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The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission is seeking a mission-driven, highly organized individual to fill the role of Interpreter I for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This position under the direction of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, will provide American Sign Language interpretation to agency staff, clients/consumers, providers, employers and members of the public, interpreting spoken and written content into signed content, and signed content into spoken or written content. Interpretation will occur both on location in person and via remote platforms and includes production of materials such as VLOGs, as appropriate.  Interpreters may be assigned Statewide, to a specific region, office or individual and may be asked to team with other interpreters for cross-divisional or statewide provision of services. Interpreters may be required to schedule interpreter services on a local/regional/statewide level to ensure communication access.

Interpreters will be expected to perform their duties within MRC’s learning and participatory performance culture with an emphasis on high performance teams, individual performance/contribution/impact, and engaging in activities to promote and support agency activities. In addition, MRC is an agency committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial equity, as well as innovation and transformation and change, and creating a culture of agility, excellence, and belonging. Interpreters with diverse backgrounds and individuals from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

 

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

·       Assess the communication access needs of the request and negotiate for optimum conditions to ensure effective services.

·       Use professional discretion regarding assignments to avoid conflict of interest, unconscious bias and ensure the interpreter has skills and knowledge for each situation.

·       Directly provide in-person and remote interpreting/transliteration services to agency staff, clients/consumers, providers, employers, and members of the public, as appropriate.

·       Provide effective interpretation/transliteration services, using languages most readily understood by those using these services.

·       Confer with fellow interpreters when working as a team, holding joint responsibility for the message.

·       Be proficient with remote conferencing platforms commonly used by MRC and sister agencies, including Teams, Zoom, FaceTime and WebEx.

·       Actively engage in reflective practice with colleagues to ensure best practices in ethical, linguistic, and cultural competencies.

·       Coordinate Interpreting and CART Services for staff and clients upon request.

·       Maintain records of interpreting and CART services provided in accordance with applicable billing and record requirements.

·       Maintain and develop relationships with stakeholders such as MCDHH Interpreter Referral Services, contracted providers of Interpreting and CART services, MRC staff, employers, vendors, and others to ensure effective provision of communication access.

·       Share acquired skills and knowledge with other staff interpreters and Deaf Services staff locally, regionally and at the Statewide Deaf Services meetings.

·       Under the direction of the Interpreter Supervisor, provide assigned interns with opportunities to observe and practice interpreter skills in the human services setting.

·       Provides guidance and training for staff, employers, and other stakeholders regarding communication access.

·       Perform other duties as required.

 

Required Qualifications:

·       Knowledge of both formal and informal registers of English and American Sign Language.

·       Ability to perform simultaneous and consecutive interpretation.

·       Ability to communicate by gestures and other non-verbal modes.

·       Ability to work in a team setting and independently.

·       Knowledge of the specialized vocabularies for both English and American Sign Languages such as technical, medical, scientific, etc.

·       Ability to establish rapport with persons from different ethnic, cultural and/or economic backgrounds and deal tactfully with others.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Experienced in the use technology required for the job, including technology critical for remote work (e.g., Zoom, Outlook calendar, Teams, etc).

·       Strong understanding of the Code of Professional Conduct established by the national Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.

·       Excellent written, oral, and digital communication skills.

·       Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Excel and Outlook and other software programs.

To Apply:

Please upload both Resume and Cover Letter for this position when applying. First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

About the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission

MRC provides services that break down barriers and empower people with disabilities to live life on their own terms. Our programs focus on vocational rehabilitation, community living, and disability determination for federal benefit programs. We are change agents and community builders. And we put the people we serve at the heart of everything we do.  We envision a Commonwealth that is open to all, where everyone can seize their true potential and contribute fully to our communities and the world.  Together with stakeholders, partners, and allies, MRC collaborates, problem solves, and innovates to bring about a better Massachusetts for everyone—one that is truly equitable, accessible, and inclusive.

Pre-Offer Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori and click on "Information for Job Applicants."

As part of the hiring process, the Office of Human Resources will be verifying any college-level degrees conferred to the selected candidate. Additionally, any licensure required for the position will be verified. Information provided as part of the hiring process is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. 

Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. 

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form. 

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option 4.

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume for the Interpreter I for Deaf and Hard of Hearing requisition.

 

Qualifications - External

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements:

At least two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience providing interpretation and/or transliteration services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing population after successful completion of the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Screening.

Substitutions:

  • An Associate’s or higher degree in Interpreter Studies may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of one year of education for one year of experience.
  • One year of education equals 30 semester hours. Education toward a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
  • A certificate as evidence of completion of a two-year Interpreter Training Program may be substituted for the required experience.
  • Certification by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or other interpreter certification judged equivalent by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing may be substituted for the required experience.

Licenses:

  • Successful completion of the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Screening is required.
  • Based on assignment, travel may be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s license or the equivalent from another state.

New employees may be hired directly into salary range I based upon the following evidence of level I competencies:

  • Certification by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or other interpreter certification judged equivalent by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Employees who were initially hired into salary range (A) may advance to salary range (B) at any time after hire based upon the following evidence of level (B) competencies: Certification by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or other interpreter certification judged equivalent by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing AND

  • Satisfactory completion of a full year performance evaluation cycle.

 

Comprehensive Benefits

 

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

 

 

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.