Interpreter

Position Title: Interpreter

Reports to: Coordinator of Interpretation and Translation Services

Service Area: Santa Fe

Employment Term: 10 Month / Exempt

Salary/Wage Range: Depends on Qualifications and Experience

Deadline for Application: April 11th, 2025

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Summary

An excellent opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on work experience, enhance interpreting skills, and receive one-on-one support within a community rich with native ASL users and in settings often influenced by Spanish and other spoken languages. Selected candidates will have the opportunity to work closely with knowledgeable and experienced staff interpreters where ongoing feedback, strategies, and interpreting methodology are shared. The intern will be provided structured time in a supported environment to prepare for professional exams to mark advancement in the field. Formalized self and peer assessments will be utilized to benchmark further growth and to aid in the pursuit of certification while working at NMSD.

Performs interpreting work and duties for the New Mexico School for the Deaf community in a positive and receptive manner, while helping to advance the school’s mission and vision. Interpreting work is between American Sign Language and English. The position will call for interpreting as-needed on a daily basis in a variety of settings, including classroom, sporting events, home visits, school tours/visits, etc. As skill level progresses, interpreting assignments will expand and may include (but are not limited to) IEPs and related meetings, workshops/trainings in a variety of topics, basic health care interpreting, parent and staff meetings, performing arts, and other settings. Position involves interpreting for a diverse group of consumers. The position requires a demonstration of active engagement in receiving mentoring from staff and community interpreters and openly receiving constructive feedback. Interpreters hired for this position can expect to grow their ASL/English interpreting skills, strengthen observing/note taking abilities, improve teaming strategies, practice effective and positive communication with a large team, attend and contribute in a meaningful way to staff meetings, learn from others by completing analysis of personal work as well as that of colleagues. Includes additional duties and office projects that further the department’s mission and vision. Brings training in the interpreting profession to all aspects of employment—maintenance of confidentiality as well as professional conduct and appearance are requirements of this position. A flexible schedule is necessary to apply for this position. This is a position of trust, privy to professional and personnel information, which must be held in high confidence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Possesses the ability to work out of one’s comfort zone in basic-to-mid level NMSD campus interpreting assignments in ASL-to-English and English-to-ASL, as well as sight translation and written translation (including Spanish or other none dominate languages, if the interpreter is fluent in that language).
• Demonstrates humility and appreciation for the unique professional opportunity inherent in the position.
• Demonstrates ability to hone contributions to departmental collaborative efforts, while developing teaming skills and putting energy toward professional growth on a personal level.
• Performs administrative support, with involvement in short- and long-term office projects. Duties may include but are not limited to: co-drafting and reviewing written materials on behalf of the interpreting department, voice-over and captioning of recorded ASL texts, production of statistical reports, maintenance of and updates to department files, etc.
• Communicates in a positive and effective manner with staff, students, co-workers, parents and/or visitors.
• Willingness to be flexible with work hours and meet the interpreting needs of the community and interpreting department.
• Openness to feedback given regarding work and professional skills.
• Willingness to improve personal interpreting skills, be mentored by peers in and outside of NMSD, and continually seek professional development opportunities.
• Participates in monthly professional development team meetings with eagerness to learn.
• Ability to travel overnight for interpreting assignments in other parts of the state.
• Adheres to the NAD-RID Interpreter Code of Professional Conduct

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; uses intuition and experience to monitor data collection and validity; designs work flows and procedures.
• Continuous Learning - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; seeks feedback to improve performance; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills.
• Job Knowledge - Competency in required job skills and knowledge; exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; keeps abreast of current developments; requires minimal supervision; displays understanding of how job relates to others; uses resources effectively.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; works well in group problem solving situations.
• Communication – Demonstrates good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Compassion – Demonstrates a general knowledge of the history and significance of Deaf and other minority communities in New Mexico.
• Cooperation - Establishes and maintains effective relations; demonstrates tact and consideration.
• Cultural Sensitivity – Demonstrates an understanding for diverse family dynamics, eye contact conventions, and gender roles in various cultures and how these cultural differences potentially might influence a communicated message.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; contributes to building positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Diversity - Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; works with integrity and principles.
• Humility – Demonstrates an openness to learning; never assumes her/his expertise excludes her/him from having to learn about other cultures.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values.
• Language – Possesses adeptness in working across a wide range of registers, genres, and variations of English and ASL; demonstrates flexibility, using language free of regionalisms when interpreting for a consumer who does not share the same variety of English or ASL; demonstrates ability to identify English-speaking and Deaf consumers’ language use and accommodate with appropriate target language form.
• Adaptability - Manages competing demands; adjusts approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Multiculturalism – Possesses general knowledge about Deaf education and an openness to the Deaf lived experience; demonstrates the ability to apply American cultural values to business norms, such as punctuality and conciseness in communication, and apply Deaf cultural values to interpreting and other interactions, via attitude and demonstration of consideration and respect.
• Initiative - Volunteers readily; seeks increased responsibilities.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Experience and/or training in the field of interpreting required. Bachelor’s Degree in Signed Language Interpreting or related field preferred. Experience working in a Deaf school environment preferred. Equivalent experience and education may be substituted for each other on a year-for-one basis.

Certification and Licensure

RID membership in good standing required. NM Interpreting License and PED license required upon hire

Language Skills

Ability to fluently communicate in American Sign Language and English required. Other additional language or cultural fluency preferred. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively respond to questions from NMSD employees, and the general public. Comprehensive knowledge of spelling, punctuation and English grammar required.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral/signed, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Preferred Qualifications

Fluency in an additional language (ideally Spanish or Navajo), cultural competency with indigenous culture(s) of New Mexico, or specialties in Deaf interpreting may be preferred. Interpreters with additional language fluency are encouraged to apply.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of word-processing software and spreadsheet software.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

Access to a vehicle, a valid NM driver’s license, and the ability and willingness to travel overnight are necessary.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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NMSD conforms to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.