Specialist, Technology - TNBR Careers
Knoxville, TN
About the Job
Title: Specialist, Technology
Department: Disability Services
Number of Positions: 1
Classification: 3m
Position #: 300550
Type of Appointment: Full-Time
Pay Rate: $43,570 - $53,760.00/per year. Pay will be determined based on related work experience above required. To be considered in determining pay, all related work experience must be listed on the application.
Required Documents Needed to Upload at Time of Application: Resume, transcripts and three professional references.
Reference check requirements: ·
Non-supervisory roles: three current or former supervisors or two current or former supervisors and one professional reference
Personal references (friends, clergy, customers, relatives) are not considered acceptable references.
Position Summary: The overall purpose of this job is to administer effective assistive technology in the office of Disability Services. The technology specialist is responsible for introducing and teaching assistive technology to students who are registered with Disability Services, as well as, locating alternate textbook options, researching new trends, and converting instructional materials, along with handling a small caseload of students.
Essential Functions:
45% Train and support students with disabilities in the use of technology used by the College and assistive technology tools available through Disability Services. Develop and implement effective conversion of instructional materials including textbooks into alternate media format and keep complete, accurate records of work including methods of delivery to students across technology devices and platforms.
25% Manage a small caseload of students who have a significant need for assistive technology as well as proctor and coordinate testing for students with disabilities who utilize the Disability Services testing area.
10% Serve as primary contact in Disability Services for maintaining effective accommodations with regard to the use of all technology for students with disabilities within the College’s Information Services, Distance Learning Department, and across all campus programs.
10% Troubleshoot and work collaboratively with personnel in other college areas to solve access issues experienced by students with disabilities with the College’s technology and assistive technology tools available through Disability Services. Collaborate with Human Resources and PACE to provide training for faculty, staff and administrators in the use of technology to provide equal access to the College’s programs for persons with disabilities and assist the Director with the management of the office including testing of prospective materials for accessibility
10% Administer assistive technology sites, maintain site license agreements and vendor contacts, and maintain accurate inventory of Disability Services’ technology provided by the College for students with disabilities at all campuses. Other duties as assigned.
Note: The College reserves the right to change or reassign job duties, or combine positions at any time.
Key Results Areas: The measurable outcomes that are expected from this job are the number of accurate alternate format materials completed and delivered to students in a timely manner, number of students successfully trained in the use of the College’s technology (both assistive and other), managing a caseload of students, and managing Disability Services’ Testing room.
Job Requirements:
This position requires an Associate’s degree with 3 years of experience in instructional design, assistive technology, teaching, software training, or other relevant experience; or a Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of experience in instructional design, assistive technology, teaching, software training, or other relevant experience. Prior knowledge of different types of disabilities is helpful.
Part-time work experience is calculated at 50% credit of full-time work experience.
Skills & Abilities:
- Understanding and ability to implement accessible technologies and accommodations for students with disabilities (such as screen readers, captioning tools, adaptive software, etc.).
- Strong skills in troubleshooting hardware and software issues, as well as proficiency in using assistive technologies and adaptive equipment.
- Ability to community effectively with students, faculty, and staff regarding technology needs and accommodations, often requiring clear and empathetic communication.
- Familiarity with disability rights laws and regulations, such as American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 compliance standard.
- Provide training and support to faculty and staff on accessible technology tools and strategies.
- Ability to quickly identify and resolve technology-related barriers for students with disabilities, which may vary widely.
- Understanding the challenges faced by students with disabilities and demonstrating empathy and sensitivity in providing technological support and accommodations.
- Keeping accurate records of technology accommodations provided to students and preparing reports as required by the department or the College.
- Able to engage in the College’s mission and values.
Complexity & Creativity:
This position requires technical skills to work with technology used by the College and the creativity to find ways to provide equal access to persons with disabilities. The job requires frequent research and continual professional development to maintain knowledge of the uses of assistive technology and of the College’s technology.
This job requires the ability to provide good customer service to students in the form of training on and the use of technology and the provision of alternate format materials. The unique skill of understanding the students’ needs and finding the appropriate technology to help mitigate functional limitations will also be necessary for this employee.
