YWCA Tulsa has offered innovative and inclusive services to the immigrant and refugee community of Tulsa for over 35 years. Services include adult education with a family literacy and workforce focus including English language and citizenship classes; case management services with a focus on employment; youth education; interpretation and translation services; and high-quality, low-cost immigration legal services with a focus on family reunification, adjustment of status, citizenship, and related legal services needed by refugees. Services are provided by a multicultural and multilingual staff with first-language proficiency in Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Zomi.
Position Description:
This is a project-based position responsible for performing interpretation and translation assignments for YWCA staff and clients. Projects include interpretation and translation services across a broad range of fields such as social services, healthcare, education, and legal services. The ability to provide On-Site, VRI, and OPI is required. This position requires high standards of professional conduct. The functions performed by interpreters and translators require them to act faithfully, independently, impartially, and with full respect for the duty of confidentiality.
Principal Responsibilities and Duties:
- Provide interpretation and translation services on a project basis for YWCA and contracted clients such as other nonprofits, schools, hospitals, and businesses on schedule.
- Provide consecutive and/or simultaneous interpretation between English and the target language during meetings, appointments, and other interactions.
- Provide interpretation and translation services in a professional and timely manner.
- Render correct concepts and meanings according to the conventions of established interpretation and translation protocol.
- Provide clear and accurate renditions with no additions or omissions.
- Honor outlined ethical codes to act faithfully, independently, and impartially and ensure sensitive and confidential information remains secure and protected.
- Employ good customer service and clear enunciation, pronunciation, pleasant and professional voice as well as polite forms of expression.
- Always maintain a professional demeanor throughout the assignment.
- Provide clarification and cultural brokering using excellent judgment and skill.
- Disclose any real or perceived conflicts of interest that could impact objectivity.
- Demonstrate commitment to cultural sensitivity and working in a diverse environment.
- Submit translations to appropriate management for review as needed. Review the translation accuracy/proofread translations for other translators.
- Communicate regularly and promptly with YWCA staff on the acceptance, cancellation, or modification of any job assignments.
- Minimum of 2 years of professional interpreting experience in a healthcare, legal, or community services setting.
- Certification in a nationally recognized 40-hour interpretation program or its equivalent is preferred. Training will be provided.
- Language Proficiency: Native or near-native proficiency in both English and the target language.
- Ability to provide cultural competency and assess regional and accent differences to find ways of communicating with the limited English proficient client
- Excellent listening, retention, and note-taking skills to maintain a high level of accuracy
- Ability to concentrate and to stay detached from the conversation, always remaining neutral and objective and following the client's instructions closely
- Ability to explain idiomatic expressions and cultural nuances to avoid miscommunication
** Applicants may be required to complete a language test as part of the application process. **
Working Conditions:
- This is a part-time project-based position with flexible hours from 0 to 29 hours per week. The schedule may include night and or weekend work.
- The role may require occasional travel to different locations within the service area. Some assignments may be conducted remotely via phone or video conferencing.
- The noise level in the work environment varies from low to moderate.
- Hearing, as in listening to normal conversations, including one-on-one conversations, discussions in meetings, and/or telephone conversations, and answering phones for the organization includes 2/3 of the time in hearing.
- Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less); Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more); Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors); and Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point, are required.
- The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.