Lead Specialist, DeafHard of Hearing Services

Lead Specialist for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services

Office of Student Accessibilitys (OSAS)

Application Process:

Please include a cover letter with your resume/CV.

About OSAS

The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) is the unit on campus responsible for ensuring equitable access to the University setting for a diverse population of students with disabilities. With a focus on accessibility inclusivity and creating environments free of discrimination OSAS team members assess and approve reasonable accommodations and services for undergraduate graduate and professional students both on campus and on-line.

About the Opportunity

Under the supervision of the Office of Student Accessibilitys (OSAS) Assistant Director the Lead Specialist for Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) Services will be responsible for providing day-to-day service to students on behalf of OSAS and actively engaging in outreach education and facilitation of accommodations particularly related to DHH services. This individual is a key team member and contributor in a fast-paced environment that fosters the full and meaningful inclusion of students with disabilities at the University. This role is a leadership role within the Unit and as such provides subject matter expertise carries high-impact responsibility levels and significantly contributes to strategic departmental projects.

We are seeking to fill a full-time position. The Lead DHH Specialist is responsible for direct student service faculty and campus partner support documentation review and caseload management in a manner that is student-centered legally compliant and reflective of best practices in the field especially as it pertains to DHH services. The individual in this role must exhibit effectiveness in understanding and applying disability-related laws to routine and complex accommodation and service delivery as well as to issue identification and problem-solving. All OSAS staff are expected to maintain current working knowledge of all relevant disability-related laws and to operate in accordance with FERPA guidelines.

OSAS is a highly collaborative team with a culture of high achievement supportiveness and inclusivity. The successful candidate must be able to work independently and as part of a team demonstrating strong collaboration attention to detail and a thorough understanding of effective communication and accessibility standards under the ADA and Section 504.

Key Responsibilities:

• The Lead Specialist must have a working knowledge of reviewing DHH documentation including but not limited to audiology speech and language assessments and ability to review documentation for other disabilities in accordance with laws and best practices which may include medical psychological-education and neuropsychological reports.
• Coordinate with vendors to confirm availability assign interpreters / CART providers and manage service delivery schedules.
• Assign the optimal provider to each course event or accommodation based on skill setting and logistics.
• Track provider availability manage substitutions or last-minute changes and ensure coverage continuity.
• Coordinate with faculty/departments/Information Technology Services to obtain class materials (slides transcripts scripts) in advance to support accurate and timely service delivery.
• Maintain a master schedule for interpreters CART providers and captioners.
• Collect feedback from students and faculty about provider performance and service satisfaction.
• Monitor provider performance maintain evaluation of metrics and flag issues for correction or reassignments.
• Oversee and coordinate remediation of course-related media content in-house and with external vendors.
• Maintain equipment or supplies inventory tied to DHH services (e.g. FM systems headphones wireless mics).
• In collaboration with facilities staff instructors and the Office Manager coordinate classroom Assistive Hearing/Listening Technology and related logistics including room setup lighting seating and audio arrangements to support interpreters and transcribers.
• In collaboration with the Office Manager maintain routine records review and approve invoices reconcile billing discrepancies and ensure timely payment to vendors.
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and maintain appropriate professionalism in the face of challenging communications that arise from a variety of sources. This role will be involved in providing multi-directional guidance to students parents/guardians OSAS staff academic unit contacts vendors providing services and other University personnel.
• This role requires the ability to work efficiently under deadlines manage details and address multiple tasks with rapid response. The DHH Coordination Specialist should be adept with basic Microsoft Office software and be able to learn and make effective use of the departments student records management database in accordance with FERPA guidelines.
• Coordinate and implement DHH services for undergraduate and graduate students across campus online programs and/or external placement settings (i.e. fieldwork clinical and practicum sites) ensuring effective implementation of necessary assistive technology and communication access solutions in HIPPA protected environments.
• Actively engage in professional development and remain current on best practices emerging technologies legal standards and research related to Deaf/Hard of Hearing accessibility and communication services in higher education.
• Other duties as assigned. May include cross-training to assist in different accommodation service areas and other departmental project needs.

Essential Skills and Knowledge:

• Disability-related laws: Knowledge of or ability to quickly learn understandand apply disability-related laws ( and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) to routine accommodation and service delivery as well as to basic issue-identification and student records in accordance with FERPA guidelines.
• Budget Management: Experience tracking expenditures in departmental budgets processing reimbursements managing purchase orders and reconciling invoices.
• Technology: Knowledge of operating systems (PC Mac). Adept with basic office software (Microsoft Office Suite) email (Outlook) and internet. Ability to format in Microsoft Word Excel and PowerPoint. Knowledge of Google Drive SharePoint and/or OneDrive. Comfort and ability to learn department database to access updateand edit student records.
• Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team as well as to ensuring the on-going successful functioning of the unit via day-to-day and longer-term operations. Willingness to assist staff as needed.
• Communication : Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills demonstratedacross a wide range of populations ( faculty academic department contacts University and Division staff as well as the OSAS staff). The ability to adapt to various communication styles and maintain professionalism in the face of challenging communications. Exhibit discretion with private and/or confidential student staffor other departmental information.
• Judgment: Sound professional judgment exhibited in areas including but not limitedto:raising issues to the appropriate team member(s) effective prioritization responsiveness proactivity assisting students in distress safety measures on behalf of the office etc.
• Time and Project Management : Proven ability to successfully manage and shift between multiple competing priorities complete necessary work by established deadlines and ensure quality assurance for DHH services and accommodations. This individual will demonstrate attention to detail effective issue identification excellent organizational skills trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills and proactivity in work and communication. It is essential that the successful candidate can deliver high quality time-sensitive work and operate effectively in varying levels of intensity within the department.
• In addition the successful candidate must demonstrate through ideas words and actions a strong commitment to USCs Unifying Values .

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree in relevant field (i.e. Education/Special Education; Counseling; Rehabilitation Counseling; Higher Ed Administration Deaf Studies Communicative Disorders and Interpreting)
• 3 years experience in relevant field
• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred experience in Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) services and student personnel administration
• 5 years working with students with hearing disabilities in a higher education setting

The annual base salary range for this position is $72045.33 - $ $85149.81 . When extending an offer of employment the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position the candidates work experience education/training key skills internal peer equity federal state and local laws contractual stipulations grant funding as well as external market and organizational considerations

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Leads the planning communication evaluation and implementation of specialized services and resources aimed at promoting
academic and personal success for specific populations (e.g. veterans students with disabilities). Requires specialized
knowledge of unique community needs to provide equal opportunities and access to the university experience.

Minimum Education:
Masters degree
Or combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience:
3 years of directly related professional experience in program
specialization.
Preferred Experience:
5 years of directly related professional experience in program specialization in an institution of higher education.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin protected veteran status disability or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at or by email at . Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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