Linguist - (Jamaican Patois)

KACE Company; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

KACE Company is seeking a Jamaican Patois Linguist to perform transcription from Jamaican Patois to English for law enforcement. This part-time position involves 100% travel to client locations, capturing accurate written products, and maintaining language collections.

Candidates must have a high school diploma, translation experience, and strong language skills. The role requires flexibility for evening, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Qualifications

• Minimum one (1) year of translation experience in Jamaican Patois.
• Ability to communicate effectively with law enforcement personnel.
• Strong prioritization and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform real-time and recorded transcription from Jamaican Patois to English.
• Capture accurate, court-ready written products.
• Communicate pertinent information to law enforcement personnel.

Skills

Knowledge of Jamaican Patois colloquialisms, slang terms, and regional expressions

Excellent verbal and written skills in target languages

Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office

Ability to work under pressure

Typing speed of 45 words per minute

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Title: Jamaican Patois Linguist

Location: Nationwide, on‑site at client locations as assigned

Security Clearance: Public Trust (or ability to obtain)

Schedule: As‑needed, part‑time essential services position; scheduled up to 40 hours per week, with day/night, weekend, and holiday shifts as required by projects.

Classification: Non‑exempt (eligible for overtime)

Hourly: $40.00

Travel: 100% travel to client sites required

Job Summary

Our linguists perform real‑time and/or recorded transcription from Jamaican Patois to English for sensitive law enforcement work. Responsibilities include capturing accurate, court‑ready written products; decoding colloquialisms, slang, and coded language; and communicating pertinent information to law enforcement personnel. Work may involve transcribing source documents and recordings from multiple storage formats (digital media, audio, video).

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Listen to live or recorded communications in Jamaican Patois and produce verbal and written synopses and transcriptions.
• Communicate pertinent information to the client (law enforcement personnel) in a timely manner when supporting live monitoring.
• Build and maintain a master list of slang terms and codes used by a particular group/organization for the duration of the project/case.
• Build and maintain a voice library for the duration of the project.
• Transcribe and translate pertinent calls and documents as assigned by the supervisor.
• Produce court‑ready (accurate, clearly formatted, and complete) transcriptions of pertinent calls, chats, and documents in the required format.
• Use project reference tools and materials developed during the project to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Transcribe a minimum of 16 minutes of recorded conversation in an 8‑hour day, meeting required format and quality standards.
• Operate specialized government‑provided software and equipment (e.g., JSI voice box, Pen‑link, Comverse, and other communications‑collection tools) used at the assigned site.
• Maintain a daily productivity log in accordance with project requirements.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Skills

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum one (1) year of translation experience in the required language.
• Knowledge of Jamaican Patois colloquialisms, slang terms, and regional expressions.
• Familiarity with SMS shorthand, social media terminology, and web chat communications.
• Excellent verbal and written skills in the target languages, including accurate grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Ability to meet the requirement of a score of 3 or better on a third‑party language assessment (Listening/Speaking/Reading/Writing) in English and Jamaican Patois.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast‑paced environment and communicate effectively with management and law enforcement personnel.
• Strong prioritization and time‑management skills; ability to meet deadlines, balance multiple tasks, and work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to take technical direction and incorporate feedback from multiple sources.
• Must type 45 words per minute.

Clearance & Security Requirements

Applicants may be subject to a government background investigation and must meet the conditions of employment below.

• Ability to obtain and maintain Public Trust eligibility as a condition of employment.
• Favorable credit check, as applicable to the required Public Trust eligibility.
• Successful completion of a background investigation and drug screening.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Must have lived in the U.S. for 3 of the past 5 years.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Standing/Walking/Mobility: Must have the mobility to attend meetings with managers and employees.
• Climbing/Stooping/Kneeling: 0% - 10% of the time.
• Lifting/Pulling/Pushing: 0% - 10% of the time.
• Fingering/Grasping/Feeling: Must be able to write, type, and use a telephone system for extended periods.
• Sitting: Sitting for prolonged periods while monitoring live or recorded calls. Ability to leave the desk may be restricted during live monitoring and translation activities.

Equal Opportunity Employment

KACE is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

KACE complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to [e-mail].