Mission Essential Is Hiring A Vietnamese Linguist

Join our team as a Vietnamese Linguist and support critical language services for vulnerable refugee minors in Bronx, NY — with travel accommodations provided for remote candidates!

Position: Vietnamese Linguist

Location: Bronx, NY

💼 *Note:* If you are not local, we will cover your flight and rental car. Some meals and incidentals are also available.

Position Description

We are thrilled to offer new opportunities supporting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in providing essential language services to unaccompanied minors in refugee programs. We are seeking linguists proficient in Vietnamese at ILR Level 2+ or higher.

About ILR Levels

The Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale is the U.S. government standard for measuring language proficiency, ranging from Level 0 (No Proficiency) to Level 5 (Native or Bilingual Proficiency).

• ILR Level 2+ (“Professional Working Proficiency”):
• Able to speak, understand, read, and write the language with sufficient accuracy and fluency to effectively participate in most practical, social, and some professional conversations.

Position Overview

As a linguist, you will deliver accurate, impartial, and confidential interpretation and translation services at ILR Level 2+ or higher. Your role is vital in facilitating communication between Care Staff, unaccompanied children (UC), unaccompanied minors (UAM), and unaccompanied refugee minors (URM). You will serve as a Communication Liaison, ensuring all parties can fully comprehend each other across diverse settings.

Key Responsibilities

• 🗣️ Provide in-person interpretation at Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) programs and service locations (preferred).
• 📞 Offer remote interpretation via telephone, videoconference, or other virtual means, including being available for 24/7 requests.
• 🔑 Facilitate communication regarding deadlines, instructions, questions, and vital 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.
• 🧠 Apply high-level professional judgment based on your experience and language proficiency to mitigate language barriers and ensure effective communication.
• 🌐 Support orientation of UC/UAM/URM to community resources through interpretation and translation.
• 📝 Translate documents bidirectionally between English and the target language, and occasionally from other source languages as needed.
• 🌍 Help Care Staff build rapport and understand the cultural context of the populations served, fostering a supportive and understanding environment.

Requirements

• 🎯 ILR Level 2+ proficiency in both English (listening and speaking) and Vietnamese (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), validated through academic degrees or a combination of experience and education.
• ✔️ Successful completion of a Tier 2 background check; no security clearance required.
• 🧩 Discretion, judgment, and an advanced understanding of linguistics.
• 🧳 Ability to apply advanced language skills, cultural expertise, and professional judgment in sensitive situations.
• ⚖️ Autonomy, responsible decision-making, and high accountability in managing language services for vulnerable populations.

Desired Skills

• 🤝 Prior experience as a linguist within foster care, social services, or medical care environments.