Pellissippi provides policies and procedures for guidance regarding intake and grievance procedures but no guidance regarding trouble shooting and mediating difficult issues. The problems and issues that cannot be solved in Disability Services could end up as an Office of Civil Rights complaint or lawsuit. It is extremely important that the employee be able to mediate and think outside the box to help students and faculty/staff develop a resolution.
Magnitude of Impact: The magnitude of impact if a problem is not resolved within Disability Services would be immediately impactful on a student’s academic progress and overall retention. It could also be potentially damaging for the College. The timeframe would not be immediate as the student would need to file a formal complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, which may lead to a lawsuit. Long-term, if the Office of Civil Rights found the student’s rights were violated, then the entire College would have to intervene in order to correct the issue.
Responsibility for Accuracy: The typical error might be failing to deal with a request for assistive technology or alternate format materials in a timely manner. The error would be a catalyst for the student and result in an official complaint if not detected by the employee. In addition, the employee in this position enters case notes in a shared database used by Disability Services regarding interactions and assistance to individual students. The information is reviewed by the supervisor on a monthly basis. Errors that were not detected could lead to official complaints of discrimination which could result in lawsuits or complaints to federal agencies; the worst-case scenario for an error would be loss of federal funding for the College due to monetary loss of Pell Grants in the form of financial aid to students at the College.
Financial Impact: The Technology Specialist does have responsibility for assistive technology and assistive hardware. Proper care of those items is of the utmost importance as the College may be financially impacted if something has to be replaced.
Budgetary: The Technology Specialist has input in the budget process as they are responsible for keeping up with the current trends and best practices in assistive technology and would need to make suggestions for purchases.
Judgement and Decisions: Independent decisions regarding the processes for providing alternate formats and equal access to the College’s programs through the use of employee choosing appropriate ways to meet students’ requests for accommodation and training are made without referral to a supervisor. Independent decisions are made related to the assignment of tasks by the Director. Decisions requiring approval of College funds are reviewed by the supervisor and their supervisor before becoming effective.
Nature of Contacts: The employee will be seeking to solve access to technology problems through interactions with Information Technology, the Helpdesk, Distance Learning, site campus deans, Testing Center staff, faculty, and members of the Campus Accessibility Committee. The employee interacts with the following individuals outside the College: Local, state, and national providers of assistive technology services; publishers, educational material providers, technical support for existing assistive technology, product vendors, potential vendors, Disability Services staff in the TBR system. The typical nature of the interactions can include a varied means of communication such as email, social media messages, posts to listservs, phone contact, online conference calls and in person.
Hazards: There is little likelihood of injury or illness related to the job other than the possibility of accidents occurring within an office, classroom or computer lab. There is also a slight possibility of encountering an angry student or a student who may not be stable.
Full-time Employment Benefits:
• Insurance Options Health, dental, vision, life, short/long-term disability, FSA/HSA Wellness Incentive Program, if enrolled in health plan
• Educational Assistance Fee Waiver Spouse/Dependent discounts Audit/Non-Credit Reimbursement Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement options Tennessee traditional pension plan option (TCRS) 401k with $50 company match/457/403b
• Employee Discount program with over 900+companies
• 13 Paid Holidays/Year Includes paid days off the last week of December
• Sick Leave Bank
• Longevity Pay
• Many opportunities for professional development
Special Instructions to Applicants: To be considered for a position at Pellissippi State, you must create an on-line application. Your skills, abilities, qualifications, and years of experience will be evaluated using only what is recorded on your application. Work experience that is not listed on the application will not be considered towards compensation. Please note: attaching a resume does not substitute for completion of the application form. Part-time work experience is calculated at 50% of full-time experience. Please note: to scan, upload, or attach documents, a computer and scanner are available at the Hardin Valley Campus Educational Resources Center, if needed.
Pellissippi State Community College is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA employer
If you have any problems or questions please contact Human Resources at Pellissippi State Community College’s Human Resource Office at 865-694-6607 or by email at recruiting@pstcc.edu.
If you are interested in this position, click on the link to the left to apply.
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