Medical Interpreter/Translator - Spanish (Float)

Full Job Description

Medical Interpreters working at our Public Health Centers will be part of our clinic multi-disciplinary teams. As an integral part of these teams, they will focus on facilitating culturally and linguistically appropriate communication between Public Health staff and Spanish speaking clients in clinic settings. The work is varied and interesting and is an important part of our commitment to serving our county's most vulnerable populations.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world.

It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities.

With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups.

Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Note: This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months. The next review will be March 18, 2026.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday (8-5, Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri and 9-6 on Wednesday) *Hours could range from 8:00am - 6:00pm*

Work Location

Eastgate Public Health 14350 SE Eastgate Way Bellevue, WA 98007 - is the home base and the position will be floating to other clinics weekly – sometimes prearranged e.g. Thursdays at Downtown Public Health and sometimes as needed, day of, to cover needs at other clinics.

Float locations (as needed):

Columbia City Public Health: 4400 37th Ave S. Seattle, WA 98118
Renton Public Health: 3201 NE 7th St. Renton, WA 98056
Kent Public Health: 25742 104th Ave SE Kent, WA 98030
Federal Way Public Health: 33431 13th PL S Federal Way, WA 98003
Auburn Public Health: 901 Auburn Way N Auburn, WA 98002
North Seattle Public Health: 10521 Meridian Ave N Seattle, WA 98133
Downtown Public Health: 2124 4^th Ave Seattle, WA 98121
Northshore Public Health: 13030 121^st Way NE Kirkland, WA 98034
North Seattle Dental Clinic - 12359 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Requirements

• Duties Interpreting work involves providing Spanish language medical interpretation for Public Health Center staff and clients.

Visits focus on primary care, dental care, postpartum health, breastfeeding consult and education, birth control and pregnancy options counseling, injury prevention, and nutrition and linking families to critical resources.

Interpret communication between Public Health staff and clients in order to provide medical and dental services, including: such programs as WIC, Birth control/STD clinic, Family Health, Dental, Community Access & Outreach, and Pharmacy.

Interpret for health care providers in reproductive health clinic to elicit sexual histories from male and female clients, including teens, explain birth control methods and present pregnancy options.

Interpret in culturally sensitive situations regarding issues such as child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS.

Interpret for Public Health staff & clients to fill out a variety of forms for program eligibility, consent, registration, medical history & to explain billing practices & fee collection.

Interpret information for clients under the direction of Public Health staff related to clinical procedures, referrals to specialty care, health & nutrition education, medical treatments or environmental health regulations.

• Provide general information and referrals to Public Health Services & related community social and health services.
• Assist in facilitating efficient delivery of Public Health services within productivity guidelines as part of the treatment team.
• Checking and retrieving phone messages and taking appropriate follow-up action, using computer systems to look up clinic schedules, assisting clients with making appointments, and assisting with reminder and referral follow-up calls.
• Explain to Public Health staff relevant cultural beliefs and behaviors presented by non-English speaking clients & their communities which may affect health outcomes or create cross cultural conflict.
• Promote & maintain positive interpersonal communication with coworkers, other agencies & the public.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate:

• Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Medical Interpreter Certification or Screening Certificate or be working on obtaining certification and able to demonstrate certification is in progress
• Skill in accurate and appropriate interpretation.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Experience as a medical interpreter in a hospital or clinic setting
• Must be willing and able to interpret regarding reproductive and gender affirming health care.
• Must be willing and able to interpret in culturally sensitive situations including child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, birth control for minors, pregnancy options counseling, and HIV/AIDS.
• Knowledge of the cultural beliefs and values of the relevant populations.
• Knowledge of National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) Code of Ethics.
• Basic knowledge of community resources and service agencies and/or skill in identifying appropriate community resources for clients as needed.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology and diseases.
• Basic knowledge of human anatomy.
• Knowledge of refugee and immigrant social and health issues.
• Effective customer service skills.
• This position requires personal mode of transportation

Desired Candidate:

• The most qualified applicants will have taken “Bridging the Gap” or another formal Interpreter Training Program.
• Minium two years of experience

Additional Information

Forbes 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.

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 the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Who May Apply

Anyone that qualifies for the role

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume

(Please note: Cover letters (remove if not applicable) and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Necessary Special Requirements

• The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
• The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR (if applicable).
• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment. (and Pre-employment Physical, if applicable).
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring. For tips on interviewing, please visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/audience/employees/learning-and-development/Interview_Tips.ashx?la=en.
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools, therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.

When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description.

This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.

• 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.

Union Membership

ProTec 17

Contact

For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens atAlowens@kingcounty.gov