Senior Sign Language Interpreter

• Assists the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist in coordinating and monitoring daily and long-term interpreter schedules, assignments, and coverage based on student, staff, and division needs, including adjustments for absences, schedule changes, meetings, special events, and other service needs
• Receives and tracks requests for sign language interpreting services and communicates assignments, schedule changes, and coverage information to interpreters and appropriate school and department personnel
• Maintains accurate and current records of interpreter schedules, assignments, service requests, absences, substitutions, coverage changes, and other information necessary for departmental operations, planning, and reporting
• Provides interpreting and/or transliterating services, including voice-to-sign and sign-to-voice communication, as needed to support students, staff, meetings, conferences, professional development, and other division activities
• Assists in monitoring interpreting services within educational settings to promote consistent application of professional standards and interpreting best practices
• Serves as a resource to sign language interpreters and other Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) personnel regarding procedures and logistics associated with requesting, scheduling, and providing sign language interpreting services
• Serves as a mentor and professional resource to sign language interpreting interns
• Assists the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist with identifying professional development needs and developing, coordinating, and delivering professional learning to support sign language interpreter skill development, professional competencies, and maintenance of required credentials
• Follows division, department, and school policies and procedures; maintains confidentiality; and adheres to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Code of Professional Conduct
• Performs other related duties as assigned

This position has no budgetary responsibilities.

This position has no formal policy-setting responsibilities.

Maintains and assists with the preparation of records and periodic reports regarding interpreter scheduling, assignments, service requests, coverage, absenteeism, and costs for services

Utilizes a personal computer, communication technology, and general office equipment

This position has regular contact with Sign Language Interpreters, students, school-based and Central Office personnel, parents, and community members regarding interpreter scheduling, coverage, and communication access. The Senior Sign Language Interpreter also develops and maintains professional relationships with external organizations to support interpreter recruitment, internships, professional development, and other program needs.

Under the direction of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist, this position coordinates the day-to-day scheduling, assignments, and coverage of staff Sign Language Interpreters, and provides operational work direction related to interpreter assignments, schedule changes, and coverage needs. This position does not have any direct reports.

The employee functions independently in coordinating routine interpreter schedules, assignments, and coverage within established departmental procedures and priorities, and consults with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist regarding significant coverage concerns, competing priorities, or situations requiring administrative direction. The employee also functions independently regarding interpretation and transliteration within professional standards.

The physical demands described here represent 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 regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, printed materials and/or controls; reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, climb, balance, stoop and kneel.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to enter data into a computer terminal; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear, understand speech and speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly at normal levels indoors and on the telephone. Physical agility to drive, bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead. Frequent travel to school sites throughout the division is required.

The employee regularly works in school and office settings throughout the school division. Interpreting assignments may occur in classrooms, gyms, cafeterias, auditoriums, recreational areas, meetings, professional development activities, and other settings. The noise level will vary accordingly.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Deaf culture, deafness, interpretation and transliteration practices, applicable state and federal requirements, and the RID Code of Professional Conduct
• Fluency in English and American Sign Language and/or the sign mode specified by an Individualized Education Program (IEP), with the ability to accurately interpret between spoken and signed language
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and prioritize schedules and coverage; to respond effectively to changing service needs; to maintain accurate records; and to use electronic scheduling and record-keeping systems 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently within established procedures, to communicate effectively, and to maintain positive working relationships with others
• Demonstrated skill in recognizing when consultation with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist is needed 
• Demonstrated sensitivity to, and respect for, a diverse population

• High School Diploma, or equivalent
• Valid Virginia Driver’s License
• One or more of the following:
  • Virginia Quality Assurance Screening Level III (or above) certification
  • Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment score of 3.5 (or above), with a passing score on the Written Test
  • Another state qualification or national certification, excluding Certificate of Deaf Interpretation (CDI), that the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) recognizes as equivalent to or exceeding Virginia Quality Assurance Screening Level III

• One or more of the following:
  • Virginia Quality Assurance Screening Level IV certification
  • National RID Certifications: Certificate of Interpretation (CI), Certificate of Transliteration (CT), CI/CT, National Interpreter Certification (NIC), or Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed: K-12)
  • National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Level  III, IV, or V certification

Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation

• State Police Criminal History Investigation

• Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation

• Tuberculosis Screening/Test