Job Details

Director, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS)

Rancho Santiago Community College District


Salary Range: Grade H: $133,579.45 - $179,017.99

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: AC26-01372

Location: 8045 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA

Division: SCC Student Services

Closing: 11/20/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

POSITION DETAILS

About Rancho Santiago Community College District
Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is one of the most established districts in the state and has been in operation for nearly 50 years. Located in the heart of Orange County, it is one of the largest of California's 72 community college districts, based on the number of credit and non-credit students. RSCCD encompasses 25 percent of Orange County's total area and serves a population of more than 700,000 residents in the communities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Tustin, and Yorba Linda. The district includes Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College, as well as the Centennial and Orange Continuing Education Centers, the Digital Media Center, the Joint Powers Fire Training Center, the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy, the College and Workforce Preparation Center, and the District Operations Center. RSCCD's three (3) auxiliary Foundations are actively involved in supporting both community and campus programs.
RSCCD's student population is a direct reflection of the diverse communities in the surrounding neighborhoods. As a whole, the district has the honor of serving approximately 55,537 students: 51% Hispanic/Latinx, 20% White, 9% Asian & Filipino, and 2% are African American. RSCCD is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and serves predominately historically underrepresented students. There is a commitment to foster student centered values among our employees to provide equitable student learning, academic excellence, and workforce development. By delivering high-quality educational programs and student support services, the district ensures that students have the appropriate resources to achieve their goals.

At RSCCD, our mission is to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice into all aspects of student academics and employee relations. Thus, creating transformational experiences that prepares students and employees to engage in the world with a renewed sense-of-self. Through this commitment, Rancho Santiago Community College District strives to cultivate a learning environment that prioritizes respect, to ensure that RSCCD stakeholders feel valued and supported throughout their academic and professional careers.

About the Position
The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural competency in serving diverse community college populations, including faculty, classified staff, and students from varied ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This includes those with differing abilities, AB 540 students, DACA recipients, Foreign Residents, VACA participants, and Continuing Education students. They will support RSCCD's mission to promote self-awareness, knowledge, and communication skills, enabling all members of the college community to participate creatively and confidently in an ever-changing world.
Candidates will foster an inclusive and collaborative institutional culture that engages and supports faculty, classified staff, and students in achieving the college's mission and goals. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to lead and manage teams effectively while addressing the unique needs of diverse individuals within the organization. They should exhibit sensitivity, equity-mindedness, and a commitment to anti-racism in their decision-making and interactions. Through strategic leadership and inclusive practices, they will empower students to reach their educational and career aspirations while ensuring faculty and classified staff are supported in fostering a creative, confident, and thriving community college environment.

Position Overview
Under the general administrative direction of the designated dean, the Director of Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) is directly responsible for providing leadership, oversight, direction, planning, coordination, and general supervision and evaluation of the Disabled Student Programs and Services, staff, and faculty.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The duties listed below are essential for this position and illustrate the types of work that may be performed. ?The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.
1. Coordinate and evaluate the daily operations of the DSPS program, including service delivery, policy and procedural development, and publications. 2. Monitor, prepare, and administer program budgets. 3. Monitor and analyze DSPS operations and activities for financial effectiveness and operational efficiency. 4. Provide technical direction and assistance in developing and implementing policies, procedures, and programs to enhance operational efficiency of the DSPS Office. 5. Direct and participate in providing technical assistance to students, College personnel and others concerning DSPS operations and programs. 6. Assure compliance with all federal and state disability laws, rules and regulations; including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990; the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2009; the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other federal and state laws pertaining to higher education and disability. 7. Maintain awareness of local, state, and federal trends for use in forecasting services and instruction. 8. Provide leadership and coordination of service delivery to our Deaf and Hard of Hearing student population. 9. Work closely with the Deans and the Compliance Officer regarding student complaints and issues. 10. Maintain necessary and appropriate records and data related to program funding as required by the Chancellor's Office (MIS reporting) and other regulatory agencies. 11. Serve as a program liaison and participate in outreach to schools, community groups, and local agencies. 12. Provide consultation to faculty and administration regarding access to facilities, technology, and instructional programs. 13. Facilitate communication about disabled students' policies, procedures, programs, and services. 14. Coordinate professional development and services with other campus groups related to students with disabilities. 15. Act as first-line responder to student and faculty issues and concerns regarding accommodations and services. 16. Coordinate training and workshops for faculty and staff regarding students with disabilities. 17. Regularly convene the DSPS Advisory Workgroup. 18. Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate all personnel associated with the program, including performance plans, recommending transfers, reassignment, termination, and disciplinary actions.19. Coordinate subordinate work assignments and review work for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established standards, requirements, and procedures. 20. Support DSPS staff in hiring, training, and supervising short-term temporary and student employees. 21. Serve as the program representative on campus committees and community meetings. 22. Research and implement new technologies for the delivery of DSPS services. 23. Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:
1. Federal, State and local regulations pertaining to serving students with disabilities.
2. Applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures relevant to the position.
3. Policies and objectives of assigned student support services programs and activities.
4. Budget preparation and control.
5. Community colleges in higher education, including the mission of the California Community College System.
6. Effective and concise verbal and written communication skills.
7. English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.?
8. Effective planning and organizational techniques.
9. Leadership, team building, motivation, and conflict resolution principles.
10. Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

