Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 35,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter to support the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The role involves facilitating communication between deaf patients and clinicians in clinical, educational, research, and administrative settings, with emphasis on behavioral health assessments.

Primary responsibilities include providing designated interpretation, training staff on interpreter use, and maintaining accurate service records while

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in linguistics, translation, healthcare, or similar field.
• 3 years of American Sign Language interpretation experience.
• 2 years of general healthcare experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide designated interpretation during medical consultations and patient education.
• Facilitate clear communication between deaf patients and healthcare providers.
• Maintain confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.
• Participate in staff training on interpreter services.

Skills

Interpersonal Savvy

Customer Focus

Decision Quality

Ethics and Values

Learning on the Fly

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter

Hiring Department:

Department of Psychiatry

Position Open To:

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

20

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2027

Location:

AUSTIN, TX

Job Details:

General Notes

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Dell Medical School is looking for a Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter. This position has an end date of 8/31/2027, renewable based upon availability of funding, work performance, and progress toward goals.

Purpose

The Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter facilitates communication between a deaf or hard-of-hearing healthcare provider (psychologist) and patients and healthcare providers in clinical, educational, research, academic, and administrative settings to the Lead Healthcare Sign Language Interpreter, this role supports a Deaf healthcare professional within a designated interpreter team model and collaborates closely with physicians, behavioral health clinicians, nurses, and administrative staff to support pediatric patient care. Key responsibilities include providing designated interpreting during behavioral health assessments and facilitating communication across professional settings.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Interpretation Services

• Provides accurate and timely designated interpretation during medical consultations, procedures, and patient education sessions and other professional settings with mental/behavioral health specialization.

• Facilitates clear communication between the healthcare provider (psychologist) and patients and healthcare providers.

• Maintains patient confidentiality and adheres to HIPAA regulations.

• Maintains awareness and monitoring of hearing-deaf power differentials and strive to minimize them

Training and Development

• Provides training to healthcare staff on effective use of interpreter services.

• Develops and updates training materials.

• Participates in continuing education to stay current with medical terminology and best practices.

Administrative Duties

• Maintains accurate records of interpretation services provided.

• Working with designated interpreter team to schedule interpretation sessions and manages interpreter resources.

Other duties as identified by department

MARGINAL OR PERIODIC FUNCTIONS:

Community Outreach

• Engages with community organizations to promote interpreter services.

Emergency Interpretation

• Provides interpretation services during emergency situations.

Research Participation

• Assists in research projects related to language access and healthcare outcomes.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

Interpersonal Savvy

• Relates well to all kinds of people, builds constructive and effective relationships.

• Examples: Builds rapport with patients, communicates effectively with healthcare providers, navigates cultural differences.

Customer Focus

• Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.

• Examples: Ensures patient satisfaction, addresses patient concerns promptly, provides high-quality interpretation services.

Decision Quality

• Makes sound decisions based on analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment.

• Examples: Evaluates the accuracy of translations, resolves communication issues, prioritizes interpretation requests.

Ethics and Values

• Adheres to an appropriate and effective set of core values and beliefs.

• Examples: Maintains patient confidentiality, follows ethical guidelines, demonstrates integrity in all interactions.

Learning on the Fly

• Learns quickly when facing new problems, open to change.

• Examples: Adapts to new medical terminology, incorporates feedback into practice, stays current with industry trends.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in (e.g., Linguistics, Translation, Healthcare). with at least 3 year(s) of experience in

• 3 years of relevant experience in American Sign Language interpretation.

• 2 years of general experience in healthcare settings.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s Degree in (e.g., Linguistics, Translation, Healthcare) with at least 5 year(s) of experience in American Sign Language interpretation.

• 5 years of relevant experience in interpretation.

• 3 years of general experience in healthcare, pediatric, and/or behavioral healthcare settings.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS

REQUIRED:

• Experience and qualifications consistent with professional sign language interpreting practice.

PREFERRED:

• Certification in a second language relevant to the patient population.

• RID certification and/or NIC certification and/or Texas BEI certification.

Salary Range

$37,034+ depending on qualifications (based on a 20 hour work week)

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/EQUIPMENT

• Standard office equipment.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard.
• May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications and disoriented or combative patients, or others.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.