Language Access Specialist

The Office of Secretary of State (OSOS) offers some of the most unique and diverse job opportunities in state government. Its critical responsibilities include ensuring a fair and accurate elections process; connecting Washingtonians through the power of libraries; protecting our important government records; and registering corporations and charities. The Secretary of State also administers vital community programs that inspire giving, document our history, and assist crime survivors in avoiding further abuse. This independent office under the state Constitution operates from facilities in the Olympia area and statewide.

The OSOS is looking for top-performing employees who embody its core values of integrity, service excellence, visionary leadership, collaboration, and teamwork. It is committed to both employee growth and work-life balance. The benefits of working in state government also include potential eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

The Elections Division plays a critical role in ensuring Washington's democratic process is fair, accurate, accessible, and secure. Serve the voters of Washington and join our talented and purpose-driven team.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions. 

Program Specialist 4

Full Time, Permanent

This position reports to the Voting Information Services (VIS) Manager of the Elections Division and works collaboratively to provide outreach and multi-lingual educational services.

The Voting Information Services (VIS) program promotes accessible, fair and accurate elections. Through educational programs and service excellence, we help all eligible Washington residents register to vote, cast an informed ballot and file for office.

VIS exercises visionary leadership to provide voters and candidates with essential tools and training, digestible data and auditing reports, outreach programs and publications. VIS also directs and advises County Auditors in interpretations of federal and state election law to uphold the integrity of election administration throughout the state. These objectives are accomplished through official communications, collaboration with stakeholders, and educational publications including the state Voters' Pamphlet. The VIS program also acts as liaison for the Office of the Secretary of State.Coordinates language access services

Tasks include:

• Coordinates translation and interpretation services for multiple languages, including reviewing and coordinating with community reviewers to review the division's translations

• Maintains and updates the state glossary of translated election terms; regularly reviews terms and communicates changes to counties with translation requirements

• Secures timely and accurate translations and community review feedback for the online voter guide and Voters' Pamphlet

• Assists OSOS communications staff with translations when requested, or securing translation services, for voter education related communications issued/released by the office

• Coordinates translation updates for OSOS forms; ensures accuracy of translations and online access to forms

• Coordinates translation and community review feedback for OSOS materials, social media efforts and website; frequently meets OSOS business needs under pressure and amidst tight timelines.

• Ensures the integrity of translations in the VoteWA system; coordinates timely updates to the online voter portal and voter guide according to election deadlines; assists the VoteWA Support team with requested translations for other online tools.

• Provides testing feedback for ongoing development of the VoteWA database

• Responds quickly to public inquiries requiring a Spanish speaker or writer.

Coordinates education and outreach activities

Tasks include:

• Forms collaborative partnerships in communities throughout the state that will foster and promote voting and civic participation with primary focus on military and overseas voters, voters living with disabilities, language access communities, but also includes secondary support for K-12.

• Designs and implements an education and outreach plan annually; plans, promotes, and coordinates events with internal and external stakeholders

• Coordinates the state committee for voters living with disabilities. Works with members to promote opportunities and improvements focused on the needs of voters living with disabilities; recruits members, schedules meetings and interpreters, plans agendas and regularly requests feedback from the committee

• Tracks and analyzes the progress of county committees for voters living with disabilities; provides support and training to County Auditors

• Supports voting and civic participation outreach of other OSOS programs including but not limited to college students, rural communities, communities who have interacted with the criminal justice system, and communities of color including tribal communities.

• Supports voting and civic participation outreach by sharing expertise as part of planning or participating in person at events led by other programs.

• Partners with the Federal Voting Assistance Program to promote service excellence to our state's military and overseas voters; regularly provides expertise and feedback for voter registration and voting in Washington

• Coordinates printing and distribution of civics and election related material in person and electronically, including support for the Voters' Pamphlet. This includes regular reviews of the OSOS website and VIS materials for distribution of accurate voter registration and election information. Executes timely revisions and proposes recommendations

• Provides presentation assistance and materials to the leadership team

• Identifies and recommends new opportunities for community collaboration by meeting regularly with external stakeholders both in-person and virtually in order to assess needs and make appropriate recommendations

Program support and statistics

Tasks include:

• Coordinates the purchase and inventory of outreach supplies and marketing materials

• Tracks and fulfills requests for outreach materials; regularly checks for email requests

• When assigned, supports county staff on Election Day or the tracking of county results testing and results uploading on Election night.

When requested, works with Communications to facilitate outreach events for the Secretary

Duty: Miscellaneous

Tasks include:

Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Four years of experience providing support to staff or a program including, but not limited to, interpreting policy and instructing others on application of policies, representing a program or office to clients, interacting with members of the public, composing correspondence, scheduling appointments and meetings, or coordinating events

• Ability to efficiently use a personal computer and applicable software to successfully perform the essential functions of the position

• Current Washington State Driver's License or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in a team environment working towards accomplishing your own goals and those of the team, in roles both as a team member and a leader

• Experience working in a fast paced, highly visible, changing environment with proven results in decision making

• Experience organizing multiple assignments to produce work products that are accurate and thorough

• Experience conducting educational programming for K-12 education, higher education, or other training settings

• Knowledge of federal and state election law, and county election procedures

• Certified Spanish language interpreter

• Certified Spanish language translator

• Experience working with desktop publishing products like Adobe Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign

• Experience preparing and delivering formal presentations to small and large groups

Working Conditions:

Works primarily in an office environment but does require traveling in a vehicle for extended periods of time. Must be willing and able to sit for 4 or more hours a day and must be willing and able to move and maneuver objects weighing up to 25 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation. Extensive travel in and out of state, requiring overnight stays for up to one week at a time. May be required to travel on the weekends and may be required to travel in inclement weather. Standard core business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. but must be willing and able to work beyond normally scheduled business hours on short notice. Must have the ability to represent an elected official or politician in a competent, confident, and professional manner while maintaining the highest standards of honesty, integrity, confidentiality, and ethics.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Certification as an Elections Administrator within two years of employment.

• This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, The Office of the Secretary of State, and the WFSE.

Compensation

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Full benefit package includes health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance; paid vacation, sick and military leave; deferred compensation plans; 12 paid holidays; and a public employees' retirement plan.

How to Apply:

• To be considered for this position you must attach the following:

• Letter of interest describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the duties and qualifications of the position

• Current Resume

• Three Professional references. Personal references will not be considered.

• You must complete the supplemental questions at the end of this application.  Incomplete responses such as "see resume" will not be considered.  In addition, if the employer you identify in the additional information section is not included on your resume or work experience profile and/or you do not identify an employer, you will not receive credit.

• All veterans must include a copy of your DD214 to receive preference in the hiring process.  You must black out your social security number before attaching it to your application.

The Office of the Secretary of State is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We do not discriminate on the basis of religion, age, gender, marital status, color, creed, national origin, political affiliation, military status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any sensory, mental or physical ability. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing the announcement in alternative format, should call (360) 480-4871.