Technical Assistance Specialist II - Utah State University

Overview:

The Technical Assistance (TA) Specialist II provides highly qualified expertise and skills in providing TA on the provision of accessible digital educational materials for students receiving special education services. The TA Specialist II is a capable facilitator, coach, and trainer of diverse representatives from state and local educational agencies, as well as other entities responsible for improving outcomes for learners with disabilities. This role requires depth and breadth in the understanding of special education and digital accessibility guidelines/laws and technical implementation of accessibility practices. The TA Specialist II will support collaborations with education and disability representatives across the country to identify challenges, provide TA services and resources, and promote best practices to create coordinated systems for providing accessible digital educational materials for students with disabilities. This position is telework-eligible within the state of Utah. Telework outside of the state of Utah is subject to review and approval by the University prior to a job offer being extended.

 

Exempt positions are eligible for excellent benefits including: 13 paid holidays, earn 22 days of paid vacation leave and 12 days of sick leave per year, 50% tuition reduction for employees and dependents, competitive health benefits packages and a generous contribution into your retirement. View more information here: Summary of Benefits 2023-2024. 

Responsibilities:

• Provide TA and consultation to state and district leadership teams, as well as related entities, aligning with special education and technical accessibility guidelines and laws, including IDEA, Section 504, and ADA Title II.
• Support needs assessment data collection and analysis to inform the development of high-quality, relevant, and useful TA products and services
• Establish trust and positive relationships with multi-year cohorts of TA recipients.
• Conduct in-depth assessments of the accessibility of EdTech programs and products. Generate assessment reports and guidance documents.
• Develop and provide technology-supported trainings, consultations, presentations, and TA sessions on topics related to the evaluation, procurement, selection, creation, and use of accessible digital educational materials.
• Support the development of web-based professional learning modules on the implementation of best practices for providing accessible digital educational materials and instruction.
• Assist with the analysis of project evaluation data to inform continuous improvement in TA service and resource delivery.
• Assist with meeting the funder’s project reporting requirements, including contributing to quarterly and annual report writing.
• Be familiar with and use various assistive technologies, such as common screen readers and speech-to-text software.
• Develop intermediate to advanced technical assistance briefs, guides, and articles.
• Maintain a deep understanding of relevant state and federal guidelines and legal requirements related to special education and digital accessibility.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education plus experience
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in relevant fields as a TA provider.
• Demonstrable domain knowledge and expertise.
• Demonstrated skills in applying adult learning principles and instructional design methodologies.
• Demonstrated skills in professional verbal and written communication.
• Ability to travel (air and automobile) independently.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with the use of implementation science to build capacity and drive systems change in educational agencies.
• Familiarity with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework.
• Experience with developing content in the Canvas learning management system.
• Experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Required Documents:

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”.
2. Cover Letter to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”.
3. Writing Sample uploaded to the following Box submission link: https://usu.app.box.com/f/641b0e64c07e4c0da1d91d62140b49d8
   1. Please include your first and last name in the name of the document file of your writing sample. 

4. Video Recording of a Training or Presentation (link to web location) to be submitted through the required pre-screening question in the application.

5. Names and contact information for at least three professional references to be provided at the beginning of your application in the candidate profile.

 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary:Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits ADA:

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights:

The Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) is Utah’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). The IDRPP opened its doors in 1972 and was the first UCEDD program in the U.S. to focus on the educational and social needs of children and adults with disabilities. Over the past 50 years the IDRPP has grown into one of the largest UCEDD programs in the nation and is recognized as a pioneer in research, training, technical assistance, and services for children and adults with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

The IDRPP is committed to hiring people with disabilities, veterans, and diverse individuals from all communities and backgrounds.  We value visible and invisible differences, and we recognize that diversity makes us stronger.  We welcome applicants who bring something different and unique to our organization.  We value creativity, loyalty, and hard work.  We believe that we can change the world and make it a better, more inclusive place for everyone, and we want to hire people who also believe that they can make a difference.

Mission:

We are working together to create inclusive communities and improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families through sustainable innovation, collaborative research, responsive service, and interdisciplinary training and education.

 

Values:

We Innovate: We lead by developing dynamic, sustainable, forward-thinking programs and services.

 

We Include: We demonstrate how to effectively work toward inclusive communities in our planning, programs, and services. We celebrate diversity in ability, race, ethnicity, culture, language, gender, sexual orientation, politics, and religion.

 

We Collaborate: We forge partnerships. Working together makes us more effective and responsive to the current needs of our clients and communities.

 

We Care: We do what we do because we care. We are making the world a better place for people with disabilities and their families.

 

Funding Statement

 

The Institute for Disability Research, Policy, & Practice is one of the largest research and outreach centers at USU, and we are largely funded through grants, contracts, and fee-for-service programs. All staff positions at the IDRPP are contingent upon funding, and all senior staff at the IDRPP with graduate degrees are responsible for helping to generate funding to support our operations and growth.

College Highlights

 

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is home to eight departments and is committed to providing the best learning opportunities and educational research in the state of Utah. Our programs are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone centers, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. The college offers clinical services to the community across the human lifespan and provides students with real-world service and research opportunities.

University Highlights:

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Programto support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 04/2024

 

Notice of Non-discrimination:

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023