Communication and Interpreting BSL/English Manager

Deaf Action; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading deaf charity in Edinburgh is seeking a Communication and Interpreting BSL/English Manager to lead their interpreting team. The role involves management, advising on interpreter queries, and undertaking interpreting assignments. Ideal candidates will have BSL proficiency and management experience. This position offers a competitive salary, benefits, and the opportunity to work in a vibrant community advocating for deaf people.

Benefits

Occupational pension scheme with 6% employer contributions

32 days leave plus your birthday off

Mobile phone and IT equipment

Qualifications

• Management experience required to lead the interpreting team.
• Eligible to register as a BSL Interpreter with NRCPD.
• Willingness to undertake CPD activities.

Responsibilities

• Line manage in-house interpreters and Senior Booking Coordinator.
• Advise on interpreter queries.
• Manage the database and extract reports.

Skills

Management experience

BSL proficiency

Interpreting skills

Education

Eligibility to register with NRCPD

Tools

SignPort interpreter booking app

Job description

Overview

Communication and Interpreting BSL/English Manager

Fulltime (35 hours per week)

Location: Edinburgh and the Central Belt

Salary: £45,000 per annum

Closing date: 17th October 2025

Interviews: 23rd October 2025

Who are we?

Deaf Action is a deaf-led charity, supporting and celebrating deaf people. We are at the forefront of high quality, responsive services for and with deaf people. We were established in 1835 and work with deaf people across Scotland and the South of England. Our work is geared towards empowering all deaf people to achieve their potential and fully participate in society, with equality of rights, access and opportunity.

The role

We are looking for an experienced Interpreter Practitioner with management experience to lead our team of BSL Interpreters and Senior Booking Coordinator to establish a service that really puts deaf people and interpreters at the heart of what access looks like. Could that be you?

We have a wide range of work in our vibrant portfolio. From Edinburgh Deaf Festival to work in the community, in education, health or social care, parliament legal work and much more. Scotland is a great place to live and work, and Deaf Action is at the heart of the community here. Deaf Action engages widely in the area with partner organisations. There is a vibrant community outside of work and our Blackwood Bar sees a varied programme of events to enjoy. Our karaoke nights are becoming quite renowned!

You will be eligible to register with NRCPD (Registered), have management experience and can make a major contribution to our plans for innovation and growth. You will be committed and enthusiastic to contribute to the expansion of our in-house interpreting service and play an integral part in our interpreting provision for our annual Edinburgh Deaf Festival. This is an exciting time at Deaf Action, with a vision for real and meaningful change for our deaf communities and all those with whom they interact. You will be based in our Edinburgh office, but with travel around the area and a flexible approach to your work that supports this.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• To line manage the team of in-house Interpreters and Senior Booking Coordinator
• To advise the booking team on interpreter queries
• To manage the database and extract reports as required
• To be integral to the promotion of the SignPort interpreter booking app
• To assist the Development Team in making applications for interpreter frameworks and contracts
• To undertake a mixture of in-house and external interpreting assignments, (some of which will be outside of normal office hours) mostly within the Scottish Central Belt area
• To provide advice to external fringe requests and coordinate the team of Edinburgh Deaf Festival Interpreters, supporting the Senior Booking Coordinator
• To lead on the shaping and delivery of our responsive out of hours service
• To keep accurate records of work undertaken and be self-motivated to deliver the best
• To adhere to Deaf Action’s quality standards and requirements of registration
• To undertake CPD activities and work with the team to develop your own skills and those of the in-house team skills
• To fulfil requirements to maintain registration
• To be a team player who thrives on working with others and wants to see standards improve across our profession

Why work for Deaf Action?

This is a great opportunity to shape, develop and manage a new team.

Apart from working for an organisation with deaf people truly at their heart, you will also receive a package of benefits. These are over and above the peace of mind that comes with not having to do your own tax returns, invoicing and chasing debtors!

• Registration fees paid by Deaf Action
• Occupational pension scheme with employer contributions of 6%.
• 32 days leave pro rata (inc bank holidays) plus your birthday off
• 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme provided by Health Assured
• Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and IT Voucher Scheme
• Mobile phone and IT equipment
• Ongoing support for learning and development through our PDR process
• Continuous professional development
• Regular Professional Supervision from an external qualified supervisor
• Team debriefing opportunities and peer support
• Death in Service payment for next of kin

To apply, please send your CV along with a covering letter or BSL video explaining in a couple of paragraphs why you are interested in the post and what experience you have that you will bring to the role to [e-mail].

If you have any questions or would just like an informal chat about this opportunity, please email [e-mail].