ENGLISH/AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER (General

ENGLISH/AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

INTERPRETER

(General Designated Interpreter Job Description

for a Deaf Healthcare Workers)

Position Information

Title

English/American Sign Language Interpreter (Designated Interpreter for

Medical Professional)

Reports to

Designated Interpreters LLC (hiring agency)

Full or Part Time

Full Time and Hourly Contracts Available

Number of Months

Hourly/ Monthly– Yearly

Work

Schedule/Location

Scheduled and Unscheduled hours depending on client’s clinical and

education needs, as well as the other team members.

Position Start & End

Date (if temporary)

Inquire more

Position Summary Information

Basic Function

This position serves primarily as the designated interpreter for a medical

resident in all areas including clinical, research, patient interviews, and

administrative meetings. The primary function of this position is to provide

advanced English/ASL interpreting and transliterating services to the

resident and to ensure the resident has interpreters for all resident program

related meetings, conferences, and events he attends. Also, designated

interpreter monitors the quality of other contracted interpreters.

Duties and

Responsibilities

The role of a designated interpreter is unique. The position requires a

nuanced understanding and respect of functions, boundaries, relationships,

and the dynamics of communication and power. The designated interpreter

is a member of the resident’s team. Successfully serving in this role requires a

thorough understanding of the resident’s role and goals, his team, the

programs community, and their core values, mission and vision. The

appointed interpreter will interact with trustees, students, administrators,

faculty, staff, alumni, patients, and potential students.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide interpreting that enables

two-way communication between and among the groups mentioned above

while being aware of confidentiality and HIPAA policies. The interpreter will

need to interpret in diverse settings, such as but not limited to, one-on-one

meetings, group meetings, social events, meetings conducted over meals,

conferences, and clinical rotations (in person, on the web, and via telephone-

based meeting formats). The designated interpreter must have the ability to

serve as a professional within these environments and make quick decisions

about the function of the event, appropriate interactions, placement,

logistics, and relationship building.

A majority of the interpreting is English-to-ASL but some ASL to English

required as well. The position requires someone who can stay present and

engaged in the role of an interpreter for extended periods of time. This

position requires someone who can self-monitor communication

effectiveness. Interpretations should reflect the broad range of

communication styles and personalities of all parties involved; and reflect the

linguistic nuances of academia, higher education, and professional

environments. The interpreter must be able to work within the continuum of

registers, especially formal and intimate, and manage communication as

efficiently and effectively as possible.

This position is also directly responsible for ensuring all events and meetings

attended by the resident have an interpreter or an interpreting team in

attendance and reporting those needs to Designated Interpreters LLC (DI

LLC) and actively participating in recruiting and scheduling. The person in

this position must have the ability to assess communication needs with

respect for the parties involved, the function/goal of the event, and

relationships to best coordinate interpreting services. Communication with

outside organizations regarding the provision of interpreting services may

be required. This position requires someone who can work professionally

with other interpreters. The ability to brief and debrief critical information

and ensure the effective and efficient provision of interpreting services is a

highly valued skill.

This position requires a strong commitment to DI LLC, loyalty to the resident,

unquestioned integrity, a keen sense of confidentiality, a professional

manner, and demonstrated skills in effectively managing challenging

situations, ethical decision-making, and excellent judgment. The person in

this position should possess an understanding of their privileges. As a

hearing person, the designated interpreter has the power to decide whether

and how to share incidental learning and interpret environmental

information.

Specific Responsibilities:

a. Manage Fluctuating Schedules

b. Perform highly advanced interpreting using comprehensive and

specialized skills with knowledge and practice of interpreter ethics

(such as): the ability to provide transliterating (conceptually accurate

signed English) as well as interpreting English to ASL; to work within

the continuum of registers; and interpret technical and environment

specific language.

c. Prepare for assignments by staying abreast of the residents

program, DI LLLC initiatives and team/community projects, goals and

dialogs; staying current with team communications; and researching

topics pertinent to the resident’s specialty.

d. Adhere strictly to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.’s

Code of Professional Conduct with emphasis on confidentiality and

professionalism.

e. Advise and make decisions regarding set-up, placement, and

logistics of the interpreter(s) to ensure effective communication

concerning the dynamics of the team/individuals involved.

f. Co-Coordinate all aspects of interpreting services needed for any

events and meetings attended by the resident including in-state and

out-of-state travel for conferences and meetings.

g. Ability to monitor the schedule of events to coordinate services;

attention to detail regarding specifics of assignments and the event

schedule and report needs to DI LLC in a timely manner.

h. Facilitate communication effectively using but not limited to

transliteration, gap interpreting (DI LLC will model), note taking,

auditory processing/retention, blogging, texting, emailing and other

measures to ensure successful communication for all participants

involved

i. Follow the quality of contracted interpreters carefully to ensure

effective communication.

Minimum

Qualifications

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf-National Association for the Deaf

Certification or equivalent state administered credential.

Eligibility for a NIC Interpreter candidate/ in training considered on case by

case basis.

Preferred

Qualifications

Direct experience working in the role of a designated interpreter or as a staff

interpreter.

Bachelor’s Degree in Interpreting required or an equivalent combination of

education and expertise.

Physical

Requirements

Physical Requirements:

a. Seeing 75-100%

b. Hearing 75-100%

c. Standing/Climbing/Mobility 75-100%

d. Lifting/Pulling/Pushing Lbs: 25-49%

e. Fingering/grasping/feeling 75-100%

f. Travel 25-50%

g. Exposure to blood born pathogens YES

Required Documents (prior contractors of DI LLC please submit only items with the *)

1. Updated Resume *

2. Cover Letter/Letter of Interest *

3. Unofficial Transcripts 1

4. 3 Letter of Recommendations

5. Video Sample (transliteration of a 5-10 minute lecture

pertaining to medical patient presentation lecture) *

6. Memberships (RID), certifications *

Hiring Agency

Designated Interpreters LLC

www.designatedinterpreters.com

Call: 505-681-3101

info@designatedinterpreters.com