Ability to:1. Demonstrate a sensitivity to, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and personnel, including those with physical or learning disabilities.2. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action. 3. Ability to work independently and take initiative. 4. Create and implement systems, procedures, and processes. 5. Ability to communicate clearly and interact effectively with students, faculty, and staff from a broad range of programs and disciplines. 6. Create goals, outcomes, and measurable metrics to assess outcomes as part of the planning process. 7. Develop and evaluate plans to meet current and future needs for student success. 8. Direct staff appropriately in developing best practices in a teamwork environment. 9. Work effectively with students, faculty, and staff from multi-cultural backgrounds and promote access and equity; work cooperatively and coordinate projects with other administrators and staff to offer effective services to students. 10. Interpret, apply, and effectively explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to various groups. 11. Manage multiple projects while meeting schedules and timelines. 12. Review and evaluate employee job performance, effectively supervise assigned staff, and foster a teamwork environment. 13. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. 14. Create and give professional presentations to internal and external audiences.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Minimum qualifications can be met one of two ways:

1. 
   
   Option 1
   - By meeting the minimum qualifications for a DSPS counselor or instructor, outlined in Section 53414 (a) through (d); OR
2. 
   
   Option 2
   - By meeting the minimum qualifications for an educational administrator, outlined in Section 53420.

Option 1 (Section 53414 (a) through (d)):
Minimum qualifications can be met one of two ways under Option 1, as outlined, either through meeting Alternative 1, or Alternative 2.

To meet minimum qualification under Alternative 1, all three of the listed criteria must be met.

Criteria One

(1) Master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, OR
(2) Master's degree in counseling, guidance counseling, student personnel, clinical or counseling psychology, education counseling, social work, career development, marriage and family therapy, marriage, family and child counseling, or a Bachelor's degree in marriage and family therapy or in marriage, family and child counseling and possession of a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT); AND either

• a. fifteen or more semester units in upper division or graduate level course work specifically related to people with disabilities, or completion of six semester units, or the equivalent of a graduate-level counseling practicum or counseling field work courses, in a postsecondary Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) Program or in a program dealing predominantly or exclusively with people with disabilities, or
• b. two years of fulltime experience, or the equivalent, in one or more of the following;
  • (A) Counseling for students with disabilities; or
  • (B) Counseling in industry, government, public agencies, military or private social welfare organizations in which the responsibilities of the position were predominantly or exclusively for persons with disabilities, or the equivalent.

Criteria Two

(1) The minimum requirements for service as a community college faculty member teaching a credit course in adapted physical education, and
(2) Fifteen semester units of upper division or graduate study in adapted physical education.


Criteria Three

(1) Possession of a master's degree, or equivalent foreign degree, in speech pathology and audiology, or in communication disorders; and
(2) Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a speech pathologist or audiologist by the Medical Board of California.

To meet minimum qualification under Alternative 2, the one criterion, as listed, must be met.



