Portuguese Linguist (on-site)

The Mission Essential Group; Harlingen (TX); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mission Essential Group is seeking linguists fluent in Portuguese at ILR Level 2+ to provide interpretation and translation services for unaccompanied minors in refugee programs in the U.S.

Linguists will work onsite at ORR locations, with remote options as needed, and must pass Tier 2 background checks. This role supports Care Staff and URM, ensuring accurate communication and cultural context.

Qualifications

• ILR Level 2+ proficiency in English and Portuguese.
• Experience in interpretation/translation in sensitive settings.
• Ability to work autonomously with sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-person interpretation at ORR programs and sites (onsite preferred).
• Offer remote interpretation via phone or videoconference, including after-hours requests.
• Facilitate accurate communication between staff, UC/UAM/URM, and providers.
• Translate documents as needed between English and target language.
• Support cultural mediation to reduce stress for unaccompanied minors.

Skills

ILR Level 2+ proficiency

Bilingual English/Portuguese

Interpreting/translation

Education

Linguistics degree or related field

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 Portuguese 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

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.

Mission Essential considers all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Mission Essential is an EEO/AA employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.