Somali Linguist

Position Summary

Mission Essential is excited to announce new work supporting Health and Human Services (HHS) providing refugee support to unaccompanied minors in need of translation services. We are looking for linguists who speak Somali at a 2+ IRL level. Linguists will translate information to and for Care Staff and others as appropriate, serving as Communication Liaisons to ensure accurate, impartial, and confidential interpretation is available in a variety of settings.

Services will be rendered in‑person primarily (preferred) and via telephone, video conference, or other virtual means available 24x7 if necessary.

• Provide in‑person, onsite interpretation at Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) programs and service sites.
• Provide remote telephonic and/or video interpretation for ORR programs and service sites.
• Relay important deadlines, instructions, questions, and other communication from Support Care Staff to UC/UAM/URM in their native or preferred language.
• Assist UC/UAM/URM in communicating any concerns, questions, or other information to staff when not fluent or comfortable speaking English or the language spoken by Care Staff.
• Provide translation/interpretation services to aid in orienting UC/UAM/URM to community resources as requested.
• Translate documents from English into the preferred and primary language spoken by the ORR‑eligible recipient and vice‑versa, as requested; at times, the vendor may need to translate into the preferred and primary language from a source language other than English. Source documents may come from ORR or from the ORR‑eligible recipient themselves.
• Assist staff with building rapport and understanding the cultural context of the ORR populations they serve. The linguist does not replace the role of the program(s) case manager or clinician but rather serves as a person with which the UC/UAM/URM can build a cultural connection. Conversations should remain lighthearted to alleviate stress and anxiety in children.

• Working proficiency (ILR level 2+) in English and Somali.
• No security clearance required, but a Tier 2 background check must be passed.

• Linguist experience in foster care or medical care situations is preferred.

• If you are not local, a flight and rental car will be provided.
• Meals and incidentals are available.
• Flight, hotel, and transportation will be provided if you are not local to the area.
• Per diem is offered if you are not local to the sight.