L&I Bilingual Spanish Program Support Supervisor 2

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5% assignment pay for bilingual duties

Job summary

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) seeks an experienced leader to supervise the Bilingual Translation Unit at our Tumwater headquarters. You’ll guide a team of six bilingual staff translating key agency materials and supporting Spanish‑speaking customers statewide.

This role champions language equity in public service and may serve as acting Customer Service Manager when needed. In‑office position in Tumwater, WA, with a 5% bilingual assignment pay and the requirement to

Qualifications

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• Three years of applicable experience in the program specialty OR equivalent education/experience.
• Supervision, coaching, and performance management.
• Advanced Spanish translation and interpretation.
• Effective conflict resolution and customer service.
• Time and workload management in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional communication – both written and verbal.
• Fluency in both Spanish and English.
• Pass a bilingual Spanish exam.
• Assignment pay of 5% for bilingual duties.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of six bilingual staff.
• Oversee daily operations, assign translation tasks, review work for quality assurance.
• Analyze workflows and improve call routing systems, translation templates, and customer support strategies.
• Translate or oversee translations of crucial documents.
• Serve as liaison with Spanish-speaking customers, ensuring understanding of rights, services, and responsibilities in both languages.
• Act as acting Customer Service Manager when necessary.
• Lead compliance efforts tied to federal language access agreements.

Skills

Supervision

Spanish translation

Customer service

Time management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Description

Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working!

Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability

Job Highlights

• When hired as bilingual, our top applicant will be required to pass an assessment of your ability to write and speak Spanish fluently. We do not use translating software. Employees with bilingual responsibilities receive a 5% increase in pay.

Make a difference every day. Help keep Washington safe and working.

Are you a bilingual Spanish/English professional with a passion for leadership, customer service, and language access? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your decisions directly impact lives? If so, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) wants to hear from you!

We’re looking for a dedicated and experienced leader to supervise our Bilingual Translation Unit at our Tumwater headquarters. In this role, you’ll lead a team of six highly skilled bilingual Spanish staff members who are responsible for translating crucial agency materials and supporting Spanish-speaking customers across Washington.

This role is a great opportunity to lead language equity in public service. You'll be the driving force behind clear, timely, and culturally appropriate communication for workers, employers, and health care providers across the state. You’ll also provide coverage in the manager’s absence.

This position is an in-office position in our Tumwater, WA (HQ) location.

Duties

Some Of What You’ll Do

• Lead & Inspire : Plan, guide, and mentor a team of six bilingual staff, ensuring high-quality service and translation accuracy.
• Supervise With Impact : Oversee daily operations, assign translation tasks, review work for quality assurance, and help develop staff through coaching and training.
• Improve Processes : Analyze workflows and improve call routing systems, translation templates, and customer support strategies.
• Support Statewide Communication : Translate or oversee translations of crucial documents, including legal orders, forms, medical terms, and public materials.
• Serve as a Liaison : Communicate directly with Spanish-speaking customers, ensuring they understand their rights, services, and responsibilities in both English and Spanish.
• Step In As Needed : Serve as acting Customer Service Manager when necessary, leading teams to meet the agency’s mission.
• Uphold Equity : Lead compliance efforts tied to federal language access agreements, ensuring that Limited English Proficient (LEP) customers receive equal access to services.

Qualifications

Required:

High school graduation or equivalent

AND

Three years of applicable experience in the program specialty OR equivalent education/experience. This could include demonstrated skill in supervision, communication, multitasking, and problem solving.

• Supervision, coaching, and performance management
• Advanced Spanish translation and interpretation
• Effective conflict resolution and customer service
• Time and workload management in a fast-paced environment
• Professional communication – both written and verbal
• Attention to detail and strong decision-making skills

AND

• Proven ability to read, write, and communicate fluently in both Spanish and English
  • In addition to the base salary, the selected incumbent will receive 5% assignment pay for bilingual duties.
  • To be considered for this position you will need to pass a verbal and/or written bilingual Spanish exam.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired

• One year of experience as a supervisor.
• Experience assisting customers in both English and Spanish regarding complaints or problems, will substitute year for year, for education.
• One year of experience in call center operations.

Supplemental Information

Things You Need To Know

State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee’s career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more. (Link removed)

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice. (Video link removed)

For this position, telework is not permitted. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington.

Background Check Notice

Prior to a placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other Information

• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented bytheWashington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.
• Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process will be contacted by email to schedule a skills assessment.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to your application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s [e-mail] .