Web Accessibility SME/Mobile Accessibility Specialist
- Contract: 1 year, with possibility of extension
- Type: Full Remote
- Location: Anywhere across Canada
- Security Clearance: Reliability Clearance preferred; eligibility required
Our Client
Our client is a global leader within FSI, offering a comprehensive range of financial solutions, including insurance and benefits services tailored to individuals, families, and businesses worldwide. They emphasize comprehensive coverage, flexible options, and personalized solutions to meet the evolving needs of their clientele. Our client is committed to providing reliable insurance protection, including life, health, disability, and critical illness coverage, along with robust employee benefits packages for businesses. Their dedication to innovation, customer service, and financial stability makes them a trusted partner for insurance and benefits solutions, and a supportive workplace catering to accessibility and remote work options across Canada.
The Role
Our client’s mobile development team is seeking a Web Accessibility SME to provide consulting and coaching to designers, developers, and testers. The primary goal of this role within their agile teams is to develop and maintain mobile applications that adhere to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from inception through the entire product lifecycle. The client is committed to creating apps that are inherently accessible, ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can effectively interact with and benefit from their mobile solutions. This approach not only meets compliance standards but also reflects a dedication to inclusive design principles, making digital products usable by the widest possible audience throughout their entire lifespan.
The role involves interpreting and advising on accessibility standards, principles, techniques, and best practices, including WCAG. This individual will work with multiple agile teams, attending select ceremonies for each. They should be comfortable collaborating with various roles, including Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Designers, Content Creators, Business Analysts, Developers, and Quality Engineers, helping them understand how accessibility fits into their responsibilities.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a digital accessibility subject matter expert for native mobile apps (iOS and Android).
- Review code changes from an accessibility perspective, particularly monitoring updates to iOS and Android accessibility features.
- Conduct design reviews and provide feedback.
- Attend Agile ceremonies across assigned teams as part of a coaching role.
- Develop accessibility acceptance criteria for user stories.
- Confirm testing scope for quality assurance engineers.
- Evaluate pre-production components for accessibility.
- Offer shadowing and training opportunities to promote team self-sufficiency.
- Collaborate with other accessibility coaches for consistent guidance.
- Facilitate role-specific accessibility training.
- Perform and establish best practices for WCAG 2.X A/AA assessments on mobile apps.
Requirements
- Passion for digital accessibility.
- Experience evaluating native mobile apps for WCAG 2.1/2.0 AA conformance.
- Proficiency in testing with VoiceOver and TalkBack screen readers.
- Experience with mobile accessibility testing tools such as Deque Axe Devtools for iOS and Android.
- Strong understanding of iOS and Android accessibility APIs.
- Ability to write accessibility recommendations.
- Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
Preferred
- Familiarity with integrating accessibility testing into unit tests and agile development processes.
- IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC).
- Knowledge of accessibility-related legislation such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Nice to Have
- Development expertise creating accessible native mobile applications.
- Experience writing Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) and Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) for mobile applications.