Dari & Pashto Interpreter 1

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. One aspect of the IRC is to assist refugees resettling in the United States. The IRC opened a Denver office in 2016 to provide reception and placement services to newly arrived refugees. The office is slated to resettle more than 600 refugees in the coming federal fiscal year. Wraparound program services and holistic supports aim to realize positive impact in clients’ safety, health, education, economic wellbeing, and power. Some services are limited to refugees and other Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible populations, while others are open to a broader population of refugees, immigrants, and forcibly displaced people.

The IRC in Denver’s approach is client-centered, empowerment-focused, trauma-informed, and multigenerational. Advancing racial equity and narrowing the gender gap are priorities for the IRC in Denver. The team’s efforts in this space are ongoing and evolving. Current work is focused on participating in learning and dialogue to deepen understanding and awareness of systemic inequities and systems of oppression; building an internal organizational culture that reflects a commitment to antiracism and gender equality for clients as well as staff, volunteers, and the broader community; engaging clients more deeply in making decisions that affect them, whether at the individual, household, program, or organizational level; using our power and influence to advocate for rules, policies, and laws that address inequities experienced by the people we serve and seek systemic change for the benefit of all who are impacted by these inequities; undertaking intentional efforts to shift dynamics and promote power sharing between leadership and the broader team as well as between staff and clients; and examining and changing practices in recruitment, recognition, and other areas of employee engagement and talent development to prioritize access to opportunity and work toward full inclusion and belonging for clients, staff, and volunteers who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQI, as well as those who have lived experience as refugees and immigrants.

JOB OVERVIEW:

On an occasional, on-call basis, the Dari & Pashto Interpreter provides language assistance services for clients to support stabilization and integration. They work in close coordination with IRC staff to provide Hybrid interpretation to facilitate services provided under the Reception & Placement (R&P), Matching Grant (MG), and Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP) Reach Program guidelines. The Dari & Pashto Interpreter adheres to standards of professional conduct for interpreters, assuring accuracy, impartiality, and confidentiality in their efforts to meet the language needs of Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals and service providers, both internal to IRC and external in the community. Activities include providing professional interpretation services, supporting clients with community navigation and resource connections as assigned, tracking information and data in software systems as requested, and participating in service coordination, trainings and assessments as requested. The Dari & Pashto Interpreter may also assist in other instances in which a client requires an interpreter, as determined in consultation with the Interpretation Coordinator.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Serve as communication liaison between staff and clients to ensure accurate, impartial, and confidential interpretation is available for LEP individuals and service providers in a variety of settings, such as clinics, hospitals, schools, community-based organizations, and government agencies. Services may be rendered in-person or via telephone, videoconference, or other virtual means. - Support IRC staff in relaying important deadlines, instructions, questions, and other communication to clients in their native language. - Assist clients in communicating any concerns, questions, or other information to staff when clients are not fluent or comfortable speaking English. - Aid in transporting clients and orienting them to community resources as requested. - Adhere to standards regarding protection of client data and information, in accordance with IRC policies and protocols. - Translate documents from English into clients’ native language as requested. - Assist staff with building client rapport and understanding cultural context. - Participate in training, assessments, and professional development opportunities offered by the IRC. - Consistently track and report assignments and hours worked within designated software systems. - May support special projects and initiatives. - Other duties as assigned.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Position Reports to: Interpretation Coordinator

Position Directly Supervises: N/A

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Certifications

- High school diploma or equivalent strongly preferred. - Interpretation certification preferred.

Work Experience

- Prior experience providing interpretation services strongly preferred. - Experience in working with refugees preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies

- Fluency in both written and spoken English and Dari & Pashto. Applicants will be tested for language proficiency prior to hiring. - Basic computer skills required. Must be able to use Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, and Excel). - Culturally sensitive; ability to build trust with clients, colleagues, and partners. - Must be a team player, detail oriented, patient, professional, and reliable. - Available for assignments during regular business hours. Evening, late night (for airport pickups) and/or weekend availability a plus. - Commitment to respecting and safeguarding client confidentiality and complying with standards for professional conduct in interpretation. - Must have reliable transportation to get to appointment and service locations. Use of personal vehicle with valid driver’s license and current insurance preferred.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

- The IRC in Denver strives to offer a positive working environment, with intentional efforts to ensure that it is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all. - This role entails frequent travel in and around the Denver metro area to transport clients, facilitate service delivery and represent the IRC with clients and community partners. - Hours outside of typical office hours, including weekends and evenings, are frequently required.

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

Qualifications