Director, Sign Language Interpreting & Communication Access

Austin Community College District•Riverside, CA

About The Position

Directs, plans, leads, and evaluates interpreter, captioning, and other communication access services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and other individuals requiring communication accommodations who participate in Austin Community College programs, services, activities, and events. Reporting to the Executive Dean, Access and Disability Support, provides strategic and operational leadership for district-wide Interpreter and Communication Access Services, including interpreter and captioning services; supervises staff and service providers; manages budget tracking, contracts, and program resources; ensures compliance with applicable accessibility and privacy laws; and collaborates with faculty, staff, technology teams, and external partners to promote consistent communication access across the College. Maintains cooperative relationships with communication access community agencies, partners, and vendors to support effective service delivery throughout the district. The role oversees services including sign language interpreting, transliterating, CART, live captioning, Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), and other appropriate communication access services. It supports accommodation and accessibility processes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, coordinates complex and large-scale access needs, manages program resources and service systems, and uses utilization data and quality reviews to inform continuous improvement. The position also serves as a College and community resource through consultation, training, referrals, committee participation, and collaboration with internal and external partners. The position requires a bachelor’s degree, at least five years of related experience including one year of supervisory experience, national interpreter certification (RID) or CDI credential, relevant state licensure or screening credentials, demonstrated ASL fluency, and successful completion of the ACC Interpreting Skills Assessment Test. The position is in ACC’s Remote/In-Person framework and has a standard office environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Five years of related experience, including one year of supervisory experience.
National interpreter certification (RID) or CDI credential, and relevant state licensure or screening credentials.
Demonstrated experience managing interpreters, accessibility programs, budgets, regulatory compliance, and services for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities.
Demonstrated fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) and ability to communicate directly and effectively with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Must pass the ACC Interpreting Skills Assessment Test.
Ability to maintain required credentials, qualifications, or training necessary to perform assigned duties.
Knowledge of ASL, interpreting and transliterating, and Deaf culture.
Knowledge of interpreting, transliterating, CART, TypeWell, and C-Print services in educational environments; processes for identifying qualified interpreters; and interpreter services policies and procedures.
Knowledge of supervisory principles, practices, and methods; statistical reporting related to interpreter usage, expenditures, and outcomes; and administrative principles such as goal setting, program development, implementation, evaluation, and project management.
Knowledge of Deaf and Hard of Hearing community culture and language, education policy, and language acquisition, including challenges related to language deprivation.
Skills in maintaining an established work schedule; interpersonal and communication skills, including tact and diplomacy; organization, planning, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Ability to effectively schedule interpreters, provide interpreting and transliterating services in varied environments, and serve as an information and referral source for students, faculty, and staff.
Ability to conduct orientation meetings for students and interpreters; supervise, lead, and delegate tasks and authority; and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to work effectively with a multicultural student body and establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Nice To Haves

Degree in American Sign Language–English Interpreting, Deaf Studies, Communication Access, Rehabilitation Services, Education, or Public Administration.
Master’s degree.
Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in disability/accessibility services in higher education, with at least two years in a supervisory or leadership role.
Experience with grant or restricted-fund management.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for Interpreter and Communication Access Services, including developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving programs, policies, procedures, staffing, and daily operations.
Recruit, hire, train, coach, evaluate, schedule, and manage staff interpreters, hourly and contract interpreters, captioners, and other communication access providers.
Coordinate and deliver sign language interpreting, transliterating, CART, live captioning, VRI, and other appropriate communication access services for students, employees, faculty, visitors, and program participants.
Coordinate complex and large-scale communication access needs for events, orientations, conferences, special programs, continuing education, workforce programs, and other activities.
Collaborate with faculty, staff, technology teams, and College departments to identify and remove communication access barriers and address complex accommodation needs.
Support accommodation processes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, including participation in the interactive process as appropriate, coordinating approved accommodations, and providing consultation.
Manage program budgets, contracts, vendors, purchasing, payroll-related processes, invoices, agreements, financial records, projections, and reports.
Oversee databases, scheduling systems, communication access technology, equipment, and service systems; track service requests, schedules, provider availability, utilization, expenditures, and outcomes.
Analyze utilization data, staffing metrics, and outcomes to inform program improvements, budget planning, and institutional reporting.
Maintain confidentiality and records in accordance with FERPA and applicable requirements; ensure compliance with the ADA, Section 504, and other relevant laws and policies.
Monitor service quality and evaluate interpreting services through skill assessments, observation, and feedback processes; implement improvements based on data, program needs, and stakeholder feedback.
Provide consultation, training, information, and referrals; maintain relationships with internal and external partners; participate in committees and advisory groups; stay current on relevant laws, technology, and trends; and represent ACC in accessibility initiatives.