Interpreter - Spanish

POSITION SUMMARY:
This position provides excellent customer service to the Limited English Proficient (LEP) residents of St. Croix County, with heavy focus on the clients and staff of the Health and Human Services Department (HHS).  They will provide efficient, effective, respectful, and confidential services to assist in connecting the Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients to workers, programs, and resources. This position is grant funded through 11/30/2027.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Provides accurate, objective, and first-person interpretation services between staff and Spanish speaking clients and their families, to ensure understanding of information being conveyed.
• Provides spoken language interpretation of questions, answers, and explanations to facilitate communication and transmit accurate and potentially confidential information between LEP clients and St. Croix County staff.
• Assists clients in person, through video conferencing, on the phone, by email or fax, directing them to specific staff or resources to meet their needs. 
• Interprets conversations as spoken words with no additions or omissions.
• Assists HHS staff by interpreting during phone calls or interviews with non-English speaking clients, including but not limited to financial interviews, mental health therapy, child protection investigations and other communications as needed.
• Assists LEP clients in completing applications and documentation needed for various programs and services.
• Works directly with various HHS staff to describe services being offered and complete the referral and intake information.
• Assists in returning calls/texts with LEP clients and communicating the information to staff as needed. 
• Other administrative/office and interpreter/translation duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
• Ability to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Ability to maintain accurate and legible notes.
• Knowledge of County policies, procedures and practices.
• Knowledge of local government organization and its departmental operating requirements.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to analyze and prepare organizational and functional reports from research data.
• General knowledge of standard office procedures, practices, equipment and office assistance techniques.
• Knowledge of the use of a multi-line telephone system.
• Ability to type accurately at a reasonable rate of speed.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and perform word processing and/or data entry.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.

LANGUAGE SKILLS  

• Ability to explain and interpret relevant information effectively to various audiences.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other members of the staff, supervisor, and the public in both Spanish & English.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both written and verbal form in both Spanish & English.
• Must be proficient in workplace English/Spanish and spelling.
• Ability to read County policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence, safety manuals, maps, etc.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to calculate mathematical calculations.

REASONING ABILITY

• Organizational and time management skills needed to meet deadlines.
• Ability to understand, effectively carry out and translate verbal and written instructions. 
• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
• Ability to analyze facts and to exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
• Ability to define problems and deal with a variety of situations.
• Ability to use good judgement and effectively solve problems.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description 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 or as otherwise required by law.  Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements. 
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. 
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work has no exposure to environmental conditions. 
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is primarily in an office setting but may also be in client and public settings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The interpreter must speak clearly in the language they are conveying and be able to write clearly and effectively in the language they translate and be aware of cultural aspects that may affect communications. General knowledge of and experience with multi line phones, computers, other office equipment as well as Word, Outlook and the internet.  Must be able to maintain professional demeanor and appearance and all times and demonstrate the ability to listen carefully, maintain confidentiality and professionalism, and the ability to provide excellent customer service skills with consumers of various ages, abilities, and backgrounds. 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Fluent bilingual skills with English/Spanish with a successful passing score on the interpreter skills test through Language Line University or another certified test.
• Must successfully pass criminal and caregiver background check.