Information Technology Specialist 5 - IT Accessibility Officer

Posting number: 27-00388

Department: 532 Iowa Department of Management

Job classification: Information Technology Specialist 5

Posting type: Open

Categories: IT and Computers

The Department of Management (DOM), Division of Information Technology (DoIT), is seeking an IT Accessibility Officer to lead our enterprise-wide digital accessibility strategy. This role will serve as the organization’s primary authority on accessibility standards, ensuring our technology systems, applications, and services meet regulatory requirements and support inclusive digital experiences for all Iowans. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise, strategic leadership, and a passion for promoting equitable access across the state’s technology landscape.

What You Will Do

• Lead enterprise digital accessibility strategy and governance to align with organizational objectives and drive continuous improvement across IT systems, applications, and services.
• Develop, implement, and maintain the enterprise digital accessibility program, including frameworks, processes, roadmaps, and maturity assessments.
• Establish and maintain IT accessibility policies, standards, and procedures aligned with WCAG 2.1+ (or higher), Section 508, ADA, and DOJ guidance—partnering with leadership, legal, contracting, and compliance teams.
• Advise executive leadership on accessibility risks, compliance status, and mitigation strategies, providing regular briefings, recommendations, and decision-support.
• Provide expert consultation to IT teams (e.g., product owners, developers, legal, vendor management, contracting) on accessibility requirements, best practices, and inclusive design.
• Integrate accessibility early in the project lifecycle, participating in planning, architecture reviews, design reviews, and change management to ensure accessibility is addressed continuously.
• Deliver technical guidance for accessible design, development, configuration, and procurement of IT systems and applications (exclusive of websites, documents, and multimedia), including assistive technology compatibility.
• Define and enforce accessibility requirements in procurement, conducting VPAT/ACR reviews, recommending contract language, and partnering with Executive Technology Officers and Product Owners to assess vendor deliverables.
• Establish accessibility KPIs and dashboards; track issues, remediation progress, and compliance metrics; and drive corrective actions to reduce risk and improve user experience.
• Prepare formal reports and briefings for leadership and oversight bodies, communicating program status, findings, trends, and recommendations.
• Support audits, investigations, and compliance reviews (including random and scheduled) related to IT accessibility, and coordinate remediation plans and follow-up.
• Design, deliver, or source accessibility training andguidance for IT staff and vendors; mentor teams to build capability; and promote organization-wide awareness of inclusive digital service delivery.

What We Are Seeking

• Strong expertise in IT accessibility standards and regulations.
• Ability to lead enterprise accessibility strategy and governance.
• Skilled collaborator who can guide IT teams and vendors on accessibility requirements.
• Strong analytical and communication skills for assessing risk and reporting compliance.

What We Offer

• Flexible work environment
• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement savings options (RIC)
• Flexible Spending Accounts

Why Work with Us?

At the Iowa Department of Management (DOM), we help government agencies across the state perform at their best by managing financial resources, technology, and information. Our mission is rooted in service—we provide efficient, innovative, and strategic solutions that empower agencies to fulfill their goals.

We’re guided by four core values:

• Integrity – We act with honesty and accountability.
• Teamwork – We collaborate to achieve shared success.
• Service – We are committed to excellence in public service.
• Partnership – We build strong relationships to drive results.

Working Arrangement

This position occasionally requires onsite work in Des Moines, IA. Employees meeting all expectations of their work responsibilities may request fully remote work and develop a hybrid/remote schedule collaboratively with their manager.

Please note, candidates for this position must reside in the state of Iowa at the time of starting the role.

Background Check Requirements

• After a conditional offer of employment has been made, and as the final step in the hiring process, candidates for this position will be subject to a background investigation, which may include but may not be limited to a verification of a candidate’s education, previous employment/work history, contact of personal references, motor vehicle records, and a criminal history check (including through Federal, State, or Local criminal justice agencies).
• Information gathered as part of such background investigation will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by Iowa Code section 22.7, 8B.4A, and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations; provided that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such information shall be available to candidates upon request.

E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the Federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

 2) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in computer science, computer applications, software engineering, computer engineering, management information systems, business analytics, or cyber security, and experience equal to two years of full-time work in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security. 

3) All of the following (a and b): 

a. Three years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and 

b. A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

4) All of the following (a and b):

a. Five years of full-time work experience in application development and database management, business analysis, systems and network administration, technical training and reporting, IT vendor and purchasing management, IT project management, IT product management, system testing and quality assurance, mainframe and platform administration, and/or information technology security; and 

b. Either of the following: 

i. Certification from an authorized educational institution/major computer or software producer in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a; or 

ii. Eighteen semester hours from an accredited college or university in one or more of the specialty areas listed in part a. 

5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes six months of full-ime work as an Information Technology Specialist 4.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.