Lead Disability Specialist and Supervisor , Disabled Students Program

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 UC Berkeley a special place for students, faculty, and staff.

The Lead Disability Specialist and Supervisor provides leadership for the Disability Services Program, supervising professional career staff, managing caseloads, and ensuring compliance with federal and state disability law.

• Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of Disability Specialists.
• Manage workload distribution, evaluate performance, and support staff in meeting case‑management and service‑quality expectations.
• Lead recruitment, hiring, training, and onboarding of new specialists.
• Identify training needs and collaborate with the DSP Senior Policy Analyst to design learning opportunities.
• Respond to student and faculty complaints, escalating complex matters to DSP leadership when necessary.
• Coordinate with DSP managers and auxiliary services to ensure integrated service delivery.
• Partner with academic departments and faculty to address accommodation challenges and promote consistent campus‑wide compliance.
• Work closely with the DSP Business Administration team to align HR, recruiting, purchasing, and other operational functions with university policy.
• Lead case‑review meetings, contribute to policy development, and support strategic planning for the specialist unit.
• Serve as a liaison with academic departments, deans’ offices, and student affairs, and respond promptly to sensitive faculty complaints regarding accommodations.
• Represent DSP in campus initiatives and coordinate campus‑wide training on disability, accessibility, and inclusive teaching practices.
• Oversee integration and functionality of case‑management systems (e.g., AIM) and lead system‑related improvements in partnership with Auxiliary Services units.
• Maintain a small caseload of students with complex or high‑stakes accommodation needs and provide consultation on escalated cases.
• Ensure consistent application of accommodation policies across the team.

• 3–5 years of direct supervisory experience in a service‑oriented, compliance‑driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict, address performance concerns, and lead team change management.
• Experience interfacing with faculty and campus leadership on sensitive, high‑stakes accessibility issues.
• Success in coordinating service delivery, resolving operational issues, and implementing programmatic improvements.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills across all organizational levels.
• Experience mediating, managing, and resolving conflicts with transparent decision‑making processes.
• Political acumen and proficiency in working with students, faculty, staff, senior administrators, and community leaders.
• Strong problem‑identification, judgment, critical thinking, and creative problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage competing time and resource demands.

• Master’s degree or higher in education, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field with a focus on disability, student affairs, or higher education; or equivalent experience/training.
• An advanced combination of education and experience in disability services within postsecondary settings is also considered.

• Direct experience as an accommodations specialist in a university setting.
• Advanced knowledge of disability documentation, academic accommodations, auxiliary services, and student service delivery.
• Thorough knowledge of the legal framework for student accommodations under state and federal law.

Annual salary range: $82,800.00 – $. This exempt, monthly‑paid, full‑time (40 hours/week) position is eligible for UC benefits.

To apply, submit your resume and cover letter.

This designation requires fingerprinting and a background check. The university reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

• Eligi…