Hi COSA Community,
We’re hiring! The Department of Natural Resources at the State of Colorado cares about making our digital assets as accessible as possible to all users. We’re seeking a temporary employee who will remediate our websites to ensure our websites are accessible.
kristin.kemp. Also, please let me know if you have recommendations for sharing this posting with communities specially focused on accessibility.
What is the Department of Natural Resources?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a state agency that manages and conserves Colorado’s natural resources for the benefit of people today – and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children. Our diverse agencies work together to meet the recreational and resource needs of the public. Our agencies include Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Division of Forestry, Division of Mining Reclamation & Safety, Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, State Land Board, Colorado Water Conservation Board, and Division of Water Resources.
DNR’s Commitment to Digital Accessibility
DNR is committed to stewarding the state’s natural resources for the benefit of our state’s citizens and guests. This includes ensuring that all people have equity access to our websites such that they can learn about recreation and conservation in Colorado. Per the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Executive Order D2020175, the state is expected to “…create statewide standards of accessibility to guide agencies in ensuring State buildings, systems, vital documents, community meetings, and other communications and resources, including websites, are accessible to all Coloradans, regardless of ability or language.” Specifically, HB21-1110, requires the state’s digital assets to be accessible by 2024 at which time citizens may cite inaccessible issues for a fine of $3,500 per instance.
Description of Job
DNR has many digital assets: GIS servers, databases, apps, websites, etc. This project is focused exclusively on five DNR websites that span 700+ webpages.
These sites are already receiving an 80% or higher score on Site Improve. A sampling of these pages have already been third-party tested for screen reader accessibility. You’ll use those reports -– and your professional acumen -– to remediate the websites. Successful remediation will be defined as a passing score from a third party tester. In doing the remediation, you’ll collaborate closely on content and design consultation with each site’s webmaster. Your primary point of contact for the full project will be the State Land Board’s webmaster.
Remediation includes:
- Repairing inaccessible design elements;
- Rewriting inaccessible content;
- Redesigning pages on a case-by-case basis;
- Posting accessibility statements on a page-by-page basis when remediation isn’t deemed appropriate;
- Other remediation tasks.
The sites are:
- Dnr.colorado.gov: hosted on drupal 9, assessed by Google Analytics (GA) and Site Improve (SI)
- drms.colorado.gov: hosted on drupal 9, assessed by GA and SI
- Reclamation.colorado.gov: hosted on drupal 9, assessed by GA and SI
- cwcb.colorado.gov: hosted on drupal 9, assessed by GA and SI
- dwr.colorado.gov: hosted on drupal 9, assessed by GA and SI
- slb.colorado.gov: hosted on drupal 9, assessed by GA and SI
SOW Phase 1
- Become acquainted with DNR’s websites and intranet sites, GA reports, Siteimprove Reports, and brand guidelines.
- Meet DNR’s webmasters.
- Obtain necessary software access.
SOW Phase 2 (on-going, cumulative)
- Document processes and develop maintenance plan of best practices.
- Liaise with OIT third party testers to obtain a passing score.
- Attend pertinent meetings.
- No description is complete without the ubiquitous ‘other duties as assigned’ line, right? Even though this is a project-based contract, you will be integrated into our department’s web team. You will have time, if you wish, to shadow team members, attend field trips, and explore DNR’s natural resources
SOW Phase 3
- Remediate slb.colorado.gov in close collaboration with SLB webmaster.
- Redesign highest priority web pages, which includes but is not limited to content for public meetings and Colorado Open Records Act.
SOW Phase 4
- Remediate dnr.colorado.gov in close collaboration with DNR webmaster.
- Redesign highest priority web pages, which includes but is not limited to content for public hearings, public meetings, rulemaking, and Colorado Open Records Act.
SOW Phase 5
- Remediate dwr.colorado.gov in close collaboration with DWR webmaster.
- Redesign highest priority web pages, which includes but is not limited to content for public hearings, public meetings, rulemaking, and Colorado Open Records Act.
SOW Phase 6
- Remediate cwcb.colorado.gov in close collaboration with CWCB webmaster.
- Redesign highest priority web pages, which includes but is not limited to content for public hearings, public meetings, rulemaking, and Colorado Open Records Act.
SOW Phase 7
- Remediate drms.colorado.gov in close collaboration with DRMS webmaster.
- Redesign highest priority web pages, which includes but is not limited to content for public hearings, public meetings, rulemaking, and Colorado Open Records Act.
Temporary employment details:
This is a temporary position to complete the remediation of five external websites. We are flexible. We hope you can begin work 1/9/23 and complete the project by late spring. Your work can happen virtually/remotely. Regular 1:1 meetings during business hours (M-F, 9-3 pm) will be required but can occur virtually. Occasional 1:1 meetings in-person in the metro-Denver area is preferred but not required.
Required Qualifications:
- 1 year experience using the Drupal platform
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience implementing digital standards (bonus points if you’ve implemented digital accessibility best practices)
- Proficiency with screen readers
- HTML proficiency
- Excellent understanding of digital writing concepts
- Excellent understanding of digital design concepts
- Proficiency with SiteImprove
- Proficiency with Google Analytics
- Proficiency with Google Sites
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment
- Willingness to work in an environment with a degree of ambiguity
What can you expect from us in return for your hard work?
Work in a positive, supportive and welcoming team culture. Learn about many facets of DNR. Feel good knowing your work is helping make our state’s natural resources more accessible to more people.
Benefits: temporary employees participate in PERA (State employee pension program), and accrue paid sick leave, but do not receive medical benefits, paid holidays or paid vacation.
Compensation
Hourly rate: $30-35/hour for a max of 920 total hours
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Kristin KempOutreach and Communications Officer
P 303.866.3454 x 3330 | C 720.666.0437
1127 Sherman Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80203
kristin.kemp | slb.colorado.gov
Check out a short video about our agency’s impact on Colorado schools!
My workday is 7:00 am to 3:15 pm (Mon-Fri) and may look different than yours. Please do not feel obligated to respond outside of your normal working hours.