Accessibility Specialist (A11Y) – Design Systems

Overview:

• We are seeking a Senior Accessibility Specialist to establish and advance accessibility practices for our Enterprise Design Systemteam. This role is responsible for defining accessibility standards, embedding inclusive practices into system components and patterns, and enabling product teams to deliver accessible digital experiences at scale.
• As a top 20 U.S. bank, accessibility is both a regulatory responsibility and a critical part of delivering clear, usable, and trustworthy experiences.OurDesign System is central to this effort, and this role will partner closely with design, engineering, and Enterprise Accessibility to ensure accessibility is built into the foundation of our digital platforms.

Accessibility Strategy & Ownership

• Serve as the primary accessibility owner forM&T’s EnterpriseDesign System.
• Define and evolve accessibility standards and best practices as they apply to system components, patterns, and documentation.
• Partner with Enterprise Accessibility to alignourimplementation with enterprise andcross-platformaccessibility strategy.
• Advocate for accessibility as a foundationalsystemcapability rather than a downstream compliance activity.

Design System Integration

• Embed accessibility considerations into the design and development lifecycle ofUIcomponentsand patterns.
• Provideearly accessibility guidance and feedback onnet-newcomponents and patterns during design exploration (e.g., Figma).
• Definesystem-levelexpectations for keyboard navigation, focus management, screen reader behavior, motion, and responsive behavior.
• Ensure accessibility is addressed consistently across shared andplatform-specificimplementations.

Engineering Enablement & Quality

• Conduct accessibility reviews and auditsof design system assets, independently or in partnership with external vendors.
• Define and document accessibility best practices fordesignsystem consumers, including areas that must be handled at the application level.
• Partner with engineeringandEnterpriseAccessibilitytorefineaccessibility testing approaches, including keyboard navigation and interaction patternsas part of the definition of done.
• Identifyaccessibility risks and gaps and work with partners to drive sustainable solutions.

Accessible Content & Inclusive Language

• Establish standards for accessiblesystem-levelcontent, emphasizing clear,plain-languagewriting that supports comprehension for diverse audiences.
• Define best practices for semantic structure (e.g., headings, hierarchy) to support screen readers andscannability.
• Provide principles and examples to help teams createappropriate accessiblealternatives (such as text equivalents for visual content and media) while allowing flexibility across use cases and platforms.
• Promote inclusive and culturally sensitive language practices, avoidingvisual-dependent, directional, or ambiguous instructions.
• Ensuredesign systemdocumentationmodelsaccessible content practices for adopting teams.

Cross-FunctionalCollaboration

• Collaborate withcontent,design, engineering, product, and accessibility partners to support adoption of accessible system patterns.
• Act as an accessibility advocate andsubject-matterexpert within the design system team.
• Enable teams through documentation, guidance, and consultation.
• Foster deep partnership with Content Strategy/Design.

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 3 years’ related experience, or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 7 years’ higher education and/or work experience, including a minimum of 3 years’ related experience
• Demonstrated experience applyingWCAG-aligned accessibility principles to digital products or platforms,including native iOS and Androidexperiences.
• Working knowledge of front‑end technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript)sufficientto review implementations, evaluate accessibility behavior, and define system‑level standards.
• Strong experience writing accessible UX content, including plain language, semantic structure, and inclusive guidance.
• Familiarity with industry‑standard accessibility tools and testing methods, such as screen readers (JAWS, NVDA,VoiceOver), automated testing tools (e.g.,aXe, WAVE), and manual testing techniques.
• Experience working with design systems,componentlibraries, or shared UI platformsat the enterprise level.
• Ability to translate accessibility standards into practical guidance for designers and engineers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Education and Experience Preferred:

• CPACC or WAS Certificationis stronglypreferred.
• Experience in financial services or other regulated industries.
• Familiarity with modern design and developmentpractices, including Figma and component-based front-end ecosystems(e.g.,React, Angular, Lit).
• Experience collaborating with enterprise accessibility or governance teams.

What Success Looks Like

• Accessibility is embedded by default in Currency components and documentation.
• Product teams understand what accessibility Currency provides and how to implement what it cannot.
• Accessibility issues areidentifiedearly and addressed systemically.
• The design system is trusted as an enabler of inclusive digital experiences across the bank.

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $74,600.00 - $124,400.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation. The range listed above corresponds to our national pay range for this role. The specific pay range applicable to you may vary based on your location.

Location

Clanton, Alabama, United States of America