Reporting to the Exhibits Director (also the Project Director), the Accessibility Coordinator will manage the activities and schedule for the California Dinosaur Garden project. The Coordinator will provide guidance and counsel on ADA and best practices for accessibility throughout the project. This grant-funded temporary position will be hired as an hourly employee by the City of Palo Alto working 10 hours per week. The duration of the position will be from mid-summer 2022 to March 2024.
Specific responsibilities will include:
• Engage the Accessibility Advisory Team every 4 months for project duration; Schedule meetings and create agendas; Organize presentations with the exhibits team and other JMZ Staff to elicit feedback from AAT on exhibit planning, prototypes, accessibility resources, Super Family Sunday events, outreach, partnerships, marketing, trainings, policies, and more; Create meeting notes and manage action items
• Organize and attend Super Family Sunday events (10 per year), including marketing, staffing and surveys • Maintain Constant Contact email database of families and providers for communication on project activities – specifically for Super Family Sunday event and participant recruitment for exhibit prototyping
• Manage & facilitate mini-accessibility trainings at all staff meetings (5-10 min. 2x annually) and additional trainings for guest services staff and volunteers • Facilitate basic access and inclusion trainings for summer camp staff, new staff and new volunteers on an as-needed basis using developed materials and update training materials as needed
• Recruit participants to test exhibits; Manage prototyping sessions at Super Family Sunday events (2-3) in collaboration with Exhibits team; Working with Exhibits team, determine implementations for exhibit design based on feedback
• Support Exhibits team during the Exhibits Design Development and Fabrication phases by sourcing specialty contractors, specific assistive technologies, exhibit parts and resources
• Manage contractors according to City procedures, including writing project scopes, soliciting bids, maintaining schedule, assisting Purchasing with contract needs, managing payments, and communicating with contractors; Contractors include Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, MWA Insights (evaluator), audio label contractor and potentially others
• Assist with setting up existing assistive listening devices and train staff on use • Maintain current accessibility resources and new ones as needed or requested
• Write ADA and Accessibility policies or practices as needed
• Respond to ADA grievances; Recommend solutions; Maintain correspondence and documentation of the compliance procedure
• Arrange for special requests for accommodations, alternate formats, etc.
• Working with Marketing Coordinator, manage marketing to the community; Facilitate photography of people with disabilities using new exhibits, resources and participating in events
• Provide expertise on planning and business practices with a lens of access • Manage Summative Evaluation with input from Exhibits Director
• Write annual IMLS performance report with input from the Exhibits Director • In collaboration with Exhibits Director and other key project staff, manage dissemination of project, including activities, successes/failures, outcomes, summative evaluation, etc.
Job Requirements:
• At least two years professional experience working with access and accommodations for people with disabilities
• Prior experience working with accessibility issues in a museum, theater, cultural venue/center, educational institution, government agency or service provider
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience with and knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and accessibility best practices for museums and zoos
• Experience managing projects
• Experience and track record of creating new partnerships in the community
• Experience conducting outreach through email, social media, and websites
• Knowledge of training skills and techniques
• Experience writing, creating and implementing policies
• Strong organizational skills and detail-oriented
• Strong written and oral communications skills
• Preference to multi-task and work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on a team
• Excellent customer service skills
• Proficient in MS Office Suite programs and the ability to learn new systems
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends as required
When you will work and pay rate. . .
This position is 10 hours per week. Schedule can be flexible and some remote work is possible as long as business needs are met. Some night and weekend work may be required. The hourly rate for this position is $34.00 - $38.58 plus an additional medical stipend of $3.80 per hour. Rate is commensurate with experience.
Ready to join the team? Here’s what to do…
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and a relevant writing sample to tina.keegan@cityofpaloalto.org