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University of Massachusetts

Assistant Director of Academic Access

🇺🇸 Amherst, MA

🕑 Full-Time

💰 TBD

💻 Project Management

🗓️ October 21st, 2025

K-12

Edtech.com's Summary

University of Massachusetts Amherst is hiring an Assistant Director of Academic Access. The role involves managing the Learning Specialist Accommodation Program within Disability Services, providing leadership, supervision, and program development to support students with information processing disabilities and related academic needs.

Highlights
  • Oversee and manage the Learning Specialist Accommodation Program supporting students with information processing disabilities.
  • Provide leadership and supervision to professional and student staff focusing on executive functioning, study skills, social skill development, and neurodiversity awareness.
  • Develop service models including group workshops, individual coaching, and peer mentoring programs.
  • Coordinate recruitment, selection, and training of program staff.
  • Maintain collaborative relationships with campus partners to provide multi-tiered student support.
  • Assess and report on program effectiveness and student outcomes.
  • Required proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, and web-based data management systems.
  • Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree, three years of relevant program coordination experience, including two years supervising staff, and experience working with individuals with disabilities.
  • Preferred qualifications include knowledge of higher education accommodations, universal design, and experience with distance education technologies.
  • Typical work schedule is Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm, with occasional nights and weekends; position is classified at PSU Level 27.

Assistant Director of Academic Access Full Description

About UMass Amherst
The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 
 
Job Summary
Under the general supervision of the Associate Director of Education & Training, the Assistant Director of Academic Access is responsible for the oversight and management of the Learning Specialist (LS) Accommodation Program within Disability Services. 
 
Essential Functions
  • Provides leadership for the program supporting individualized instruction for students with information processing disabilities.  Ensures programs and initiatives focus on incorporating registered students’ needs, taking into consideration the specific strengths and weaknesses of diverse learners.
  • Develops a service model where students obtain support through group workshops, registered students receive Learning Specialist support, and allows for the possibility of providing non-registered students coaching services.
  • Provides high quality supervision to a team of professional and student staff who provide support to eligible students with executive functioning, organization, study, and social skill development, neurodiversity, and disability identity awareness.  
  • Provides procedural and policy guidance to all supervisees, and reviews performance through conferences and reports on effectiveness.
  • Coordinates the recruitment, selection and training of professional and student LS program staff.
  • Develops and maintains a Peer Mentor support program for students focusing on skill building and support from seasoned students with disabilities who are navigating the university experience effectively.
  • Maintains ongoing training and support for students coming to college with executive challenges, social skill building. Establishes and maintains collaborative and effective working relationships with campus partners including but not limited to The Learning Resource Center, Student Success, CCPH and supplemental support through schools and colleges to provide students multi-tiered support across campus.
  • Supports the Associate Director of Education and Training with programmatic efforts pertaining specifically to Academic Affairs.
  • Manages assessment of services provided through the Learning Specialist and Peer Mentoring programs.
  • May carry a small caseload of LS students when applicable.
 
Other Functions
  • Performs related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.  
  • Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.  
  • Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with university policy.  
  • Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.  
 
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
  • Bachelor’s degree. 
  • Three (3) years’ relevant experience in program coordination or project management, including two (2) years’ experience supervising professional staff.
  • Experience working in education, student affairs, human services, special education, disability studies, rehabilitation, social work, or counseling. 
  • Experience working with individuals with disabilities.
  • Established skills in typical office suite software such as Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Teams, and web-based data management systems.
 
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
  • Experience with communication strategies and technologies, including distance education and training.
  • Knowledge of higher education including accommodations and universal design.
  • Teaching experience in multiple modalities.
  • Awareness of the transition students with disabilities experience when moving from a K-12 to the student driven higher education model of self-advocacy.
 
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
  • Typical office environment. 
  • Ability to travel for job-related purposes. 
 
Work Schedule
  • Monday – Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm.
  • May be required to work some nights and weekends. 
 
Salary Information
Level 27
 
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will eb checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.
 
The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.