Dari/Pashto Interpreter for Safety & Wellness Program

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

SCHEDULE DETAILS: 5 hours a week, times and days TBD

LOCATION: Hybrid

SCOPE OF WORK: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in the United States welcomes newly arrived refugees and immigrants, supports them in their resettlement, and provides holistic services to help them build new lives in their communities. The Safety & Wellness Program provides mental health and psychosocial support services to S&W clients with identified mental and emotional health needs.

The Volunteer Interpreter provides on-site and remote language interpretation support to the Safety & Wellness Program. The interpreter serves as a neutral and accurate conduit of communication between clients and service providers, maintaining confidentiality and professional conduct at all times.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
General responsibilities could include but are not limited to the following:
• Support interpretation and translation needs for S&W support groups and
psychoeducational workshops.
• Assist with written translation of materials, handouts, and outreach documents as needed.
• Provide interpretation during meetings, appointments, and events for Safety & Wellness clients and program staff as requested.
• Communicate with supervisors to assess interpretation needs, scheduling, and locations prior to each assignment.
• Deliver accurate, impartial, and confidential interpretation in all settings, including support groups, workshops, mental health appointments, and community events.
• Maintain professional boundaries and adhere to interpreter ethics, including
confidentiality and neutrality.
• Coordinate with the Mental Health Coordinators and program staff to prepare for assignments and debrief as needed.
• Participate in volunteer orientations, trainings, and team meetings as required.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Volunteer will develop professional interpretation skills in mental health and social services settings, including familiarity with relevant terminology.
2. Volunteer will gain experience working within a multidisciplinary team serving forcibly displaced and immigrant communities.
3. Volunteer will build an understanding of trauma-informed care principles and their application in interpretation.
4. Volunteer will strengthen cross-cultural communication competencies and professional ethics in interpretation practice.

REQUIREMENTS:
Required Qualifications:
• Fluency in English and Pashto or Dari.
• Based in the US and a US citizen or holds valid US work authorization.
• Strong communication skills and ability to remain neutral and professional in sensitive situations.

• Commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards in interpretation.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively as part of a team.
• Reliability, punctuality, and consistent availability for scheduled assignments.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Prior experience in interpretation or translation, particularly in healthcare, mental health, or social services settings.
• Interest or experience working with forcibly displaced, refugee, and/or immigrant communities.
• Familiarity with mental health terminology or psychosocial support frameworks.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment and adapt to varying needs and settings.
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple assignments or requests.

• Preference given to female applicants, as interpretation will be mostly with female clients*

*Compensation: A small stipend will be provided to the Volunteer Interpreter, with the rate based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Why Choose the IRC?

Work that has meaning: Every day at the IRC is a chance to make a difference through a purpose-driven career. Whether you're working directly with communities or providing support behind the scenes, you will be part of a dynamic team that is always innovating, scaling, and testing new and better solutions to ensure the best possible outcomes for the people we serve.

Global scale, dynamic workplace: At the IRC, we believe that the dynamic, global make-up of our team is our strength. When you join us, you're not just starting a job—you will be part of a global organization positively impacting millions of lives in over 40 get to work with colleagues from all around the world—working across time zones and regularly exchanging different ideas, perspectives and insights. You’ll join a team that is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard.  

Challenging work, innovative solutions: We’re committed to excellence and innovation, and pride ourselves in setting industry-leading standards while practicing evidence and data-lead strategies. Come challenge norms, shatter conventions, and pioneer change while working on real, nuanced and complex issues we face in the world today.  

Community centered: We’re an empathetic community that truly cares for one another. Our comprehensive safety and security initiatives ensure a safe work environment, while our continuous learning and development programs provide ongoing opportunities for personal and career advancement.

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Our Typical Recruitment Process

The interview process typically includes three rounds, though the number may vary depending on the role and level of seniority. It usually begins with a conversation with our recruiting team to learn more about you and your goals. This is followed by an interview with a hiring manager or business stakeholder to explore your background and provide more insight into the role. The final round focuses on assessing your role-specific expertise and may be conducted as a panel interview to evaluate your cross-functional strengths. Before extending an offer, we generally conduct reference checks, and after an offer is made, a standard background check is completed. While we strive for consistency, the process may differ based on the role, business unit, location, job type, legal requirements, and other factors.

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