Language Access Program Manager

* Exempt recruitments may close at any time without prior notice. It is in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.

The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the budgeted salary range of

$97,000 to 106,500

annually.

This is a remote position with schedule flexibility and requires occasional travel in Washington State for meetings, events, and onsite work. Frequency of onsite work varies based on business and operational needs. The Governor’s Office may choose, but is not required, to employ individuals who reside outside of Washington on a case-by-case basis.
All relevant combinations of experience and higher education including lived, volunteer (paid or unpaid), or professional that demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered.

Join us!
The Washington State Office of Equity is seeking a courageous and unapologetic champion of equity and anti-racism to advance belonging and justice in Washington state to join our team as our

Language Access Program Manager . We desire a colleague who questions what is, to help find solutions for what can be.

Imagine building a language access program from the ground up, engaging people and communities in co-creating and implementing a framework that improves language access to statewide services. While your work is focused on language access, your impact is far reaching. You are a leader, innovator, and change maker improving the lives of all Washingtonians and creating a model of inclusion that moves the needle toward equity for all. You’ll engage your networks, build relationships, and expand community engagement and provide subject matter expertise, consultation, and guidance to identify barriers, best practices, and accountability indicators. And you’ll be a key contributor in creating our Universal Access and Belonging Plan working alongside a passionate and talented team!
If your purpose, passion, and expertise are in alignment with our vision, mission, values and the primary functions of this role, let us hear from you!

Who we are:
The Office of Equity advances policy and systems change (RCW 43.06D.040) to promote a Washington for all. We believe Washingtonians are stronger together and that Washington can be a state where everyone, especially those from communities historically marginalized and systemically excluded, has access to the opportunities, power, and resources (RCW 43.06D.020) they need to thrive. We facilitate Washington state’s transformation into a Pro-Equity anti-Racism (PEAR) ecosystem by embedding the principles of PEAR Plan & Playbook ( Executive Order 22-04 ). One of the most crucial components of PEAR is shared power (relational partnership), partnering with those most impacted by government decisions and action to co-create policies, processes, and practices.

Our Vision
Everyone in Washington State has full access to the opportunities, power, and resources they need to flourish and achieve their full potential.

Our Mission
To promote equitable access to opportunities, power, and resources across state government that reduce disparities and improve outcomes statewide.

We Value
Access : Barrier-free environments so everyone can participate.
Belonging : The right to participate in all aspects of society with acceptance, attention, and support from members of the society, providing the same to others.
Dignity : We honor the sacred nature of each individual’s personhood.
Equity:

Acknowledging systemic inequalities by developing, strengthening, and supporting policies and procedures that distribute and prioritize resources to people in social identity groups who have historically been and currently are marginalized to ensure everyone has access to the same opportunities, power, resources, and outcomes to achieve equality.
Justice : Treating people fairly. To make right. What love looks like in public ( Cornell West ).
Love:

A selfless and giving act of the will. We seek to out-give and out-serve the other.
Ubuntu:

I am because we are. We are interconnected.

Learn more about

Office of Equity

Some of the primary ways our Language Access Program Manager will contribute to advancing the work of realizing a barrier-free Washington:

Address the unique barriers at the intersection of race and language access
Co-create and evaluate strategies, policies, and standards
Recommend implement, and evaluate contracts, technology, and training
Enhance employment opportunities and outcomes
Expand proactive accommodation dialogue, outreach, and practices
Collaborate with agency and community partners and stakeholders
Lead research to discover and document emerging best practices
Audit communication strategies, platforms, content, and outreach
Provide education on the intersection of language with disability and digital access
Improve collaboration, consistency, and resource sharing across agencies
All relevant combinations of experience and higher education including lived, volunteer (paid or unpaid), or professional that demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered.

Experience assessing language needs and developing comprehensive language access plans to ensure equitable access to services and programs. OR Experience interpreting and applying language access laws, policies, and best practices, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Executive Order 13166
Experience building relationships with diverse limited English proficiency (LEP) communities and understanding their cultural nuances and communication preferences.
Experience applying accessibility standards and strategies to make written and digital content accessible for LEP individuals including applying translation and interpretation techniques, tools, equipment, or software.
Knowledge and fundamental understanding of the historical context underlying current challenges facing communities of color, people with disabilities, immigrant communities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) communities, as well as low and moderate-income families.
Ability to discuss issues and topics of racial and social justice including racism and anti-Black racism, engage in challenging conversations with courage, and handle resistance and difficult conversations in a direct, clear, and respectful manner.
Ability to commit to a culture of belonging where everyone feels seen, heard, understood, valued, and safe to bring their whole and authentic self to their work.
Ability to navigate challenging, evolving, and ambiguous situations.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience collaborating and communicating with internal and external customers and stakeholders, including LEP individuals, government agencies, and community organizations.
Experience managing and fulfilling requests for multilingual events and documents in other languages.
Experience researching and analyzing related information, facts, and data and preparing and presenting written and verbal reports.
Experience evaluating the effectiveness of language access initiatives and making recommendations for improvements.
Experience conducting training sessions or workshops on language access and cultural competence.
Proficiency in a language other than English.
Experience using Microsoft Office.
Advanced Excel and Word skills.
Knowledge of Smartsheet.
Ability to work independently and as a team.
Ability to manage multiple tasks, projects, and deadlines.
Ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities.

If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify, consider again.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Office of Equity, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles

Interested? Let us hear from you!

To apply, simply click “Apply” at the top of this page to start your application (you can save the application and come back to it, if needed). Please include the following:

Attach a

current resume

that describes how you meet the qualificationsabove (all relevant combinations of paid and unpaid experience and education will be considered).
Attach a

letter of interest

that describes how language has been used to perpetuate America’s systems of white supremacy

.
Include three

professional references

with current telephone numbers and email addresses in your application.
All applicants will be notified of their status in our process. The Office of Equity will contact those selected to engage in our hiring process directly.

For questions about this recruitment or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please emailRob Bamba at

[email protected]

.

For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

The Office of Equity is an equal opportunity employer. We work to create a workplace environment that honors and respects the sacred nature of each individual’s personhood. Racial and ethnic members of the global majority, women, persons with a disability, persons over 40 years of age, and Vietnam-era or veterans who are disabled are encouraged to apply. If you need accommodations, help in the application process, or wish to receive this job announcement in an alternative format, please call 360-725-0158 or dial 711 to reach the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf system.

This position is exempt from civil service rules. For more information, please see

WAC 357-19-195

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