Lead Disability Specialist and Supervisor , Disabled Students Program

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff. As a world‑leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice.

Since its founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value. We look for applicants who reflect California’s diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity‑focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

The Disabled Students' Program (DSP) provides a wide array of legally mandated services to students with disabilities. It consists of approximately 41 FTE, serves over 5,600 students, and hires over 400 service providers and student volunteers to provide educational support to this growing population. DSP also manages a Department of Education TRIO Student Support Services federal grant and oversees the Disability Cultural Community Center.

The Lead Disability Specialist and Supervisor focuses on supervising professional staff, staff development, and the planning, coordination, and implementation of services and processes that ensure students with disabilities have equitable access to the academic and campus environment in compliance with federal and state disability law.

The First Review Date for this job is:
June 26, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Supervision, Leadership, and Unit Oversight

• Provides direct supervision, mentorship, and professional development to a team of Disability Specialists.
• Oversees workload distribution, performance evaluations, and supports staff in meeting expectations related to case management, service quality, timeliness, and professional conduct.
• Works with managers in recruitment and hiring efforts for the DSP Disability Specialist unit.
• Leads internal training and onboarding for new and continuing Disability Specialists to ensure consistency in practices, procedures, legal compliance, and evolving campus standards.
• Identifies training needs and collaborates with the DSP Senior Policy Analyst to design or coordinate learning opportunities to support team growth and service quality.
• Responds to and resolves student and faculty complaints, escalating complex matters to DSP leadership as needed.
• Collaborates with DSP managers and auxiliary services (Alternative Media, Communications Access, Note Taking, and Proctoring) to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Partners with academic departments and faculty to address accommodation challenges and continuously works towards a consistent campus-wide approach to disability compliance and support.
• Works closely with the DSP Business Admin team and demonstrates understanding of campus processes and guidelines related to HR, recruitment, purchasing, facilities, and other operational needs that align with university policy and smooth day‑to‑day operations.
• Leads case review meetings, contributes to policy development, and helps shape strategic planning efforts for the specialist unit.

Strategic Partnerships and Campus Collaboration

• Serves as a key liaison with academic departments, deans' offices, and student affairs.
• Responds promptly to sensitive or high-level faculty complaints regarding accommodations.
• Represents DSP in campus initiatives, particularly those involving academic access, student experience, or instructional access.
• Collaborates with the DSP Senior Policy Analyst to deliver or coordinate campus-wide training efforts that promote awareness of disability, accessibility, and inclusive teaching practices in higher education.

Systems Leadership and Process Improvement

• Oversees the integration and functionality of case management systems (e.g., AIM) for the specialist unit.
• Provides…