Lead Specialist

About OSAS

The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) is the unit on campus responsible for ensuring equitable access to the University setting for a diverse population of students with disabilities. With a focus on accessibility, inclusivity and creating environments free of discrimination, OSAS team members assess and approve reasonable accommodations and services for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, both on campus and online.

About the Opportunity

Under the supervision of the Associate Director of Policy, Programming & Evaluation, the Lead Specialist is primarily responsible for supporting an assigned caseload of several hundred students and providing day-to-day student services on behalf of OSAS. The Lead Specialist will provide support and training to Lead Specialists and Accessibility Specialists regarding their specified service area in addition to carrying a caseload and liaising with faculty.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintenance of a caseload of several hundred students with disabilities.
• The individual in this role is expected to attend and/or lead weekly documentation review meetings.
• Training Specialists on their designated service area and the accommodations that typically apply to students in that area.
• Ability to determine fundamental requirements of USC courses and programs in collaboration with USC faculty and programmatic departments.
• Offer targeted presentations to campus partners in a variety of modalities (in-person, Zoom, hybrid) on OSAS policies and processes.
• Documentation review and caseload management in a manner that is legally compliant, student-centered and reflective of best practices in the field.
• The Lead Specialist will be adept in discussing accommodations and limitations of students with diagnosing clinicians.
• Exhibit sound professional judgment, exhibited in areas including, but not limited to: raising issues to the appropriate team member(s), effective prioritization, responsiveness, proactivity, assisting students in distress, safety measures on behalf of the office, etc.
• Proven ability to successfully manage and shift between multiple competing priorities, complete necessary work by established deadlines, and provide quality assurance to all deliverables.

Essential Skills

• Disability-related laws: Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, understand, and apply disability-related laws (i.e. ADAAA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) to routine accommodation and service delivery, as well as to basic issue-identification and problem-solving.
• Maintain student records in accordance with FERPA guidelines.
• Technology: Knowledge of operating systems (PC, Mac). Adeptness with basic office software (Microsoft Office Suite), email (Outlook), and internet. Ability to format in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Knowledge of Google Drive, SharePoint and/or OneDrive. Comfort and ability to learn department database to access, update and edit student records.
• Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team, as well as independently. Commitment to ensuring the on-going, successful functioning of the unit via day-to-day and longer-term operations. Willingness to assist staff as needed.
• Communication: Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills demonstrated across a wide range of populations (e.g. students, faculty, academic department contacts, University and Division staff, as well as the OSAS staff). The ability to adapt to various communication styles and maintain professionalism in the face of challenging communications. Exhibit discretion with private and/or confidential student, staff, or other departmental information.
• Judgment: Sound professional judgment, exhibited in areas including, but not limited to: raising issues to the appropriate team member(s), effective prioritization, responsiveness, proactivity, assisting students in distress, safety measures on behalf of the office, etc.
• Time and Project Management: Proven ability to successfully manage and shift between multiple competing priorities, complete necessary work by established deadlines, and provide quality assurance to all deliverables. This individual will demonstrate attention to detail, effective issue identification, excellent organizational skills, trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills and proactivity in work and communication. It is essential that the successful candidate can deliver high quality, time-sensitive work and operate effectively in varying levels of intensity within the department.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field (i.e. Disability Studies; Counseling Psychology; Special Education; Rehabilitation Counseling; Higher Ed Administration/Student Affairs; etc.).
• Three years working with students with disabilities in a higher education setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate Degree in a relevant field (i. e. Disability Studies; Counseling Psychology; Special Education; Rehabilitation Counseling; Higher Ed Administration/Student Affairs; etc).
• Five years working with students with disabilities in higher education.
• Additional experience with teaching, law school, external work placement accommodations, peer mentorship programming is preferred to contribute to other programmatic needs.