Language Access & Immigrant Inclusion Specialist

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in family, youth and community sciences, sociology, education, ethnic studies, social work, or a closely related human-centered field and two years of experience working with one or more immigrant communities, project management, language access services, food or community projects; or an equivalent combination of related training, education and experience. 

Successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.

Acceptable education and experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (4 years) and (2 years) experience as shown above = 6 years total OR
• Associate degree (2 years) and (4 years) experience as shown above = 6 years total OR 
• High School diploma or equivalent and (6 years) experience as shown above = 6 years

This is a grant funded position. This grant is for two years.  Employees are eligible for benefits but have no rights to permanent employment.   
Position Summary

This is professional administrative work responsible for assessing needs and coordinating efforts for the immigrant and refugee inclusion program within Alachua County.  This position is located in the Sustainability, Equity, Economic and Strategic Development (SEEDS) Office.
 An employee assigned to this classification coordinates programming that expands the inclusion of immigrant/refugee community members and builds equity in access to County services and initiatives and coordinates the work of the County's State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Language Access proposal to support, elevate, and amplify the needs of communities where the primary language is other than English and residents that are unable to see or hear.

This is an emergency essential classification.  Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher- level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports and observation of the results obtained.

Examples of Duties

Exudes a positive customer service focus. 

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including: integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication. 

Coordinates the County's State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Language Access proposal.

Supports the needs of communities whose primary language is other than English and residents that are unable to see or hear.

Ensures equitable and culturally relevant services for individuals with limited English proficiency.

Provides awareness to communities of how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and programs are handled within the county.

Collaborates with County departments, non-profits and organizations that serve immigrant communities to ensure inclusive communication practices.

Develops new and innovative best practices within integration programs.

Designs qualitative and quantitative surveys; constructs surveys with input from the community and various partner agencies to understand the needs and inequities facing Alachua County immigrant residents.  

Reviews and analyzes results of the surveys, communicate findings and makes recommendations to leadership and the Board of County Commissioners based on the needs, desires, goals and inequities of immigrant communities.

Catalogs and identifies needs related to essential county documents that need to be translated in multiple languages and identifies associated costs and vendors for translation work.

Responsible for community outreach.  Builds relationships and understands pockets of census tracks, neighborhoods, communities and across the region to support the immigrant communities in Alachua County.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. 

Knowledge of diverse community/cultural groups. 

Knowledge of the methods, procedures, and techniques for conducting research, analyzing data, and developing applicable reports.

Skill in the use of standard office computer equipment and software applications, creation and production of statistical reports and spreadsheets. 

Ability to conduct research, collect relevant data, perform meaningful analysis on the data and present findings. 

Ability to fluently speak a language other than English.

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. 

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to be mobile.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. 

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Computer Purchase Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of FirefightersPay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

$53,743.87 - $83,484.96 Annually