Review Vacancy
TitleEqual Opportunity Specialist 1 (Language Access)- Albany
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitM/C - Managerial/Confidential (Unrepresented)
Salary RangeFrom $65164 to $80860 Annually
Minimum Qualifications Six years of experience* in equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion, or human rights.
*Qualifying experience includes working with organizations concerned with equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion, civil rights, minority business development, or similar programs; or in recruiting, training, and upgrading the educational and job qualifications of protected class members.
Substitutions: associate’s degree may substitute for two years of the non-supervisory experience; bachelor’s degree for four years; and J.D. or master’s degree for five years.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with utilizing best practices for both translation and interpretation services.
• Knowledge of Federal and state laws and regulations related to reasonable accommodations, equal opportunity, and language access.
• Experience with program/project management tools and recordkeeping skills.
• Expertise in information systems, platforms and related technology to improve language access services to Limited English Proficiency communities.
• Bilingual (both spoken and written fluency) in English and at least one of the following languages: Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese or Standard Chinese (Mandarin).
• Intermediate level computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement, problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to initiate and maintain relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders.
Duties Description Standard Duties:
The Equal Opportunity Specialist 1 is responsible for overall customer access to programs and services at the New York State Department of Labor, as well as compliance with all applicable rules and regulations governing diversity and inclusion, equal opportunity, and language access. The incumbent must be a resourceful problem-solver and possess strong leadership skills to provide customer centric service delivery. They must also have a strong ability to drive change while improving efficiencies and processes. The position reports to the Chief Diversity and Language Access Coordinator in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Manage the provision of translation and interpreter services with an emphasis on service to the general public.
• Coordinate telephonic, virtual, and onsite interpreter services.
• Participate in the procurement and administration of contracts with translation and interpreter service vendors, and create tools to monitor the quality and performance of the vendors.
• In coordination with NYSDOL program areas, identify and prioritize translation of critical online and print materials (vital documents) necessary to facilitating access to the NYSDOL programs, activities, and services.
• Coordinate with requestors, contractors, vendors, and staff to ensure translation content is completed by established deadlines.
• Monitor translation product quality and ensure compliance standards are maintained.
• Provide suggestions to optimize translation service workflows in support of the general public and their experience, language access and compliance needs.
• Work with the Language Access Coordinator in the development and implementation of language access policies and procedures that are compliant with federal and/or state law.
• Track interpretation and translation services and costs.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to coordinate the translation and quality assurance of educational or promotional materials.
• Assist as necessary in the training and education of new employees, staff, and community partners about the services for providing meaningful access to language services at the NYSDOL.
• Think creatively, embrace new approaches, and pioneer innovative solutions to intricate problems.
• Effectively support and collaborate with others to achieve program objectives.
• Handle multiple priorities, processes, and demands in a dynamic work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Language Access Program Manager or the Chief Diversity Officer.
• Coordinate the implementation of diversity and inclusion, and equal opportunity initiatives or programming.
• Articulate agency goals and objectives to agency executives; and advises agency management on diversity and inclusion, and equal opportunity matters.
• Analyze data and produces reports related to agency diversity and inclusion, and equal opportunity programs.
• Make determinations on requests from clients and employees for reasonable and religious accommodations pursuant to federal and State laws.
Additional Comments Position specific job duties may include occasional altered work schedule or job assignments which require availability and willingness to work occasional evenings and/or out-stationed assignments.
Candidates with no previous state service will begin at the starting rate of the salary range listed above.
If you are a current NYS employee and have questions regarding salary, please contact the Business Services Center (BSC): 518-457-4272, BSCHR@ogs.ny.gov.
Telecommuting is available and can be discussed during the interview.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
• 13 paid holidays, 5 personal days, and a minimum of 13 vacation days per year
• Paid sick leave (CSEA and PEF employees- 13 days; M/C employees- 8 days plus free enrollment into the Income Protection Program for short-term and long-term disability coverage).
• Choice of several affordable and competitive health insurance plans
• Dental and vision insurance plans at no additional cost
• Membership in the NYS Employee’s Retirement System
• NYS Deferred Compensation Investment Plan
• Eligibility to apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) (full-time employees)
• Eligibility to apply for tuition reimbursement for qualifying employees and courses
• Paid Parental Leave
Our mission is to provide outstanding services to our customers—the workers and business that call New York home. We help New Yorkers find careers they will love. We build and support New York’s businesses. We empower and protect New York’s workers. To learn more about our mission and the exciting work of the DOL, please visit: https://dol.ny.gov/about-us
DOL is committed to fostering employee engagement and work-life balance. We offer telecommuting (up to 40%) and alternative work schedules to eligible employees. Our exciting training and development opportunities, including Coursera and our formal Employee Recognition Program allow us to develop, recognize, and celebrate our workforce.
Please note that specific benefits and programs may vary based on negotiating unit, current contract, length of State service, and program area.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Fax EFax: 5184742871@fax.ny.gov
Email Address labor.sm.personnel.jva@labor.ny.gov
Address
Street New York State Department of Labor- Human Resources
Harriman State Campus, Building 12, Room 561
Notes on ApplyingAll candidates must submit a written resume and cover letter which clearly demonstrates how they meet the minimum qualifications for the position. These documents must be received by December 17, 2024 and submitted via email to labor.sm.personnel.jva@labor.ny.gov or mailed to the NYS Department of Labor, Personnel Bureau, Building 12, Room 561, State Office Campus, Albany, NY 12226. You must include Vacancy ID#174900, Equal Opportunity Specialist 1 (Language Access)- Albany, in the subject line of your email. Failure to do so may result in a delay of processing your application.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities and workplace diversity.
New York State (NYS) is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. NYS Law prohibits discrimination because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, domestic violence victim status, carrier status, gender identity or prior conviction records, or prior arrests, youthful offender adjudications or sealed records unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.
If you are a person with a disability and wish to request that a reasonable accommodation be provided for you to participate in a job interview, please contact: Department of Labor, Attn: Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (ODEIA) Building 12, Albany, NY 12226 (Phone (518) 457-1984 and/or fax (518) 485-2575).
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at response@oer.ny.gov.