Overview: 

This is a grant-funded position, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), expected to last through December 31, 2026, or when funds are depleted. The position may be extended based on operational needs if alternative funding is identified.

About ARPA: The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) plays a critical role in realizing Boston’s equitable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. These historic federal resources lay a foundation for the future and accelerate a Green New Deal for Boston. Alongside the Operating and Capital Budgets, these investments will jumpstart solutions to long-term challenges, deliver equity, climate resiliency, jobs, and health across departments and sectors, and lay the foundation for long-term financial sustainability.

About our office: The Mayor’s Office of Language and Communications Access’ (OLCA) goal is to make the City of Boston accessible for everyone. Everyone deserves to have meaningful access to the information and services they need. We want all City departments to be able to provide language and communication access. 

Overview of the ARPA LCA Specialist II: Reporting to the Compliance Manager, the LCA Specialist II's duties include directly working with a number of departments that are receiving ARPA funding to ensure City-wide compliance for the Mayor’s Office of Language and Communications Access (OLCA) policy and ordinance.  

Responsibilities of the LCA Specialist II: 

• Act as the primary contact between City department, the Office of Language and Communications Access, and the Disability Commission.
• Oversee Project Manager or LCA Specialist I.

Implementation:

• Working alongside the City department's executive team and the OLCA, lead the department's efforts to develop and/or update its language and communications access plans. 
• Lead the department's efforts to update existing departmental plans every 2 years. 
• Help departments create an equitable outreach & engagement strategy for events and vital information.
• Help departments identify equipment needs on a short or long-term basis and ensure appropriate follow-ups.

Compliance:

• Lead evaluations to measure the success of the implementation of the departmental plans and create annual reports on evaluations.
• Support departments in creating data mechanisms to collect information on the quality of services, constituent needs, and, as needed, funding usage.
• Establish feedback channels for departments when it comes to interpretation or translation provided to constituents.
• Support departments in identifying/ confirming recurring or new budget investment items for the upcoming year that proactively advance language & communications access efforts.
• Respond to constituent and staff questions and complaints about accommodations and flag OLCA, along with following OLA protocol, and processing complaints.

Trainings: 

• Be an expert in hosting accessible events, acquiring accessible content, booking accommodations, and more. 
• Share training opportunities available with staff.
• Schedule training for staff as needed to ensure all departmental staff are trained as required by the OLCA  and Train staff on accommodations as necessary.

Events: 

• Serve as project manager to departments with their virtual or in-person events to ensure the event is accessible, as necessary and required by the department to ensure compliance.
• Provide technical support as necessary to departments.

Accommodations: 

• Ensure City departments are aware of how to successfully submit requests for accommodations and book services.
• Project manage accessibility for large, vital, and important events, projects, or documents.

Reports: 

• Present monthly, quarterly, and/or annual reports regarding department implementation or compliance progress, highlights, etc. 

Other: 

• Lead department efforts to push forward the concept of language justice.
• Ensure departments have reception areas with appropriate technology and signage to inform constituents of their rights and services available to them. (both language access & ada).
• Support the In-House Translation Unit to ensure culturally competent interpretation and translation services and collaborate on special projects, such as departmental glossaries.
• Work with the department to develop means of notifying the public of the availability of language and disability services within the department and how to access them. This may include such means as public advertising, community outreach, posted notices in public service areas, tag lines on department documents, the department’s content on the City's website, telephone answering systems, and other media systems.
• Serve as the point of contact for departments for emergencies.
• Perform related tasks and duties as assigned.

• A minimum of three (3) to four (4) years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience in public speaking, office administration, project management, or a similar field is required.
• A Bachelor's degree is preferred and can be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience.
• Experience with creating, writing, advancing, and implementing policy.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, follow-up, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong understanding of equity and inclusion concepts.
• Strong ability to take initiative.
• Ability to multitask and manage several projects at once.
• Willingness to work directly with multiple City departments.
• Familiar with the concept of language access and language justice.
• Demonstrated cultural competence with diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic groups, multilingual populations, and persons with disabilities.
• Ability to effectively respond to and interact with all levels of organizational staff.
• Strong writing skills, including the ability to prepare reports, presentations, and accurate records.
• May be required to work nights after 5 PM and weekends.

• Excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications, Google Suite, and PeopleSoft.

• Bilingual preferred (Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, and Vietnamese). 
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/MM2-6

Hours per week: 35