Civil Rights Cadre Focus Overview:
The Office of Equal Rights’ (OER) External Civil Rights Division (ECRD) is the principal office responsible for
compliance and enforcement in connection with FEMA’s Civil Rights obligations. OER leads FEMA's efforts to
protect the civil rights of disaster survivors, which includes ensuring equal access and inclusion of all people to
FEMA programs, services, and benefits in compliance with applicable civil rights laws. An important part of equal
access includes providing reasonable accommodations and communication access such as Sign Language
Interpreters (SLI) and CART services.
Responsibility:
In this position, the Sign Language Interpreter (SLI) will provide interpreting and transliterating services between
spoken English and Sign Language (such as American Sign Language, Pidgin Signed English, Manually Coded
English, or other forms of signed communication) and/or other visual and tactile communication forms used by
individuals who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Deaf-Blind.
Essential Job Duties:
▪ The SLI will work as a team with another SLI or a Qualified/Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) to ensure that
communication between Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing person(s) and hearing person(s) is conveyed accurately.
▪ The SLI will interpret in a wide variety of situations and conditions during disaster response and recovery,
including (but not limited to) FEMA staff meetings, briefings, training sessions, conference calls, community
meetings, and other events.
▪ The SLI will be required to adhere to all FEMA and Department of Homeland Security policies and procedures
as well as understand and adhere to the RID Code of Professional Conduct,
▪ The SLI will be assigned as a reasonable accommodation for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing/Deaf-Blind FEMA staff.
▪ The SLI will work for the Office of Equal Rights - Civil Rights (CVR) Cadre, and as such, could possibly be
assigned other programmatic duties in support of the Cadre’s mission objectives in addition to their interpreting
assignments while deployed.
Qualifications for this Position
▪ Must pass a Federal background check – Public Trust level.
▪ Pass an internal two-part quality assurance screening/skills assessment; Expressive & Receptive.
▪ Possess one of the following certifications and/or equivalent professional experience: RID National Certification
and/or NAD (Level III or above), equivalent state certification and/or licensure, or equivalent qualification and
experience.
▪ Has experience as a Sign Language Interpreter, (ie. government, executive-level, or high-level academic
environment.)

Apply Today: Send your current resume to fema-cvrcadre-recruitment@fema.dhs.gov and include "Sign
Language interpreter" in the subject line.