Lead Specialist, Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services

Overview Full-time, Lead Specialist for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services 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 online. About the Opportunity Under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Student Accessibility Services, the Lead Specialist for Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) Services will provide day-to-day service to students on behalf of OSAS, actively engage in outreach, education and facilitation of accommodations related to DHH services. This role is a leadership position within the Unit, providing subject matter expertise, high-impact responsibility, and contributing to strategic departmental projects. The Lead DHH Specialist handles direct student service, faculty and campus partner support, documentation review, and caseload management in a student-centered, legally compliant approach aligned with best practices in the field, particularly for DHH services. The role requires understanding and applying disability-related laws to routine and complex accommodation and service delivery, issue identification, and problem-solving. The role guides the work of other staff, including Assistive Technology Coordinators and graduate/undergraduate student staff. All OSAS staff maintain current knowledge of relevant disability-related laws and operate in accordance with FERPA guidelines. OSAS is a collaborative team with a culture of achievement, supportiveness, and inclusivity. The successful candidate must be able to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating collaboration, attention to detail, and effective communication and accessibility standards under the ADA and Section 504. Key Responsibilities Maintain a caseload of students with disabilities with expertise in DHH documentation review, including audiology, speech and language assessments, and the review of documentation for other disabilities in accordance with laws and best practices; participate in weekly documentation review meetings. 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, and 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 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). Collaborate with facilities staff, instructors, and the Office Manager to coordinate classroom Assistive Hearing/Listening Technology and related logistics, including room setup, lighting, seating, and audio arrangements to support interpreters and transcribers. Collaborate with the Office Manager to maintain routine records, review and approve invoices, reconcile billing discrepancies, and ensure timely payment to vendors. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and maintain professionalism in challenging communications; provide guidance to students, parents/guardians, OSAS staff, academic unit contacts, vendors, and other University personnel. Work efficiently under deadlines, manage details, and address multiple tasks with rapid response. Coordinate and implement DHH services for undergraduate and graduate students across on-campus, online programs, and external placement settings (e.g., fieldwork, clinical, practicum), ensuring effective assistive technology and communication access solutions in privacy-protected environments. Engage in professional development and stay current on best practices, emerging technologies, legal standards, and research related to Deaf/Hard of Hearing accessibility in higher education. Other duties as assigned, including cross-training to support other accommodation service areas and departmental projects. Application procedure To be considered for this opportunity, please include a cover letter with your CV/resume. Essential Skills and Knowledge Disability-related laws: Knowledge of or ability to learn and apply disability-related laws (e.g., ADA and Section 504) to routine accommodation and service delivery, and to problem-solving; maintain student records in accordance with FERPA guidelines. Budget management: Experience tracking expenditures, processing reimbursements, managing purchase orders, and reconciling invoices. Technology: Proficiency with PC/Mac, Microsoft Office Suite, email, internet; ability to format in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; familiarity with Google Drive/SharePoint/OneDrive; ability to learn the department database to access and edit student records. Teamwork: Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently; commitment to the unit’s ongoing operations; willingness to assist staff as needed. Communication: Strong written and interpersonal communication skills with diverse populations; ability to adapt communication styles while maintaining professionalism and discretion with private information. Judgment: Sound professional judgment in prioritization, responsiveness, and problem-solving; ability to raise issues appropriately and support students in distress. Time and project management: Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, ensure quality assurance for DHH services, and operate under varying intensity levels. Minimum Qualifications Master’s degree in a related field (e.g., Education/Special Education; Counseling; Rehabilitation Counseling; Higher Ed Administration; Deaf Studies; Communicative Disorders and Interpreting) 3 years of relevant experience Combined experience/education as a substitute for the minimum education requirement Preferred Qualifications Experience in Deaf/Hard of Hearing services and student personnel administration 5 years of experience working with students with hearing disabilities in a higher education setting The annual base salary range for this position is $72,045.33 - $85,149.81. USC considers factors such as scope, responsibilities, experience, education, skills, equity, legal considerations, and market factors in offers. This description reflects the general nature and level of work performed; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. 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. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations. For specific employment screen implications, please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D. 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 or email. Inquiries will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law. 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