L&I Communications Consultant 5 (Spanish Bilingual Preferred)

Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working! Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability

*****This is a Spanish Bilingual preferred position. If hired as bilingual, our top applicant will be required to pass an assessment of your ability to write and speak Spanish fluently. We do not use translating software. Employees with bilingual responsibilities receive a 5% increase in pay.

This is a non-permanent position expected to last through 6/30/2027.

Job Highlights

Are you a professional with a passion for bridging communication among diverse language communities and agencies? If so, check out our new exciting opportunity at Labor and Industries of Communications Consultant 5! This position aims to lead, strategize and create a rich connection of communication between our Limited English Proficient customers and the agency!

THE TEAM: This position is within the Community Relations unit of the Financial Management division. The Community Relations unit is the department’s primary point of contact with the state’s Limited English Proficiency (LEP) community regarding complex policy issues and the department’s policy direction. The unit helps ensure that customers with Limited English proficiency (LEP) can navigate L&I services throughout the agency by bridging together with staff, managers, and external stakeholders. This unit supports L&I’s goal of “Make it easy to do business and engage with L&I” through statewide public information outreach and campaigns and ensuring that LEP customers know their rights regarding safe workplaces, wages, and working conditions.

THE ROLE: Your objective as the Communications Consultant 5 will be to provide consultation and direction in developing and implementing strategic communication plans, projects and events aimed at Washington's limited English proficient (LEP) communities. Your primary responsibility in this position is to build awareness of and support for the agency's language access policies, programs and activities within the agency and among the LEP communities we serve. Working with key stakeholders in the divisions and field offices, you will develop Language Access policies and plans, provide recommendations and advice to the agency's leadership about the best ways to implement all Language Access policy requirements, and conduct research to support on Cultural Responsiveness and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In this position, you will manage emerging issues, make recommendations to the Language Access Program Manager, Director of Community Relations, and Leadership Team and develop effective outreach communication strategies.

This position is crucial to meeting the requirements of Title VI to ensure equal language access. You will also be responsible for developing agency wide training, workshops and seminars for bilingual staff to ensure they have the competencies required to produce accurate and clear communication to LEP customers.

The duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington. This position is eligible to telework 2 days per week dependent on business needs and supervisor approval.

Some of what you’ll do:

• Assist in completion of L&I Language Access initiatives and projects.
• Identify and execute marketing/outreach opportunities to educate LEP injured workers-via earned media, paid media (advertising), the website and other venues.
• Manage the successful completion of communication/policy projects that require the participation of staff from other programs.
• Advise and assist agency divisions on projects that have public impact.
• Ensure that critical information is captured on L&l's Spanish language website.
• Expand outreach communication strategies to Ethnic communities in our state including but not limited to Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and African Americans.
• Create communication messages for internal stakeholders on newly produced material for outreach education to LEP customers.
• Assess translated materials for translation accuracy.
• Coordinate translation of vital documents in English to Spanish and Spanish to English and serve as the final reviewer/authority for publications, news releases, mass media and social media messaging, forms, marketing materials and other high-profile documents.
• Collaborate with staff across the agency to ensure that documents are written in plain language before translating into world languages by noting and attending to cultural nuances and identify and explain terms that are unique to the US health care and legal systems.
• Institute necessary and appropriate procedures to ensure that translation processes by vendors meet agency quality standards under language access policies.
• Monitor interpreter and translation vendor performance including communication with interpreter and translation vendor administrators, customer service managers and staff to ensure optimal performance of these services.
• And much more!

Qualifications:

Required:

• Four year degree in communications or public administration

OR

• Five years of equivalent work experience

AND

• Knowledge of the Latino community and ability to establish and maintain close relationships with the Latino community.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and Spanish.
• Advanced-level skills using SharePoint for managing workflow processes to streamline project tasks for an array of participants.
• Advanced level skills using Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Experience leading complex, multi-issue projects.
• Experience managing contracts and vendor performance.
• Have a minimum of two years' experience teaching or delivering training in translation.
• Experience translating legal documents
• American Translators Association certification (English/Spanish)
• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Advanced High test score in Spanish
• Advanced writing skills ln English and Spanish
• At least three years' experience translating documents.
• Critical thinking, strategic planning, and good judgement for issues management
• Taking the initiative for new ideas and execution of new projects for media/marketing/outreach.
• Being sensitive and proactive to public attitudes and concerns,
• Recognizing the external environment and working effectively in a political environment.
• Ability to develop communication strategies and plans that increase interest, engagement and commitment to making it easy for LEP customers to do business with L&I.

Please Note: If you are a bilingual candidate and want to use your language skills, you will be assessed for that language skill set; separately from this position.

Things You Need To Know

State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee’s career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

To receive more information on opportunities at L&I sign up for GovDelivery and select L&I job alerts.

Application process

We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities that address the required and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
• A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.

Please do not attach or place any medical information (vaccination status included) within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Background Check Notice

Prior to a placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history record will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other information

• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.
• Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process will be contacted by email to schedule a skills assessment. Assessments are proctored remotely via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s [email protected].

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information

If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact Haleigh Missildine (she/her).