Staff Interpreter (National Position)

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary: The IRC has a rich history of assisting refugees to apply for United States resettlement, from its founding in 1933 to help vulnerable individuals escape Nazi-occupied Europe, to pioneering the Joint Voluntary Agency which assisted Indochinese refugees for 22 years, to operations in Croatia, Sierra Leone and Sudan. Since 2005, RSC Asia has resettled over 180,000 refugees to the United States.

Based in Bangkok with field offices in Thailand and Malaysia, the IRC Resettlement Support Center (RSC Asia) is funded by the US State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) to assist persons throughout Asia seeking permanent resettlement to the United States. Responsible for a portfolio of 37 countries, the RSC: prepares refugee applications for the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) using START (a State Department–managed data system that supports the arrival and resettlement of refugees through technology); provides information to resettlement agencies about arriving refugees; and offers cultural orientation training to refugees bound for the United States.

Job Overview/Summary: The Staff Interpreter will provide language support services for applicants to the US Refugee Admissions Program. The Interpreter will interpret oral statements given in Burmese/Karen languages into the English Language and vice versa for, RSC prescreening, USCIS adjudications, and for Cultural Orientation (CO) training as well as for verification and DNA collection as requested.

Major Responsibilities: • Provide interpretation during RSC assignments for US immigration, Prescreening, Pre-Post interviews and Cultural Orientation (CO) training, as well as during verification and DNA collection as requested. • Translate USRAP, CIS supporting documents, and CO training materials from Karen/Burmese languages to English language and vice versa. • Assist in the training camp-based interpreters and CBAs in accordance with iRC/RSC Policies and Procedures including IRC way, Prevention of Fraud & Ethic, Program Integrity and Interpreters Code of Conduct, and in filing compliance documents related to the Camp based interpreters. • Provide feedback on camp-based interpreters’ performance using SI evaluation form. • Assist in training and mentoring of new interpreters as needed. • Assist program support activity in case verification and CO training material production as requested. • Perform other relevant duties as directed by supervisor.

Key Working Relationships: Position Reports to: Senior Staff Interpreter Other Internal contacts: RSC staff members

Qualifications

Job Requirements: Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education/work experience required

Work Experience: • At least two years of interpretation experience required. • Resettlement processing, interview experience, or other NGO experience is preferred • Previous work in a multi-cultural environment is advantageous

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: • Good organizational, coordination and interpersonal skills • Able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. • Thorough knowledge of computer software (e.g., Word, Excel, Email, Internet). • Maturity, positive attitude and experience working under pressure • Able to travel supporting RSC activities in remote sites in Thailand

Language Skills: • Excellent verbal and written English language skills • Perfect command of one or more of the following: Karen-S’gaw, Karen-Pwo, and/or Burmese • Computer Literacy –competence in Ms Office i.e. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Outlook desired

Working Environment: The position is located at the RSC office in Mae Sot, Thailand. The position will require domestic travel to support Program delivery of USRAP processing throughout Thailand, including to remote border areas. Limited international travel should also be expected.

The employee is required to adhere to The IRC Way for professional conduct, as well as to be in compliance with all relevant IRC and donor policies and procedures while carrying out his/her duties.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

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.