Arizona Department of Education

The Arizona Department of Education is a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents.

ESS, Lead Assistive Technology Specialist

Job Location:

Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Section
Phoenix Location

Posting Details:

Salary: $74,000 to $77,000 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 03/14/26

Job Summary:

• This position provides professional development to build assistive technology (AT) capacity at public education agencies (PEAs) and approved private schools by delivering comprehensive AT training, technical assistance, and professional support that strengthens statewide access to AT devices, services, and strategies.
• This position serves in a leadership capacity as the Lead AT Specialist by providing guidance to other AT Specialists around professional development and technical assistance, assisting the Special Projects Director with monitoring contracts, grant budgets, and outcomes, and serving as an intra and inter agency liaison.
• Occasional in-state / out-of-state travel is required for this position.

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

Job Duties:

• Provide training to related service and classroom personnel, parents, and students on all aspects of Assistive Technology (AT) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) interventions for students ages 3–21 including training, coaching/mentoring, and modeling strategies in the natural classroom environment.
• Engage in statewide activities that increase compliance with federal and state requirements in AT services, presenting at local, regional, state, and national conferences in addition to regional directors’ meetings, parent group meetings, ADE meetings/trainings and outreach trainings and other statewide capacity building activities.
• Lead team efforts in the development of professional development, technical assistance, and guidance (e.g., charts, brochures, or handouts) as needed to inform PEAs and the public of compliance with state and federal special education laws/regulations, practices/processes for implementation of programs to meet compliance, including the latest changes and interpretations of federal laws and state regulations pertaining to AT services.
• Assist the director in leading data driven, strategic planning activities to continuously evaluate program outcomes and plan activities to meet constituent needs while leading efforts to update the current menu of trainings to ensure the needs of the field are met.
• Mentor new specialists in AT services and UDL implementation while serving in a leadership capacity in lieu of the Special Projects Director as needed and assisting the director with monitoring contracts, grant budgets, and outcomes.
• Initiate and respond to needs for technical assistance and resources regarding processes, strategies, services, and devices used across environments to students ages 3–21 needing AT and UDL.
• Represent the ADE in national and statewide work groups and conference planning committees, serve on task forces, fiscal review RFP teams, committees, and special projects, and act as an intra and inter agency liaison among ADE divisions, other state agencies, and community based organizations to improve AT services and UDL interventions.
• Attend conferences, communicate with AT vendors, review online resources such as the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT), and read newsletters, journals, books, regulations, Attorney General opinions, and special education laws to keep abreast of professional information and issues, while actively participating in professional workshops, seminars, conferences, and training sessions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge in:
• K–12 school experience in programs designed to deliver special education and AT services to students with disabilities
• Differentiated instruction, including AT, accessible mainstream technology, and universal design for learning
• Effective instructional strategies
• Curriculum for regular and special education, using AT to access the curriculum
• State/functional standards and alignment of strategies to curriculum
• Infusion of strategies into classroom for students with high/low incidence needs
• Role of other state and private agencies in the provision of AT services
• AT devices and services, including hardware and software
• State and national AT initiatives and state and local interagency agreements
• Preservice and in-service preparation programs for AT services
• School administrative structure
• School district funding and special education budgeting
• Awareness of organizational structure obtained by work experience within a school district by teaching or administration
• A Bachelor's degree in special education or related field is required.
• Applicants must have prior specific or specialized work experience and knowledge in programs designed to deliver special education services and AT services to persons with disabilities, including AT services program development and administration, teaching program evaluation, and/or related service provision.

Skills in:
• Highly developed oral and written communication
• Customer service skills and strong interpersonal skills
• Public speaking
• Excellent problem solving and decision making
• Interpersonal relationships
• Group dynamics and facilitation
• Organization and time management
• Evaluation and monitoring
• Project and task management
• Event planning.
• Intermediate to advanced skill in using Microsoft Suite products (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint)

Ability to:
• Demonstrate leadership.
• Have great attention to detail
• Multi task effectively
• Work in collaboration with a variety of personalities, other agency personnel, and the general public
• Provide consultant services and technical assistance to diverse stakeholders.
• Perform effective research
• Analyze and communicate research and data.
• Demonstrate effective public relations capability
• Demonstrate initiative and judgment and make decisions within the scope of assigned authority

Selective Preference(s):

• Preferred will be given to those applicants with a Master's degree in special education or related field (i.e., speech and language pathology, occupational or physical therapy, rehabilitation services, etc.).

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Offers are contingent upon successful completion of all background and reference checks, required documents and, if applicable, a post-offer medical/physical evaluation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Ten paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

You will be required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) upon your 27th week of employment, subject to waiting period. On or shortly after, your first day of employment you will be provided with enrollment instructions and effective date.

Contact Us:

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 542-3186 or emailing Human.Resources@azed.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

 

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