[Hiring] Section 508/ Accessibility Consultant @Goldschmitt and Associates

Role Description

Goldschmitt & Associates is seeking a Section 508/ Accessibility Consultant to help ensure that digital services, data products, dashboards, documentation, and user interfaces developed or supported for Federal Student Aid are accessible to people with disabilities and comply with applicable federal accessibility requirements.

This role will work as part of a cross-functional product, human-centered design, analytics, and engineering team. The consultant will bring accessibility into the design and development process from the beginning rather than treating accessibility as a final compliance review.

The Section 508/ Accessibility Consultant will help teams understand accessibility requirements, review designs and working solutions, identify barriers, recommend practical fixes, and validate that remediated products provide an effective experience for users of assistive technology.

The role will support FSA's Human-Centered Data Design work as well as accessibility needs that may arise across cloud tools, dashboards, reporting interfaces, data products, documentation, and other digital services.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the team's subject matter expert for Section 508, WCAG, and accessible digital design
• Interpret accessibility requirements and translate them into practical design, development, testing, and acceptance criteria
• Partner with HCD/UX designers during research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing to identify accessibility needs early
• Review wireframes and prototypes before development to identify potential accessibility barriers
• Evaluate websites, applications, dashboards, analytical interfaces, data catalogs, reports, documentation, and other digital products for accessibility
• Perform manual accessibility testing using keyboard-only navigation and commonly used assistive technologies
• Use automated accessibility-testing tools to identify common accessibility defects and support repeatable testing
• Test screen-reader behavior, focus order, keyboard navigation, form controls, labels, headings, tables, links, status messages, and dynamic content
• Review charts, dashboards, and other data visualizations to ensure that important information is not communicated through color or visual presentation alone
• Evaluate color contrast, text resizing, responsive behavior, visible focus indicators, and other visual-accessibility requirements
• Review PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and other electronic documents when accessibility compliance is required
• Work with developers to identify the cause of accessibility defects and recommend practical remediation approaches
• Help engineering teams incorporate accessibility checks into development and testing processes
• Develop accessibility acceptance criteria for user stories and product backlog items
• Support accessibility testing during sprint, release, and readiness activities rather than waiting until final acceptance
• Document accessibility findings, severity, recommended corrective action, and validation results
• Retest corrected defects and document closure
• Support Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), or similar accessibility documentation when required
• Help teams establish reusable accessible components, patterns, templates, and design guidance
• Provide accessibility training, coaching, office hours, and hands-on support to designers, developers, analysts, product owners, and other team members
• Monitor changes to federal accessibility standards and help the team adjust practices when requirements change
• Work with FSA personnel and other contractors to resolve accessibility issues that cross organizational or system boundaries
• Promote accessibility as part of product quality and user experience rather than as a stand-alone compliance activity

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Section 508 requirements and WCAG accessibility standards
• Experience performing both automated and manual accessibility testing
• Experience testing web applications using keyboard-only navigation and assistive technologies
• Experience with screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, or comparable technologies
• Knowledge of accessible HTML, ARIA, semantic markup, forms, tables, navigation, and interactive components
• Experience reviewing wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces for accessibility before development
• Ability to identify accessibility defects and explain corrective action to designers and developers
• Experience documenting accessibility findings and validating remediation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with UX designers, software engineers, product managers, analysts, testers, and Government stakeholders

Requirements

• Possess at least 5 years of professional experience in digital accessibility, Section 508 compliance, accessible UX, accessibility testing, or a related field
• Possess the ability to pass a 6C Public Trust investigation, including US citizenship

Preferred Qualifications

• Federal Government accessibility experience
• Department of Education or Federal Student Aid experience
• Experience testing data-intensive applications, dashboards, business-intelligence tools, or analytical interfaces
• Experience with accessibility testing tools such as ANDI, axe, WAVE, Accessibility Insights, or similar tools
• Experience with accessible document testing and remediation
• Familiarity with Design Systems and reusable accessible component libraries
• International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) certification such as CPACC, WAS, or CPWA
• Experience integrating accessibility testing into Agile, DevSecOps, CI/CD, or automated quality processes
• Experience conducting accessibility-focused usability testing with users of assistive technology

Benefits

• 401(k) with immediate vesting
• Paid Federal Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical Insurance, including Vision and Dental Insurance
• Employer-Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• FSA/HSA Programs
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Adoption Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Caregiver Support Program
• Health Advocacy Program
• Financial Wellbeing Support