Senior Staff Interpreter

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Based in Bangkok, Thailand with offices in Malaysia and Bangladesh, the IRC Resettlement Support Center (RSC) ), funded by the US State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) assists persons throughout Asia seeking permanent resettlement in the United States. The RSC prepares refugee applications for the United States Refugee Admissions Program, provides information to resettlement agencies about arriving refugees and offers cultural orientation training to those refugees bound for the U.S.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Senior Staff Interpreter will provide operational support to all departments by providing language support services for applicants in the US Refugee Admissions Program. They will act as an interpreter of oral statements between English and Rohingya for RSC Prescreen interviews, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) interviews, and for Cultural Orientation (CO) training. Additional responsibilities will include translation work, observations, feedback sessions, assisting in the training and mentoring of new interpreters, liaising with other departments and partner agencies. The Senior Staff Interpreter will also be responsible for supporting the Interpreter Services Manager with regular interpreter training. They will indirectly oversee the staff interpreters and volunteers in the absence of the Interpreter Services Manager or as assigned.

Major Responsibilities:

Interpretation and Translation Services

•Provide interpretation during RSC assignments for RSC Prescreen interviews, DHS interviews, CO training, and post-processing appointments at the RSC, Malaysia

•Be able to translate documents to English.

•Provide interpretation and translation for regional cases including virtually and on USCIS circuit rides

Program Oversight

•Assist in the recruitment, training, and mentoring of new interpreters as the need arises

•Assist with managing the daily/weekly Interpreter and Translation work schedule based on program needs incoordination with the Interpreter Services Manager

•Track interpreting and translation assignments for program statistical purposes and submit a monthly report to the Interpreter • Identify training needs and track the professional development of the interpretation team in coordination with the Interpreter Services Manager

• Assist the Interpreter Services Manager to maintain oversight of all Volunteer/Contractual interpreters in coordination with Volunteer Interpreter Leads and relevant managers

• Evaluate skills and performance of interpreters through regular monitoring and evaluation activities

• Act as the focal point for Staff Interpreters, Volunteer interpreters, and Childcare Providers regarding RSC’s standards for interpreting and The IRC Way

Training

• Assist the Interpreter Services Manager to conduct training for new and existing Volunteers (Interpreters and Childcare Providers)

• Assist the Interpreter Services Manager to facilitate refresher training on a regular basis, utilizing existing RSC resources

Other Duties

• Recognize and alert supervisor of trends in refugee and community concerns among volunteers

• Assist supervisor by identifying program language needs

• Participate in, and facilitate as assigned, team trainings and meetings

• Comply with all Integrity and Compliance guidelines

• Perform any other duties as assigned

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Interpreter Services Manager

Position directly supervises: NA

Indirect Reporting: Senior Program Support Manager

Program Support Coordinator

Senior Program Coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: RSC Asia Staff, volunteers

External: Partners including UNHCR and IOM

Job Requirements:

Education:

• University degree preferred; Equivalent relevant professional experience will be considered

Work Experiences:

• Minimum two years’ experience working as an interpreter required- longer experience preferred

• Minimum one year experience working in a supervisory or leadership role preferred

• Experience translating and conducting trainings are strongly preferred

• Experience working in refugee resettlement preferred

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills

• Strong coordination and administrative skills with attention to detail

• Strong observation and feedback skills

• Flexible and willing to learn and take on new tasks

• Strong ability to work independently, organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize, coordinate, multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.

• Mature, with a positive attitude and able to work under pressure

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs and e-mail

Language Skills:

• Proficient in English, both oral and written

• Proficient in Rohingya, both oral and written (if applicable)

• Ability to type in English and Rohingya (if applicable)

Certificates or Licenses:

• Not applicable, unless required by law and/or organization to carry out official duties

Others:

• Ability and willingness to travel as required

• Applicant is required to have been in their current role a minimum of 12 months

Working Environment: The employee is required to adhere to the “IRC Way” for professional conduct, as well as to be in compliance with all relevant Policies and Procedures while carrying out their duties.

All other employment terms and conditions shall be as stipulated in the Employment Contract and/or Employee Handbook.

**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.

How to apply

https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req49735/Senior-Staff-Interpreter