5/17/2022: Announcement closing date extended for further recruitment. 

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent Exempt (PEX): These positions are excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. PEX employees are considered "at-will." The duration of these positions shall not exceed 18 months.

• Application Opening: April 29, 2022
• Application Deadline: May 20, 2022
• Salary: $30.25 hourly
• Recruitment ID: PEX-9910-EXEMPT

The San Francisco Department of Public Health, Interpreter Services Department, is accepting applications for full time permanent exempt positions in class 9910 Public Service Trainee, Interpreter Trainee. The Interpreter Services Department provides interpreting services to health care providers and non-English and limited English proficient clients and their families at various San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) facilities.

Under direct supervision, the 9910 Public Service Trainee, Interpreter Trainee will be trained to perform interpreting and dispatching job functions and a wide variety of paraprofessional duties in the Interpreter Services Department at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG). The position provides the opportunity for the individual to gain medical interpreting experience in an acute care hospital and work is evaluated based on progress in a structured work experience training program. The responsibilities involve providing language assistance to non-English and limited English proficient clients who are seeking health care or are visitors at various San Francisco Department of Public Health facilities. The essential duties include, but are not limited to:

• Learns to provide interpreter services in person, and remotely (telephonic & VMI) to health care providers and non-English and limited English proficient clients and their families in various venues within Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital;
• Serves as a liaison between non-English and limited English proficient patients and healthcare providers;
• Works side by side with health educator to provide health education classes to the targeted non-English speaking patients;
• Translates correspondence, medical histories, medical procedures and instructions, medical consent forms, patient education brochures and other documents as necessary;
• Trains as office dispatcher and dispatching interpreters to the appropriate departments by using all available resources;
•  Collaborates with all health care providers, interpreter staff and office dispatchers; 
• Performs clerical duties such as answering telephone, arranging client appointments, data entry, and record keeping; and
• Uses computer interface to accept incoming calls. 

The 9910 Interpreter Trainee also performs other related duties as assigned/required.

1. Possession of a Certificate of Completion of a Medical Interpreter educational program from an accredited college or university; OR
2. Verification of current enrollment in a Medical Interpreter educational program from an accredited college or university. Candidates who are currently enrolled in a Medical Interpreter educational program must submit verification of having completed the program (e.g., a copy of their school transcript, letter verifying completion of program from the school), prior to appointment; OR
3. Possession of a national certification in Interpreting from the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreter (CCHI) or the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI); OR  
4. Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Interpreting or Translation and Interpretation from an accredited college or University.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.) Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment

Special Conditions (positions may require the following). Applicants must indicate on the application form the language(s) which they claim proficiency.

A. Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish; OR

B. Bilingual proficiency in English and Cantonese; Only those eligible candidates who pass the bilingual proficiency test will be considered for bilingual positions.

Verification of Experience: http://sfdhr.org/getting-job#verification Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.

Verification of Education: If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. 

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Selection Procedures:
The selection procedure will include evaluation of the application packet in relation to minimum requirements. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate qualifications of candidates. 

Language Proficiency Exam: Positions require bilingual fluency in a variety of languages depending upon the department's bilingual needs. Candidates deemed qualified must pass a departmentally approved language proficiency exam prior to appointment. Only those eligible candidates who pass the bilingual proficiency test will be considered for the positions.

1. Licensure/Certification/Registration: Valid licensure/certification/registration as a requirement to perform the job must be kept current throughout length of employment. Failure to demonstrate/show proof of possession of required valid licensure/certification/registration may result in dismissal and/or termination of employment.
2. Note on ICARE: Willingness to uphold/abide by ZSFG’s ICARE (I-Introduce, C-Connect, A-Ask, R-Respond, E-Exit) philosophy for employee and patient interactions: https://zuckerbergsanfranciscogeneral.org/about-us/.
3. Note on Electronic Health Record (EHR): The Department of Public Health (DPH) is implementing a unified Electronic Health Record (EHR) system and DPH employees must demonstrate competency in the use of the system that is appropriate for their classification as a condition of employment.
4. Note on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Some positions in the Department of Public Health will require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including but not limited to gloves, gowns, eye and face protection, and face-fitting respirators. The requirement for the use of PPE may come on short or no notice. Facial hair or any condition that interferes with a facefitting respirator’s seal (i.e. comes between the sealing surfaces of the respirator and the wearer’s bare skin) is not permitted when face-fitting respirators are worn, including during initial or periodic respirator fit-testing. Employees who choose not to shave and do not have either American Disabilities Act (ADA) or Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Accommodations do not have the right to alternate work assignments or the option of using a loose-fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) in place of a FaceFitting Respirator. Medical Examination/Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, at the Department's expense, applicants may be required to take a tuberculosis (TB) screening test, a medical examination and/or drug test.
5. Medical Examination/Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, at the Department's expense, applicants may be required to take a tuberculosis (TB) screening test, a medical examination and/or drug test.

The Department of Public Health prioritizes equitable and inclusive access to quality healthcare for its community and values the diversity of its workforce. All employees are required to participate in the Department of Public Health's work to advance equity, inclusion, and diversity through: 

• Commitment to providing exceptional care and services to all residents of the City and County of San Francisco service population, with heightened awareness of responsiveness to racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse members of the service population and the DPH workforce. 
• Desire and commitment to lead and participate in anti-racism, racial justice, and equity work that improves quality of patient care and employee experiences; along with the commitment and fortitude to drive change in these areas. 
• Desire to work with, relate to, serve, and support a diverse service population and workforce. 
• Commitment to health equity with a specific lens and focus on race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexuality, disability, and immigration status.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information about the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Workers
• Reasonable Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

How to Apply:

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen
• Please ensure that you answer the language skills ability questions when you apply. Applicants must indicate on the application form the language(s) in which they claim proficiency.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst at [email protected] or (415)554-2915.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.