Speaker Coordinator/508 Compliance Specialist (Consultant to the CEE Team)

Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG) is seeking an experienced Speaker Coordinator and Section 508 Accessibility Consultant to support the planning and execution of a large-scale national conference for the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

The ideal candidate will bring expertise in conference speaker coordination, accessible presentation development, and Section 508 compliance. This consultant will serve as a subject matter expert, collaborating with MSG's conference logistics and graphic design teams to ensure that speaker presentations and related materials meet federal accessibility requirements.

We are seeking a nimble, proactive, detail-oriented professional who can independently manage assigned responsibilities, provide strategic recommendations, and confidently engage with federal clients and conference stakeholders.

• Assist with developing and refining the conference agenda, including coordinating speaker presentations, session content, and presentation requirements.
• Collaborate with MSG's logistics team to establish speaker deadlines, presentation submission processes, and accessibility review timelines.
• Provide guidance to speakers on presentation preparation and accessibility expectations.
• Participate in client-facing planning meetings and provide recommendations to enhance the conference experience.
• Provide flexibility to the client in processes and practices that support the overall development of the agenda and conference content.
• Collaborate with MSG's graphic design team to develop a visually engaging, Section 508-compliant PowerPoint presentation template.
• Conduct a one-hour, recorded training session for conference speakers on creating accessible presentations, including best practices for slide design, alternative text, reading order, color contrast, accessible tables, and other applicable accessibility standards.
• Review and remediate conference presentations to ensure compliance with applicable Section 508 accessibility requirements.
• Lead and oversee the team responsible for reviewing and remediating presentations, ensuring consistent quality and timely completion.
• Establish quality control procedures and track the status of presentation accessibility reviews.
• Ensure presentations are reviewed and appropriately remediated before submission to the client for leadership review and approval.
• Identify potential accessibility challenges and recommend practical solutions.
• Provide onsite support during the conference, assisting with speaker coordination, presentation readiness, and accessibility-related issues.
• Collaborate with approximately seven MSG logistics team members to ensure seamless conference execution.
• Participate in post-conference activities, including final reporting, lessons learned, and recommendations for future accessibility improvements.
• Discussions, or other review-related activities as required.
• Complete additional duties as assigned.

• Demonstrated experience with Section 508 compliance, digital accessibility, and accessible presentation development.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint accessibility features, accessibility checkers, and document remediation techniques.
• Experience coordinating conference speakers, presentations, or educational sessions.
• Experience developing and delivering professional training, particularly on digital accessibility or presentation best practices.
• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and pivot with client needs.
• Ability to supervise or coordinate the work of an accessibility remediation team.
• Comfortable participating in meetings with federal clients and providing subject matter expertise and strategic recommendations.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing deadlines, and proactively resolve challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to uphold professional standards across teams.

• Previous experience supporting U.S. Department of Education conferences or other federal government events.
• Familiarity with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, federal Section 508 standards, and accessibility quality assurance practices.
• Experience supporting conferences with 1,000 or more attendees.
• Familiarity with accessibility tools such as Adobe Acrobat Pro, PAC, or comparable document remediation software.
• Experience developing accessible speaker resources, templates, checklists, or training materials.
• Accessibility-related certifications such as IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) or Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) are a plus.

The consultant will work remotely during the planning period, with hours varying based on conference milestones and deliverables.

The selected consultant must have the flexibility to support increased activity as presentation submission deadlines and conference dates approach.

Candidates must be available to provide onsite support during the conference. The final conference dates are pending confirmation, with the following potential windows:

• June 28 - July 2, 2027
• August 2 - 6, 2027

The consultant should be prepared to accommodate either conference window until the schedule is finalized.

MSG is looking for a consultant who is more than a technical accessibility reviewer. The successful candidate will be a trusted advisor and collaborative partner who brings practical solutions, anticipates project needs, and takes ownership of deliverables.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate professionalism in client-facing environments, communicate technical accessibility requirements in an understandable manner, and balance attention to detail with the demands of a fast-paced conference planning environment.

Interested candidates should submit a resume highlighting relevant conference coordination, Section 508 accessibility, and presentation remediation experience. Applicants are encouraged to include:

• Examples of accessible presentation templates or training materials developed.
• Experience leading accessibility review or remediation teams.
• Proposed hourly consulting rate.
• Confirmation of availability during the anticipated contract period and both potential onsite conference windows.

EEO Statement: Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and competitive selection process.