Chinese Mandarin Linguist

Mission Essential; San Benito (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Essential seeks Mandarin-speaking linguists with ILR 2+ proficiency to support U.S. government refugee program communications. You will interpret and translate between Care Staff, UC/UAM/URM, and English speakers with high accuracy and confidentiality.

Role involves onsite interpretation at ORR locations when possible, and remote services as needed, including after-hours requests. A Tier 2 background check is required, emphasizing judgment, discretion, and cultural sensitivity.

Qualifications

• ILR Level 2+ proficiency in English and Mandarin to support interpretation and translation.
• Tier 2 background check completed; security clearance not required.
• Discretion, judgment, and professionalism in linguistics.
• Autonomy and responsibility in managing language services for ORR programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-person, onsite interpretation at ORR programs and service locations.
• Deliver remote interpretation via telephone or videoconference, including 24/7 requests.
• Facilitate communication between Care Staff, UC/UAM/URM and English speakers.
• Assist UC/UAM/URM in expressing concerns when not fluent in English or staff language.
• Demonstrate professional judgment to mitigate language barriers and ensure effective communication.
• Support orientation of UC/UAM/URM to community resources via interpretation and translation.
• Translate documents between English and the target language as required.

Skills

Mandarin language

English proficiency

Education

Specialized academic degree

Job description

We are excited to announce new opportunities supporting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services I (HHS I) in providing critical language services to unaccompanied minors in refugee programs. We are seeking linguists who speak Mandarin at an Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Level 2 + or higher.

About ILR levels:

The Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale is the U.S. government standard for measuring language proficiency. It ranges from Level 0 (No Proficiency) to Level 5 (Native or Bilingual Proficiency).

• ILR Level 2+ (“Professional Working Proficiency”) indicates that a linguist can speak, understand, read, and write the language with sufficient accuracy and fluency to participate effectively in most conversations on practical, social, and some professional topics.

Position Overview:

Linguists will provide accurate, impartial, and confidential interpretation and translation services at ILR Level 2+ proficiency or higher to support communication between Care Staff, unaccompanied children (UC), unaccompanied minors (UAM), and unaccompanied refugee minors (URM). Linguists serve as Communication Liaisons to ensure all parties can fully understand one another in a variety of settings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide in-person, onsite interpretation at Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) programs and service locations (preferred).
• Deliver remote interpretation services via telephone, videoconference, or other virtual means as needed, including availability for 24/7 requests.
• Facilitate communication of important deadlines, instructions, questions, and other information between Care Staff and UC/UAM/URM in their native or preferred language.
• Assist UC/UAM/URM in expressing concerns, questions, or needs when they are not fluent or comfortable communicating in English or the language spoken by Care Staff.
• Demonstrate a high-level of professional judgment, based on the candidate’s own experience and language proficiency, to mitigate language barriers and ensure effective communication between Care Staff and a UC, UAM or URM.
• Support the orientation of UC/UAM/URM to available community resources through interpretation and translation.
• Translate documents from English to the preferred language and vice versa, and occasionally from other source languages, as required.
• Help Care Staff build rapport and understand the cultural context of the populations served; while linguists are not substitutes for case managers or clinicians, they play a vital role in establishing a cultural bridge and alleviating stress for the children.

Requirements:

• ILR Level 2+ proficiency in both English (listening and speaking) and the target language (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) whether obtained through either a specialized academic degree or a combination of experience/education.
• Successful completion of a Tier 2 background check; no security clearance required.
• Consistent exercise of discretion and judgment and advanced knowledge in the field of linguistics.
• The linguist is expected to apply advanced language skills, cultural expertise, and professional judgment to facilitate communication in sensitive and complex situations.
• The work requires autonomy, decision-making, and a high degree of responsibility in managing language services to meet the needs of ORR programs and the vulnerable populations served.

Desired Skills:

• Prior experience as a linguist in foster care, social services, or medical care environments.