High Desert ESD celebrates all cultures and languages and is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive considerations for employment without regards to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Language Access Program Specialist

40 hrs/week, Mon-Fri, 220 days for the 26/27 school year

Location: High Desert Regional Education Center

Position Start Date: 08/03/2026

Salary Range: The current rate listed is for the 25/26 school year. This position's salary will be based on the bargaining agreement for the 26/27 salary schedule/ and depending on experience and education.

Benefits include family insurance package, sick leave, paid holidays, generous PERS contribution.

Language Access Program Specialist

Employee Value Statement:

At the heart of the breathtaking landscapes of Central Oregon, where snow-capped mountains meet lush forests and vibrant communities, lies an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. The High Desert ESD believes that every student, educator, and community member deserves a voice and a place to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. Our commitment to equity and inclusion is woven into everything we do, from the programs we develop to the partnerships we cultivate. We strive to create a culture where diverse perspectives are valued and where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Position Summary:

The High Desert ESD provides language access services to students, families and school district teachers and staff. The program currently offers several highly trained and qualified interpreters and translators for Spanish, Vietnamese, and Cantonese among others. We provide remote interpretation as well as on-site interpreters for any request across our region. Our team of linguists works with a variety of document formatting to meet our requestor needs in a timely manner.

The Language Access Program ensures that students, families, and caregivers who communicate in languages other than English have equitable access to education, information, and decision-making. In partnership with school districts and community organizations, the program provides high-quality interpretation and translation services that honor languages, cultures, and lived experiences, grounded in trust, dignity, and shared responsibility.

Under general supervision, the Language Access Program Specialist plays a key leadership role in delivering equitable, timely, and high-quality services across the region. This position oversees the full lifecycle of linguist recruitment, onboarding, coordination, and retention while managing projects, systems, and relationships that sustain effective service delivery.

Centered in equity and relationship-building, the role develops recruitment pipelines, strengthens linguist engagement, and ensures consistent, culturally responsive language access services for families, districts, and community partners.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Lead recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing support of interpreters and translators across multiple languages, prioritizing linguistic diversity and cultural competence.
Develop and sustain recruitment strategies through community outreach, partnerships, and engagement with cultural organizations, educational institutions, and professional networks.
Attend recruitment events, community gatherings, and job fairs to build trust and visibility for the Language Access Program.
Create and implement linguist retention strategies, including feedback loops, professional learning opportunities, and clear communication pathways.
Coordinate language access services and projects, ensuring timely delivery, quality standards, and alignment with district and family needs.
Oversee linguist scheduling and service coordination to ensure appropriate and responsive language support.
Communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
Support payroll processing and invoicing related to linguist services, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Maintain accurate and confidential linguist records, credentials, and compliance documentation.
Develop and improve program procedures, workflows, and systems related to linguist scheduling, assignment, and pay.
Monitor program data, track recruitment and service trends, and support continuous improvement efforts.
Utilize Microsoft and Google Workspace tools to maintain effective and organized program systems.
Exercise independent judgment to strengthen processes and enhance program effectiveness.
Serve as a primary point of contact for linguists, school districts, families, and community partners, providing responsive and professional support.
Build and maintain trust-based relationships that reflect respect for linguists as essential partners in educational equity.
Collaborate with Language Access leadership to align services with regional equity goals and district priorities.
Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet district and program needs.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance and punctuality.
Support continuity of program operations in the supervisor’s absence, as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Associate degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred, particularly in project management, human services, education, or a related field.
Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in project coordination, recruitment, or program administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience recruiting, coordinating, or supporting a diverse workforce.
Experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and engagement with historically underserved populations.
Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
Proficiency with Microsoft applications and Google Workspace.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
Relationship-centered, courteous, and solutions-oriented approach to work.
Reliable transportation and consistent attendance required.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ability to communicate effectively in Spanish is a strong preference.

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 position.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to: talk, hear, walk frequently, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, use hand dexterity for computer work, handle items, reach with hand and arms, lift and/or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds and see close and at a distance, have peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus. Workloads are heavy and timelines may be unreasonably short at times. Requests and issues are often received which require immediate attention and conflict with other priorities.

Terms of Employment Salary, benefits, and vacation are established by policy and contract.

Language Access Program Specialist - 26/27 School Year (1.0 FTE, 40 HRS/WK, 8 HRS/DAY)