COURT INTERPRETER COORDINATOR

Thurston County•Olympia, WA

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

Thurston County is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual for the position of Court Interpreter Coordinator in Superior Court. This position is responsible for the contact, assignment, and confirmation of interpreter services for all language access needs to include all Limited English-Proficient (LEP) persons and persons with hearing loss accessing the services of Thurston County Courts. Serves as the primary liaison between interpreters, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Interpreter Services, court staff, attorneys, corrections, and the public as it relates to interpreter services. A Court Interpreter Coordinator is distinguished by the degree of independent action, judgement, and direction required to perform job functions. Positions in this classification support the efforts of the Thurston County Courts through managing interpreter services and ensuring all interpreter needs for the County are met.

Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent.
Court interpreter certified by the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts within one year from hire date.
Ability to communicate in English AND Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, or ASL language clearly and effectively.
Ability to use word processing and other computer equipment and programs.
Ability to meet the travel requirements of the position.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Washington State Certified Interpreter – Certified in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, or ASL language.
Three years of experience interpreting in a court or legal setting.
Ability to translate written documents.
Demonstrated knowledge and awareness of cultural diversity.
Ability to work independently and make responsible decisions in accordance with court policies and procedures.
Knowledge of office practices and the ability to operate office equipment used in the department.
Knowledge and understanding of RCW 2.42, RCW 2.43, and GR 11 – 11.4.
Knowledge of, and skill in, written and verbal communication with justice partners, interpreter services, and members of the public.
Ability to maintain a high degree of organization.
Skilled in complex scheduling and procedural continuity.
Knowledge of the court system, court rules, regulations and practices, Washington Administrative Code, court procedures, and legal terminology.
Knowledge of the interpreter code of conduct, its appropriate application, and interpreter certifications.
Ability to work under extreme pressure in a fast-paced work environment to handle deadlines and emergencies.

Responsibilities

Contact, assign, confirm, and expand the pool of interpreters providing services to the Courts. Manage requests for interpreter requests as they relate to services provided by the Courts. Make determination of most appropriate interpreter for assignment, including contacting potential interpreters, assigning interpreters to cases, confirming assignments, and responding to questions or requests. Coordinate translation of documents as needed.
Provide direct interpreting and/or translation support, both in-person and virtual, to each court level.
Conduct periodic orientation sessions for interpreters to review ethics of court interpreting, court forms, and court procedures. Continued communication with interpreters to discuss changes in court rules, procedures, or policies.
Monitor work of contracted interpreters, ensuring appropriate forms and information are provided, interpreter services are utilized efficiently, payment procedures are clear and concise, and ongoing communication is established with interpreter services. Identify and resolve issues concerning interpreter services.
Attend to general needs of interpreters, to include provision of case/document information or courtroom equipment necessary to conduct a proceeding, as requested and available.
Serve as liaison between contract interpreters, attorneys, court staff, justice partners, and community agencies. Receive, approve, and log interpreters’ billing information. Maintain communication with Court Accounting Clerks and follow procedures for invoicing interpreters’ payments.
Develop and maintain an up-to-date handbook and information relating to interpreter services provided through the court interpreter program and supporting services from contract interpreters and agencies.
Develop and maintain interpreter information and resource materials to include in informational packets and handouts detailing requirements and procedures of interpreter assignments.
Prepare interpreter service agreements and contracts.
Develop and maintain a system for case tracking and interpreter scheduling for Courts. Maintain records for reporting including all relative data. Track the scheduling of cases and interpreters, considering cross-court collaboration on overlapping assignments, availability, and cost-efficiency issues.
Develop and maintain data and log for reporting to AOC. Supporting information maintained regularly in support of the AOC Interpreter Reimbursement Program. Act as primary liaison to Interpreter Reimbursement Program, remaining up-to-date and compliant on all requirements provided by the program.
Serve as member of county and state committees as requested, providing information, input, and recommendations for consideration.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

retirement plan
pre-tax savings accounts
comprehensive health care
dental/vision care for you and your family
Paid vacation
paid holidays
County paid training
professional organizations
conferences
alternative or compressed schedules
remote working
3 voluntary deferred compensation plans
Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses
Public Service Loan Forgiveness