Bilingual Human Service Assistant - Haitian Creole

Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Transitional Assistance in Roxbury, MA, is seeking a Human Service Assistant (HSA) who will provide interpretation and translation services, assist clients with verifications for eligibility, and support social workers with administrative tasks.

The position requires excellent communication, the ability to work with diverse populations, and strong organizational skills. Applicants with two or more years of related translation experience and bilingual capabilities are preferred.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent listening skills, including asking questions to enhance communication and understanding.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work with diverse populations in multiple roles.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage high-stress situations professionally.
• Ability to understand and apply policies and regulations.
• Flexibility to respond to changing requirements and priorities.
• Ability to read, write and converse with clients and colleagues in English and a second language.
• Two or more years' work experience with translation duties in social work or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Provide interpretation and translation services to assist clients and facilitate communication.
• Convey information and explain actions to clients with varying expectations and languages.
• Assist applicants in completing verifications for eligibility determination.
• Support customer service delivery and explain department procedures to clients.
• Inform and direct clients in lobbies, waiting rooms, and self-service stations.
• Promote service delivery through document processing and management.
• Utilize department systems and support social workers with information sharing.
• Stay current with self-service options (kiosks, DTA Connect, Mobile apps).
• Exchange information with internal/external contacts per department policies.
• Provide administrative support within the local office as assigned by supervisor.
• Perform other duties as assigned per policy.

Skills

Excellent communication

Active listening

Interpersonal skills

Multitasking

Stress management

Policy understanding

Flexibility

Organizational skills

Bilingual English/Creole

Job description

The Department of Transitional Assistance in Roxbury, MA, is seeking a Human Service Assistant (HSA) who will provide interpretation and translation services, assist clients with verifications for eligibility, and support social workers with administrative tasks.

The position requires excellent communication, the ability to work with diverse populations, and strong organizational skills. Applicants with two or more years of related translation experience and bilingual capabilities are preferred.