Language Justice Specialist

Company: City of Somerville
Location: Somerville
Posted on: September 16, 2023

Job Description:

Statement of Duties The Language Justice Specialist (LJS), working with the Deputy Director and Language Justice Coordinator, will help advance language justice goals for the City of Somerville, including the development and roll out of the 5 - year Language Access Plan. The LJSs duties include directly working with a number of City departments in their day-to-day operations to (1) Advance training and knowledge of language justice concepts, protocols, and procedures for providing language access services, (2) Guided by and in collaboration with SOIAs Language Services Coordinators and Community Engagement Specialists, provide guidance and consultation to City departments on equitable engagement strategies, event planning, and information sharing as it relates to language access and inclusion, and (3) Provide logistical and technical support for language access services at City departments events. Essential Functions: The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. + Supports the Deputy Director and Language Justice Coordinator with the development and roll out of the 5-year Language Access Plan. + Ensures City departments are informed of how to access and request language access services, and best practices for implementing successful language access services. + Guided by and in collaboration with SOIAs Language Services Coordinators and Community Engagement Specialists, provides coaching and guidance to City departments on how to plan events and provide services that are equitable, accessible, and welcoming to multilingual communities. + Helps departments create an equitable outreach and engagement strategy for events and vital information. + Attends departmental City events as needed to provide logistical and technical support to ensure language access, including coordination with interpreters, management of equipment, and implementation of interpretation protocols. + Research and develop language justice resources such as one-pagers, resource sheets, and guides to advance institutional training and knowledge of language justice concepts and practices. + Prepare reports and conduct audits to track compliance with language justice policies and language access service usage across City departments. RECOMMENDED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education and Experience: A bachelors degree in a related field, or in lieu of secondary education, a minimum of two (2) years experience doing language access work, working in multilingual environments, working in the field of immigrants rights, interpreting (providing language access services), and/or designing and facilitating workshops and trainings. Knowledge, Abilities and Skill Knowledge: Strong knowledge of language justice best practices. A minimum of 3 years direct experience working with immigrant communities in multilingual settings. Knowledge of communication and access barriers faced by people who are immigrants, low-income, disabled, or elderly. A minimum 3 years of experience working with professional interpreters and translators or providing language access services Ability: Strong background in community organizing, community engagement, communications access and/or similar qualification, especially with immigrant or multilingual populations. Proven ability to organize and facilitate workshops, presentations, trainings, and public and community events, virtually and in-person. Strong ability to foster collaboration and build trust with internal and external partners. Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize, and balance short- and long-term responsibilities. Proven ability to work in a team or independently as needed. Skill: Must have strong written and verbal communication skills adaptable to a variety of settings and exemplary organizational skills. Strong customer service and empathetic listening skills. Must have strong analytical, research, and planning skills. Strong problem solving skills. Work Environment This is an office-based position in a professional setting. The work environment involves everyday comforts and discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally pleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings, support emergency needs, or complete urgent work assignments. Employee must be able to travel independently between work sites. Employee will be compensated for time traveled. Physical and Mental Requirements 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 positions essential functions. Physical Skills Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. Work may require some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain, or standing or walking most of the work period. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs). Motor Skills Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, setting up presentation equipment, operating a personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers. Visual Skills Visual demands require constantly reading print and digital documents for general understanding and analytical purposes. Hours: Full-Time, work hours are flexible, but include evening and weekend work as needed Salary: $64,945.93 annualized, plus benefits Union: Non-Union FLSA: Non-Exempt Date Posted: July 31st, 2023 This position is budgeted with a start date of October 1st, 2023. City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply. The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov. Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees: + MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance + Completition of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees Overview of Total Rewards: + 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract + Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City + Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna + Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP) + Long term disability through Sun Life + Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual + Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies + Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors + Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health + Annual cancer screening & wellness release + Somerville Retirement Pension System + Tuition reimbursement + MBTA pass program + FREE Blue Bikes membership + Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract. 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Keywords: City of Somerville, Somerville , Language Justice Specialist, Other , Somerville, Massachusetts