Who we are

The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grassroots organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.

After 18 years at Vera, the Center on Victimization and Safety is spinning off from Vera and launching a new, national non-profit organization: Activating Change. Activating Change’s working mission is to eliminate violence, criminalization, incarceration, and institutionalization of people with disabilities and Deaf people. We believe racism, ableism, audism and other forms of oppression are intricately intertwined and the primary drivers of these injustices. We bring together people and organizations across the country working in disability, survivor advocacy, and criminal legal system reform movements; ground them in a common equity framework rooted in disability, racial, and gender justice; align them around common goals, and build their capacity to achieve collective impact. We collaborate with disability and Deaf communities across the country and work in close partnership with government and advocacy leaders to implement change. Activating Change will launch as an independent organization in summer 2022, on or before July 1st.

Activating Change works nationally to build a movement at the intersection of the disability, survivor advocacy, and criminal legal reform movements to eliminate violence, criminalization, incarceration, and institutionalization of people with disabilities and Deaf people. Our strategic priorities are to:

• Prevent and interrupt violence and victimization of people with disabilities and Deaf people
• Reduce system-involvement, especially incarceration and institutionalization
• Support community-based intervention strategies that are accessible
• Increase avenues to healing for people with disabilities and Deaf people, their families, and communities

Who you are:

The American Sign Language Interpreter will work in partnership with the Center’s Certified Deaf Interpreter. Working together, these two positions are responsible for managing a national, remote sign language interpreter service for Deaf and DeafBlind survivors of crime. In the first phase of this project, the positions will work together to finalize the design, build-out the service, and launch the project nationwide. Once the project is launched, the American Sign Language Interpreter will provide remote interpreting to Deaf and Deaf survivors of crime and assist the Center’s Certified Deaf Interpreter coordinate the interpreting service.

In this role, you will:

Project Design and Management

• Work with the Center’s Deaf Access Liaison/Certified Deaf Interpreter to finalize, launch, and coordinate the design of a national, remote sign language interpreter service for Deaf survivors of crime.
• Assist in making adaptations to the Center’s existing interpreter scheduling software for this project.
• Assist in developing operational procedures for the project.
• Assist in engaging key stakeholders and marketing the project on an ongoing basis.
• Assist in monitoring project progress and challenges and making refinements to the design and operations as needed on an on-going basis. 
• Assist in developing grant reports for the project.

Sign Language Interpretation

• Provide effective and equitable interpreting services to Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing crime survivors while they are receiving victim services including information, referrals, crisis assistance, and longer-term support.
• Provide effective communication in a video environment.
• Work collaboratively with other interpreters during assignments.
• Maintain a working knowledge and increased understanding of victim services and survivor advocacy to enable effective interpretation. 
• Maintain system records to ensure accurate and timely documentation of interpreting assignments.

Interpreter Engagement and Training

• Assist in expanding the pool of qualified contract interpreters who will provide interpretation services on this project. 
• Assist in securing and coordinating interpreters for assignments as needed. 
• Assist in providing training and mentorship to contract interpreters. 
• Assist in providing on-going support to interpreter teams before, during, and after assignments.

What qualifications do you need?

Required:

• Fluency in both American Sign Language and English with impeccable sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign language skills.
• A minimum of five years of experience interpreting, with three years previous experience interpreting for Deaf survivors of crime or equivalent.
• Experience providing remote video interpretation.
• In-depth knowledge of Deaf communities, culture, language use, and other considerations that impact the interpreting process. 
• Previous training in trauma-informed, healing-informed interpreting for Deaf survivors of crime. 
• In-depth knowledge of vocabulary related to survivorship, advocacy, and victim services.
• A personal and professional dedication to language justice, racial equality, and disability justice and demonstrated practice of putting your commitment in action.
• An understanding of your positionality as an interpreter and how power and privilege shape the experiences of Deaf people you are working with, your interpreting work, and your own experience. 
• A strong commitment to collaboration and ability to build authentic and equitable partnerships, working across lines of identity and power.
• Ability to navigate the complexities of working within tightly knit, interconnected communities, coalitions and partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders and organizations.
• A demonstrated ability to work as a team in a video remote interpreting environment.
• A dedicated and private workspace. 
• Reliable telephone and high-speed internet connection. 
• Demonstrated ability to adapt quickly to new and changing technologies. 
• Possess the ability to work effectively in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Strong problem solving, time management and priority setting skills

Preferred:

• Trilingual skills (English, ASL and one or more spoken or sign language)
• Credentialed in mental health, legal, or medical interpreting.

List of Required Software applications:

• Proficiency in using online video-conferencing platforms, including Zoom
• Proficiency with Airtable or a comparable online database software
• Previous experience with uSked is a plus

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $70,100 – $73,100. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff—both personally and professionally—is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time and remote work schedules. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings,  click here.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Resources / American Sign Language Interpreter, Center on Victimization and Safety

Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

As a federal contractor, and in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org