United States of America: Community Interpreter Program Intern

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Domestically, our 26 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.

SCOPE OF INTERN WORK: The Community Interpretation Intern will assist CIP program Manager in scheduling appointments with appropriate interpreters, taking into consideration interpreters’ availability, training, experience, past performance, and familiarity with client’s needs. Identify potential candidates for community interpreter training and coordinate with IRC caseworkers to recruit them to the CIP at an appropriate time. In the absence of the CIP Manager, undertake other CIP duties as needed and as assigned by program Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Support Interpreter Program Manager is preparation for 40 hour interpreter training including scheduling interviews and language tests, collecting documents, tracking participant information

· Support language access advocacy

· Create and update documents for the IRC Community Interpreter Program

· Research national language testing options

· Conduct research on interpretation opportunities for the IRC Interpreter program, focusing on organizations that serve the refugee community, organizations that are non-compliant with language access standards and opportunities for interpreter quality improvement through IRC interpreters

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

·Student will understand language access laws, specifically Title VI, and how these laws effect the immigrant experience

· Student will develop organizational and tracking skills while supporting the application and interview process for potential interpreters

· Student will better understand the landscape of interpretation services in the U.S., specifically the greater Silver Spring community

REQUIREMENTS: The candidate must have completed at minimum 2 years of university study, speak 2+ languages at an advanced level and have some training or experience in interpretation (please specify in application). Excellent English language, computer and internet research skills required. The candidate must commit to 12-18 hours/week with flexibility to work occasionally from home if desired.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Ideally, the candidate will have a background in business/marketing/small business development. Familiarity with challenges faced by refugees and immigrants is preferred.

This position reports to the Interpreter Services Manager.

Note: This is an unpaid internship; school credit may be received depending on your program and institution.

*Candidates applying who are not currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or are outside 12 months of their graduation are still welcome to apply but will be processed as volunteers.

Please include your resume, a cover letter, a list of references, and your tentative availability (including start date and weekly schedule) with your application.

This position is for the fall 2018 semester beginning in August/September and requires a 3 month commitment. The internship will be posted until filled.

To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $55 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 92% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer.

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you need assistance in the application or hiring process to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact Talent Acquisitions atIRC.Recruitment@rescue.org. As required by law, the IRC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with a known disability.**

Please apply directly on our website here https://rescue.csod.com/ats/careersite/search.aspx?site=1&c=rescue or by visiting rescue.org/careers and narrowing your search to Silver Spring, MD.