Accessibility Design Lead

Position Overview:

By Light Professional IT Services LLC is seeking an experienced Accessibility Design Lead to join our team. This role is crucial in ensuring that all digital products and services meet and exceed accessibility standards, particularly for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As the Accessibility Design Lead, you will provide training and support to designers, ensure consistent use of VA Design System components, and review UX designs to maintain exceptional accessibility standards on VA.gov. We are seeking a leader passionate about advancing accessibility through innovation and inclusive design principles, driving meaningful improvements in digital experiences for Veterans and their families. 

• Champion accessibility as a core value in VA digital services, influencing organizational culture and priorities. 
• Advocate for accessibility during strategic planning meetings to ensure it remains a foundational aspect of all design and development initiatives. 
• Represent accessibility best practices within internal communication channels such as Slack, sharing insights and facilitating knowledge transfer across teams. 
• Provide accessibility-focused training and mentorship for designers, enhancing their ability to create inclusive digital experiences. 
• Foster collaboration through regular office hours to support Veteran-facing service (VFS) designers, offering guidance and solutions to accessibility challenges. 
• Review UX designs with a sharp accessibility focus, ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA and Section 508 standards. 
• Collaborate with designers to integrate universal design principles and best practices into all design processes and outputs. 
• Partner with content strategists to ensure written content aligns with accessibility principles, including plain language and proper use of semantic structure. 
• Demonstrate expertise in VA Design System components and patterns, ensuring consistent application across all digital products. 
• Advocate for accessible design patterns and components throughout every stage of product development. 
• Stay at the forefront of accessibility trends and design innovations to lead forward-thinking initiatives. 
• Develop and maintain a centralized repository of accessibility resources, including design patterns, testing tools, and documentation. 
• Create accessibility toolkits for designers and developers to simplify and standardize the implementation of inclusive practices. 
• Gather feedback from designers and stakeholders to refine training materials and improve accessibility resources. 
• Develop and maintain an accessibility roadmap, outlining goals, milestones, and key initiatives to enhance the accessibility of VA digital services. 
• Regularly report progress and outcomes to leadership and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with broader VA objectives. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 
• Experience with the VA Design System and its components and patterns. 
• Familiarity with ARIA roles, semantic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript best practices. 
• Knowledge of mobile accessibility, responsive design, and platform-specific accessibility guidelines (iOS, Android). 
• Strong knowledge of WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA and Section 508 standards. 
• Deep understanding of universal design principles and inclusive design practices. 
• Proven expertise in accessibility standards and practices, with a strong understanding of UX design principles. 
• Experience with assistive technologies such as screen readers (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, Voiceover), screen magnifiers, voice technology, and alternative input devices. 
• Strong visual design skills and a keen eye for detail. 

• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.

• Adaptability to new challenges and dynamic environments.

• Empathy for people with diverse abilities and a passion for advocating for accessibility. 

• Familiarity with the VA.gov platform and its specific accessibility requirements. 
• Experience in conducting accessibility audits and providing actionable feedback. 
• IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) is preferred. 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust