Language Services & Community Engagement Specialist (Vietnamese)
- Summary
This is an amazing opportunity to be engaged in the election process!
This benefits-eligible Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position is anticipated to last up to 2 years. A Special Duty Assignment may be considered for King County Career Service employees who have passed their initial probationary period.
The Department of Elections is searching for an energetic and resourceful professional who likes to "get stuff done". The Language Services & Community Engagement Specialist position in the Elections Department combines an exciting, fast paced environment with the opportunity to cultivate talents and apply a variety of skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment and will not hesitate to roll up both sleeves, work hard, have fun, and get the job done.
This Language Services & Community Engagement Specialist will support the Language Services and Community Engagement Program for the Vietnamese language. This individual must be able to read, write, understand and speak Vietnamese at the language proficiency testing level used by the Department. This position provides bilingual assistance, translation, and community outreach support. It also conducts glossary and vocabulary research and provides administrative support to other election work groups as needed.
King County Elections (KCE) manages voter registration and elections for more than 1.3 million voters in King County and is the largest vote-by-mail county in the United States. KCE's mission is to conduct fair, open and accurate elections. As a leader in providing inclusive elections, KCE is focused on three key priorities – (1) actively identifying and working to remove barriers to voting at both the individual and community level, (2) strengthening relationships with community and governmental partners, and (3) creating a culture of professional growth and development, openness and inclusion. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/elections.aspx.
WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to the general public and all King County employees.
WORK LOCATION: The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
WORK SCHEDULE: The standard workweek is 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We require the flexibility to work additional hours during peak periods of the election cycle. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore not eligible for overtime.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: A resume and cover letter are required and should be attached before submitting your application. The cover letter should describe how your skills and experience meet or exceed the requirements of the job. Applications without the required materials may not be considered for this position.- Job Duties
- Translate and/or proof election-related materials to Vietnamese, including but not limited to: letters, general correspondence, web, notice of elections, ballots, and voters' pamphlet including candidate statements and ballot measures.
- Provide bilingual assistance to the public in a professional setting to facilitate communications across language and cultural barriers.
- Answer inquiries from Vietnamese language voters.
- Review, edit and proofread all translated documents produced by translation vendors and others, for accuracy, clarity and consistency.
- Oversee temporary translators which includes distribution of workload, providing direction and training, and monitor the quality and completion of work in order to meet tight deadlines.
- Provide voter education and voter registration support to community partners, and assist in managing voter education fund.
- Coordinate initiatives and participate in outreach events designed to promote the organization, its resources and services to the community.
- Respond to public and community inquiries related to Elections Language Services and Community Engagement.
- Provide presentations and trainings to voters and community partners on election related topics.
- Improve work processes, address quality control issues, and document procedures.
- Provide established policies, procedures, codes, regulations and other relevant sources, in English and Vietnamese, to internal and/or external customers in writing, in-person or by telephone.
- Handle sensitive and/or potentially challenging customer service situations in Vietnamese and English.
- Research and summarize specialized or technical information from varied sources. This may require selecting the most appropriate material and the use of spreadsheets and customized database applications.
- Research and resolve questions, problems, or inquiries from voters, staff, citizens and/or stakeholders.
- Assist voters' needs by researching voter demographics and other relevant data, reviewing voter registration data reports, communicating with advocacy and community-based groups and organizations and fill orders for materials.
- Provide back up support to Elections Voter Services Division, which may include providing customer service to voters, processing voter registrations or explaining election procedures, guidelines and regulations.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- Experience in translation of documents into Vietnamese, including the translation of technical documents.
- High level of language proficiency to include interpreting, translation, reading, writing and speaking in both English and Vietnamese. (Candidates will be tested to determine translation skills and language proficiency.)
- Office and computer skills including the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. (Candidates will be tested on office and computer skills.)
- Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
- Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
- Ability to organize work assignments, set priorities, and follow through on work assignments.
- Ability to effectively engage in and sustain relationships with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Ability to speak in public and deliver presentations to different audiences.
Desired Qualifications:
- Working knowledge of community organizations, agencies and groups serving Vietnamese speaking communities in King County.
- Elections knowledge and experience.
- Working knowledge of InDesign and CAT tools such as TRADOS.
- Supplemental Information
Travel to work locations throughout King County with limited or no public transportation services is required. A valid Washington State Driver's License is required to operate King County vehicles.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The duties in this position are performed in an office setting and may be required to lift at least 25 pounds.
UNION: This position is represented by Teamsters Local 117, Professional & Technical and Administrative Employees union.
CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Community Interpreter - Elections
Temporary Telecommuting Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including the wearing of masks in some situations. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.
As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:
- submit proof of vaccination or
- have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor’s Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Executive Office.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.
For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Reeshema Lewis
Sr. HR Business Partner
Email: Reeshema.Lewis@kingcounty.gov
Phone: 206-263-8413
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Do you have experience in translation of documents into Vietnamese, including the translation of technical documents?
- Yes
- No
02Please describe your Vietnamese/English written translation experience. Please be specific and include when and where you translated, the organizations and/or agencies, and the difficulty and/or types of materials translated. If you do not have this experience then type N/A.03Do you have experience with making presentations to a variety of audiences of varying sizes?- Yes
- No
04Do you have experience engaging with people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds?- Yes
- No
05Please rate your experience using Microsoft Office Suite - specifically Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.- No experience
- Beginner, some use
- Intermediate, frequent use and average skill
- Advanced, extensive use and excellent skill
06Do you possess an educational program certificate and/or have you completed a formalized training certification program preferably for the Vietnamese language?- Yes
- No
07Which of the following best describes your response to the following question: Are you applying to this position as a Priority Placement Program Participant and is this position the same or lower percentage of FT and do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County AND I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. AND The position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
- No
08If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoffRequired Question