • Keep the system documented, versioned, and genuinely used, so teams move faster with it than without it
  • Partner with Engineering to ensure components are technically feasible and consistently implemented
  • Drive adoption — you and your fellow Design Leads share accountability for the system actually being used across teams, reducing UX fragmentation through enablement and reusable patterns rather than policing
  • Decide, jointly with your fellow Design Leads, what enters the system and when projects in your area can deviate from it, escalating consequential additions, cross-product deviations, and any calls the leads can't align on.
  • Act as a design consultant and force multiplier to Product Managers — in a world where a PM can spin up an AI prototype in an afternoon, you're the one who makes it shippable: coherent, accessible, and on-system
  • Engage early in discovery to shape solutions, not just review them at the end
  • Make the case for design through outcomes — demonstrate how strong UX reduces rework, support burden, and churn
  • Be the Design Lead your teams trust for day-to-day design calls
  • Spend real time in Figma — this is a shipping role, not a pure oversight role
  • Translate platform experience strategy into concrete, consistent navigation, workflows, and interaction patterns across all user types
  • Leverage AI tools (e.g., Claude, v0, Figma AI) to accelerate design and development workflows
  • Integrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into the design system so interaction patterns work for the full range of learner abilities
  • Use lightweight validation — heuristic reviews, quick user feedback loops, analytics, and support signals — in place of heavyweight research studies
  • Know when a decision needs evidence and when experienced judgment is enough
  • Advocate for accessibility, clarity, and simplicity in every experience
  • Set clear expectations for quality, ownership, and accountability
  • Run lean design workflows in Figma and Jira that support fast iteration and predictable delivery
  • Foster a culture of user empathy, experimentation, and low-ego collaboration
  • Lead, mentor and develop the designers you work with

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Required
  • 6+ years in product/UX design, including owning a design system
  • Experience leading or mentoring designers while staying hands-on
  • Fluency in Figma and comfort managing design work in Jira
  • Active use of AI tools in your design workflow, and enthusiasm for operating as an AI-leveraged, lean design function
  • Strong grounding in user-centered design, interaction design, and Universal Design for Learning
  • Experience with WCAG accessibility standards, including interpreting ACRs and driving remediation
  • A track record of building design cohesion through cross-functional partnership — influence earned, not imposed
  • Comfort operating in a fast-moving environment: shipping without waiting for perfect data, with limited resources and tight timelines
  • EdTech experience, or deep accessibility/UDL work that translates quickly to K-12 contexts
  • Experience designing SaaS or platform-based products
  • Understanding of the workflows and daily realities of teachers, school administrators, and district leaders
  • Experience collaborating with distributed or global teams across time zones
  • Experience in lean or scaling organizations
  • A single, consistently applied design system across all products
  • Product Managers seek out design partnership because it makes their features better and faster to ship
  • Reduced UX inconsistency and rework during development
  • Faster delivery through reusable patterns and clear standards
  • Positive usability feedback from teachers, students, and administrators

Benefits
Summit K12 offers a comprehensive benefits package. Highlights include:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance with multiple plan options
  • Company-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) program
  • 10 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday annually
  • Wellness resources and support programs
Summit K12 is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.