Multicultural Social Service Specialist

Richland Library•Columbia, SC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Richland Library is seeking to hire a Full-Time Multicultural Social Services Specialist at our Main location. This role involves providing direct services in Spanish and/or English to library customers, including resource referrals, job searching, digital literacy, document interpretation, and reference services. The specialist will assist Spanish-speaking customers and staff throughout the Library System, helping customers access community services, fill out applications, and understand information from social service organizations. This includes assistance with Medicare, Medicaid, Benefit Bank, Affordable Care Act benefits, bus vouchers, and Social Security benefits. The role also involves coordinating and collaborating with Library Staff to create, enhance, and promote print materials, programs, and services for international, multicultural, and diverse customers whose primary language is not English. Additionally, the specialist will provide direct oral and written translation and interpretation services for Spanish-speaking clients and coordinate language access services. Maintaining accurate documentation of client interactions, referrals, service plans, and outcomes is crucial, as is tracking client progress and contributing to program reporting. The ideal candidate will have bilingual fluency in Spanish and English, experience with global cultures, and knowledge of best practices for serving language learners, new immigrant populations, and English as a Second Language development. The role requires learning and exhibiting Richland Library’s brand promises, providing outstanding customer service, and working flexible hours including late afternoons, evenings, and weekends. Mobile services may involve driving, loading, lifting, moving, sitting on the floor, and working outdoors. The position requires adherence to safety guidelines and the ability to collect, report, and present statistical information.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; supplemented by one (1) year of directly related work experience; or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training and/or experience.
Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English is required
Certification in translation or interpretation from a recognized professional organization is required (e.g., American Translators Association or equivalent credentialing body)
Required to possess and maintain a valid State of South Carolina Driver’s License and the ability to drive a Library owned vehicle including a transport van per established policies, procedures, and safety guidelines

Nice To Haves

Experience working with children and families preferred.
One (1) year of experience working in a library, community, or youth program and understanding of the purpose and services of public libraries.

Responsibilities

Provide direct services in Spanish and/or English to library customers one-on-one and in groups to include resource referrals, job searching, digital literacy, interpreting documents, and reference, research and reader’s advisory services
Assist library customers whose primary language is Spanish and Staff helping customers who speak Spanish throughout the Library System in person, by phone or by email.
Assist customers in accessing community services, fill out applications, and understand information from social service organizations. Such services might include providing assistance with Medicare, Medicaid, Benefit Bank, Affordable Care Act benefits, bus voucher and Social Security benefits
Coordinate and collaborate with Library Staff to create, enhance and promote print materials, programs and services to international, multicultural, diverse customers whose primary language is not English
Provide direct oral and written translation and interpretation services for Spanish-speaking clients in library and community settings
Coordinate language access services as needed, connecting clients and staff with appropriate interpretation resources when direct services are not available
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of client interactions, referrals, service plans, and outcomes in compliance with agency and library standards
Track client progress and service plan adjustments over time; contribute to program reporting by collecting and presenting relevant data and outcome metrics
Learn and consistently exhibit Richland Library’s brand promises in all interactions with customers and colleagues; provide outstanding customer service to all internal and external customers
Mobile services routinely involve driving, loading, lifting, moving, sitting on floor and working outdoors
Follow organizational, County, and public health and safety guidelines and protocols and perform job functions in a safe manner and report all safety hazards
Assist Manager, library administrators, work groups, and other staff by collecting, reporting, and presenting relevant statistical information and data