Criterion One

(1) Possession of a master's degree, or equivalent foreign degree, in the category of disability, special education, education, psychology, educational psychology, or rehabilitation counseling; AND
(2) Fifteen semester units of upper division or graduate study in the area of disability, to include, but not be limited to:

• (A) Learning disabilities;
• (B) Developmental disabilities;
• (C) Deaf and hearing impaired;
• (D) Physical disabilities; or
• (E) Adapted computer technology.

Option 2 (Section 53420):

(A) Possession of a master's degree; and
(B) one year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrator's administrative assignment.
(C) And, in addition, have two (2) years full-time experience or the equivalent within the last four (4) years in one or more of the following fields:

• (1) instruction or counseling or both in a higher education program for students with disabilities;
• (2) administration of a program for students with disabilities in an institution of higher education;
• (3) teaching, counseling or administration in secondary education, working predominantly or exclusively in programs for students with disabilities; or
• (4) administrative or supervisory experience in industry, government, public agencies, the military, or private social welfare organizations, in which the responsibilities of the position were predominantly or exclusively related to persons with disabilities.

Desirable Qualifications:

1. Two (2) or more years of experience providing administrative leadership in programs serving disabled students.
2. Demonstrated ability to manage financial resources with a fiscal responsibility and accountability record.
3. Candidate must demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must submit a complete online Rancho Santiago Community College District application packet. All application materials will be reviewed for completeness by the Recruitment Office. Only complete application packets received by the application deadline will be forwarded to the screening committee for further consideration.

A Complete Application Packet Must be Submitted by the Closing Date and Include the Following:
1. Rancho Santiago Community College District Online Application2. Cover Letter 3. Resume (detailing all relevant education, training, certifications, and professional experience)4. Academic Transcripts (unofficial copies of all undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate coursework)
5. Copies of relevant licenses and/or certifications (if applicable)

Important:
Copies of diplomas or degrees will not be accepted in lieu of transcripts. Applications submitted without the required transcripts will be considered incomplete and will not be advanced in the selection process.

Foreign Degrees

Degrees and coursework completed outside of the United States must be evaluated by an agency approved by, or affiliated with, National Association of Credentials Evaluation Service (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE), or California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). Applicants are responsible for obtaining and submitting the required credential evaluation as part of their application materials.

Application Screening
In addition to the requirements and responsibilities listed, the following criteria (as appropriate) may be considered in selecting candidates:

• Education experience breadth and depth.
• Work experience breadth and depth.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities.
• Program development.
• Community involvement.
• Demonstrated experience in working with a diverse socio-economic community.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with others.

Based on the information presented in the application materials, a limited number of applicants with qualifications most pertinent to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a written test and an oral interview.
Meeting the position's minimum requirements does not guarantee advancement in the selection process. Applicant qualifications will be assessed to determine those who meet and exceed requirements and are deemed the most competitive in the applicant pool.

Interview
Applicants selected for an interview may be required to take additional tests or assessments and will be notified of such prior to the date of the interview. During the oral session, those selected for interviews will, in addition, to the above, also be evaluated on the following factors:

• Oral communication skills
• Presentation
• Problem-solving skills

A predetermined set of questions will be asked of all applicants interviewed. Applicants are requested to provide thorough yet concise information on their related experience to ensure the correct evaluation of their qualifications. Evaluation criteria will be applied consistently to all applicants.

Disability Accommodations

Individuals who require reasonable accommodations in the Application or Interviewing Process in accordance with ADA should notify the Recruitment Office in the Human Resources Division at least two days prior to the closing date, by calling (714) 480-7455.

Conditions of Employment
The selected candidate is required to complete the following before employment as part of the onboarding process:

1. Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
2. Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis Exam.
3. Fingerprints (by a Live Scan Agency at the candidate's expense, and clearance must be received before the first day of employment)
4. Submit official transcripts.

EEO STATEMENT

The Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is an equal opportunity employer. The policy of the District is to encourage applications from persons who are economically disadvantaged and individuals belonging to significantly underrepresented groups within the District's workforce, including ethnic and racial minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. No person shall be denied employment because of ethnicity or race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or political or organizational affiliation.
RSCCD will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional employment offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if RSCCD is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.



To apply, please visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/rsccd/jobs/5526545/director-disabled-students-programs-and-services-dsps




je-e7c39acfc62f443a85bae904626f48ba





Copyright 2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency