Language Access Partner

Applitrack; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 83,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Applitrack is seeking a Language Access Partner to oversee the district-wide language access program for multilingual families and those with communication disabilities. You will serve as a key contact for language access matters and contribute to data collection, reporting, and service provision.

The role involves training district personnel in language access practices, coordinating translation/interpretation services, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws under the MTSS framework.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in interpreter/translation studies or education-related fields.
• One year experience coordinating a program and/or three years office experience.
• Experience as an interpreter/translator preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify language access needs of parents/guardians and family members.
• Coordinate designated bilingual staff for information in languages other than English, including ASL.
• Develop a repertoire of language access services through in-house or outsourced resources.
• Ensure language services meet quality and competency standards.
• Train staff to identify language access needs and utilize interpretation/translation resources.
• Establish methods to request, provide and track language access services and evaluate effectiveness.
• Coordinate and/or provide training for interpreters/translators and messaging to families.

Skills

Language access coordination

Interpreting/translation

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in interpreter/translation studies or education-related studies

Job description

• Position Type:
  Classified/ Positions - District Office
  
• Date Posted:
  9/29/2026
  
• Location:
  Educational Service Center
  
• Date Available:
  Upon Hire
  
• Closing Date:
  10/05/2026
  
• Hours per Day:
  8 - $44.20 per hour
  
• Days of the Week:
  Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday
  

This position is limited to the 2026-27 school year and will end on June 30, 2027.
SALARY: $91,941 Annually
POSITION SUMMARY: The position of Language Access Partner serves to oversee the existing district-level language access program for multilingual families and for families with communication disabilities. The Language Access Partner serves as a point of contact on language access matters for members of the public, including families and other community members, for school site personnel, for district personnel, for OSPI, and the Office of Education Ombuds (OEO). The Language Access Partner is involved in, among other duties, relevant data collection and reporting, training for district personnel related to language access, the procurement and provision of translation/interpretation services, and compliance with relevant federal and state laws. The Language Access Partner serves under the direction of the Executive Director of MTSS.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive, and incumbents are expected to perform all duties as assigned or directed. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, consistent with applicable law.

• Work collaboratively with district departments and school site personnel as appropriate to identify language access needs of parents/guardians and other family members
• Take inventory of designated bilingual staff with knowledge/experience sufficient to provide information directly to families in a language other than English, including ASL, and work to coordinate these resources
• Identify a sufficient repertoire of language access services to meet anticipated demand, through in-house personnel, outsourced services, and direct contracting, among other means
• Vet or otherwise work to assure outside and in-house language services meet the threshold of appropriate and competent services
• Coordinate and/or directly provide training for staff to identify language access needs, access appropriate resources such as interpretation and translation services, and to track the usage of such services
• Coordinate and/or directly provide staff training on best practices for working with an interpreter and for providing translation as appropriate
• Establish systematic methods or oversee existing systematic methods for requesting, providing, and tracking language access services and evaluate the efficacy of these methods
• Coordinate and/or directly provide training for interpreter/translator staff
• Establish robust messaging to families and community members on the availability of language access resources and how to access them
• Respond in a timely and appropriate manner to requests and inquiries regarding language access from a variety of stakeholders, including family members, other community members, relevant state agencies, and school site personnel, among others
• Secure language access for parents, guardians, families, and community through scheduling approved interpreters and translations.
• Coordinate and support family engagement nights to include the Multilingual Parent Advisory Committee (MPAC)
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree, ideally in interpreter/translation studies or education-related studies. One year experience coordinating a program and/or three years office experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience as an interpreter and/or translator OR Administrative experience at the school or district level OR
Experience as a language access or translation/interpreter coordinator in the language industry Bilingual – In Any language

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Criminal background clearance
Valid driver's license and proof of insurance and access to reliable transportation Must be willing to attend evening and weekend meetings

KNOWLEDGE OF

Local community-based organizations and advocacy groups
Or budding knowledge of professional organizations which have to do with spoken and signed language interpretation and written translation
Or budding knowledge of the communication and messaging technologies that have been adopted by a number of districts, and which draw on machine translation for communicating with families who use a language other than English
Relevant legal framework for the provision of language access services in the schools, including federal and state legislation and federal guidance

ABILITY TO

Plan, organize, and administer assigned areas of responsibility
Be well-organized and to be able to readily locate and access relevant resources and reference materials
Operate technology hardware and software necessary to perform assigned duties/responsibilities
Communicate effectively across a range of stakeholders and audiences, including families, school and district personnel, community-based groups, and state level agencies Write/edit; including the ability to write appropriately for multiple audiences and purposes. Present in a clear and concise manner
Ability to represent the school district in ways consistent with district and board policy and obligations
Ability to draw on data as appropriate and generate reports which respond to differing criteria Work independently with minimum direction and supervision
Use effective customer service skills to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships in a multicultural and multiracial community of district personnel, community members, and external companies and agencies in the course of performing assigned duties

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY

Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.
Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools' commitment to "Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future."
Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will constantly stand and walk, bend neck and back, use hands for repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling. The employee is frequently required to squat, kneel, use of hands for fine manipulation, knee stand and push/pull. The employee will occasionally be required to sit, climb stairs/ladder, lift and reach overhead, crawl, and lift/carry. The employee must constantly lift/carry up to 5 pounds and must frequently lift/carry up to 10 pounds. The employee will occasionally lift/carry a maximum of 20 lbs. The employee is occasionally required to push/pull a maximum weight of 100 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions and regularly works near video display. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The position constantly deals with frequent interruptions, demanding deadlines, and occasionally deals with angry and distraught employees and community members.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position typically works Monday through Friday, 260 days per year. Due to the nature of principal and administrator schedules, some questions and requests will fall outside of traditional business hours.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

This position is evaluated by and reports directly to the Executive Director of Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Position interacts regularly with Office of Equity Leadership, Human resources personnel; Learning Improvement Officers, Building Administrators. Position also interacts with various other certificated and classified staff throughout the district. Contacts with individuals outside of the district include but are not limited to partner agency representatives, other school district representatives, and outside vendors; and occasional contact with local, state and federal government officials, outside social services organizations, and various community groups.

REPRESENTATION

Non-Represented (Exempt)

LEVEL OF COMPENSATION

Non-Represented – Specialist level on the non-represented salary schedule

This position includes the following benefits prorated based on FTE: medical, dental, vision, sick, life insurance, professional development dollars,retirement, Veba for eligible sick leave cash out.

DISCLAIMER

All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY

Created: 05/2022

Updated: 9/2025

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.